Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Bourne Grammar School is a mixed selective grammar school in Bourne, Lincolnshire. Children applying for Year 7 entry sit the Lincolnshire 11 Plus, which consists of separate Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning tests. This guide explains the Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus format, what its demands mean for preparation, and how Learning Street’s Lincolnshire courses and mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Bourne Grammar School |
| Location | Bourne, Lincolnshire |
| School type | Mixed selective grammar school |
| Test / consortium | Lincolnshire 11 Plus – Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Exam structure | Two separate multiple-choice tests |
| Paper 1 | Verbal Reasoning |
| Paper 2 | Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning |
| Answer format | Multiple choice using separate answer sheets |
| Qualifying score | Combined standardised score of 220 or above |
Information and Mock Exam Review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Lincolnshire 11 Plus mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the entrance test used for Bourne Grammar School.
Bourne Grammar School uses the Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools’ 11 Plus tests. Learning Street’s Lincolnshire preparation materials and mock exams are specifically tailored to this variation of the GL 11 Plus rather than using a standard English-and-Maths GL format.
View Bourne Grammar School’s latest 11 Plus information
Quick Contents
Use the links below to jump straight to the section you need.
Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus consists of two separate multiple-choice reasoning tests produced by GL Assessment: a Verbal Reasoning test and a Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning test.
The Verbal Reasoning test requires children to recognise relationships involving words, letters, codes and logical rules. Children can work through the multiple-choice questions within the paper and record their answers on a separate answer sheet.
The Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning test requires children to identify visual relationships involving shapes, sequences, position, rotation, reflection and spatial movement. This test is divided into separately controlled sections, with children following the invigilator’s instructions about when each section begins and ends.
The two tests are taken separately, with the Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning test normally following the Verbal Reasoning test. Both tests must be completed for a full Lincolnshire 11 Plus score to be produced.
Bourne Grammar School does not use separate English or Maths 11 Plus tests. Preparation should therefore focus specifically on the reasoning and vocabulary skills required by the Lincolnshire test rather than following a generic GL programme containing separate English and Maths papers.
What Does the Bourne Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The specialised Lincolnshire format means preparation should concentrate heavily on reasoning technique, vocabulary, systematic problem solving and accurate use of multiple-choice answer sheets.
For Verbal Reasoning, children need to understand how different relationships involving words, letters and codes work. Strong vocabulary is particularly important because unfamiliar words can make an otherwise manageable reasoning problem considerably more difficult.
The Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning test places different demands on children. They need to examine visual information systematically and recognise changes involving shape, position, number, shading, rotation, reflection and movement.
The separately controlled sections of the Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning test also make following instructions important. Children need to become comfortable concentrating fully on the section they are completing rather than moving ahead or returning to earlier questions.
Accuracy should initially take priority over speed. Once the different reasoning techniques are secure, progressively timed work and realistic mock examinations can help children maintain accuracy under test conditions.
Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Bourne Grammar School is covered by Learning Street’s Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Packs 1–4. These are specifically designed around the Lincolnshire test rather than being generic GL mock papers.
Learning Street’s Lincolnshire mocks contain a Verbal Reasoning paper and a Non-Verbal Reasoning paper and are researched with the aim of reproducing the known content, difficulty, instructions and timings of the Lincolnshire test as closely as practical.
Each pack includes realistic answer sheets, detailed parent and invigilation instructions, guidance on how time should be called, information about what children can expect from the test experience and full detailed answers for reviewing performance afterwards.
The four Lincolnshire mock exams contain entirely different questions, allowing children to complete several realistic mock experiences without repeating the same material.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Bourne Grammar School currently uses a combined standardised qualifying score of 220 or above for the Lincolnshire 11 Plus.
The raw number of correct answers on each paper is converted into a standardised score. Standardisation takes the child’s age into account, and the standardised results from the Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning tests are then combined.
This means there is no fixed raw practice-paper percentage that guarantees a score of 220. The raw marks required to reach a particular standardised result can vary, so a percentage achieved on a commercial practice paper should not be treated as directly equivalent to an official Lincolnshire 11 Plus score.
Achieving the qualifying standard also does not automatically guarantee admission to Bourne Grammar School. Children who qualify academically are considered according to the school’s published admissions and oversubscription arrangements.
For preparation, practice-paper results are therefore most useful for tracking progress over time and identifying weaknesses in vocabulary, reasoning technique, accuracy, timing, concentration and answer-sheet technique.
View Bourne Grammar School’s latest 11 Plus information
How to Prepare for the Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective preparation for Bourne Grammar School should focus specifically on Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning. Learning Street has therefore developed dedicated Lincolnshire programmes rather than simply recommending its standard GL course.
The aim should be to build strong underlying vocabulary and reasoning skills first, before gradually introducing revision, timed exercises and realistic mock examinations.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning requires children to understand and apply relationships involving words, letters, codes and logical rules.
A strong vocabulary is particularly important. Children may understand the technique required for a question but still struggle if key words or relationships are unfamiliar.
Preparation should therefore combine deliberate vocabulary development with systematic practice of the different Verbal Reasoning question types. Children should first understand how each technique works and develop accuracy before being expected to complete questions quickly.
Regular revision is useful because children need to recognise the appropriate method independently when different question styles appear within the same paper.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require careful, systematic observation.
Children should learn to examine features such as shape, size, position, number, shading, symmetry, rotation, reflection and spatial movement. A consistent checking process helps prevent children from choosing an answer simply because it appears visually plausible.
Bourne Grammar School’s Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning test is completed section by section under invigilator instructions. Preparation should therefore eventually include timed exercises where children practise concentrating on one section at a time and moving on when instructed.
When your child is ready to apply these skills under realistic timed conditions, Learning Street’s Lincolnshire mock exams provide structured practice based on the Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning format used for Bourne Grammar School.
View the Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three Lincolnshire-specific preparation routes for children preparing for Bourne Grammar School: Complete, Enhance and Boost. These courses are tailored to the Lincolnshire variation of the GL 11 Plus and focus on the reasoning skills required for the test.
The most suitable route mainly depends on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Learning Street course | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete Lincolnshire | Our most comprehensive Lincolnshire preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance Lincolnshire | A shorter structured preparation programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost Lincolnshire | Focused preparation when less time remains |
Complete Lincolnshire — 30–40+ Weeks
Learning Street’s Complete 11 Plus Programme – Lincolnshire is our most comprehensive preparation route for this test. The 40-part programme is specifically tailored to Lincolnshire and develops the Verbal Reasoning, vocabulary and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills required for the entrance examination.
The Complete 11 Plus Programme – Lincolnshire
Enhance Lincolnshire — 15–30 Weeks
Learning Street’s Enhance Lincolnshire programme provides a shorter structured route for families with less preparation time. It concentrates the most important Lincolnshire 11 Plus learning and practice into a shorter programme while retaining a planned progression towards timed work.
11 Plus Enhance – Lincolnshire
Boost Lincolnshire — 6–15 Weeks
Learning Street’s Boost Lincolnshire programme is our shortest full Lincolnshire preparation route and is designed for families beginning focused preparation later.
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still building the underlying literacy, vocabulary and reasoning skills needed before dedicated 11 Plus preparation begins, Learning Street’s course chooser can help you select the most appropriate starting point.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests are likely to need additional preparation because those examinations may test areas such as English, Maths and Creative Writing that are not separate papers in the Bourne Grammar School 11 Plus.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Bourne Grammar School Admissions Information
Registration arrangements, test dates, qualifying requirements and admissions criteria can change. Always check Bourne Grammar School’s own guidance for the latest information before applying.
View Bourne Grammar School’s latest 11 Plus information
For general questions about the 11 Plus, preparation and Learning Street courses:
