Boston Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Boston Grammar School is a selective boys’ grammar school in Lincolnshire. Children applying for Year 7 entry sit the Lincolnshire 11 Plus, which consists of separate Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning tests. This guide explains the Boston 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.
Boston Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Boston Grammar School |
| Location | Boston, Lincolnshire |
| School type | Selective boys’ grammar school |
| Test area | Lincolnshire |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Exam structure | Two separate multiple-choice tests |
| Paper 1 | Verbal Reasoning |
| Paper 2 | Non-Verbal Reasoning, including spatial reasoning skills |
| Answer format | Multiple choice using separate answer sheets |
| Selection | The testing procedure is designed to identify approximately the top 25% of the local cohort |
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 Boston Grammar School.
Boston Grammar School uses separate Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning 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 Boston Grammar School’s latest 11 Plus information
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Boston Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Boston Grammar School 11 Plus consists of two separate multiple-choice reasoning tests. One paper tests Verbal Reasoning and the other tests Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The Verbal Reasoning paper requires children to recognise relationships between words, letters and codes, apply logical rules and use a strong working vocabulary.
The Non-Verbal Reasoning paper requires children to identify visual patterns and relationships involving shapes, sequences, symmetry, rotation and spatial reasoning.
The two tests are normally taken separately rather than as one combined examination. Children record their responses on multiple-choice answer sheets, so familiarity with answer-sheet technique is also important.
Unlike many other GL 11 Plus areas, Boston Grammar School does not use separate English and Maths entrance-test papers. Preparation should therefore be specifically focused on the reasoning skills actually tested rather than simply following a generic GL programme.
What Does the Boston Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The specialised Lincolnshire format means that preparation needs to concentrate heavily on reasoning technique, vocabulary, pattern recognition and flexible problem solving.
For Verbal Reasoning, children need much more than familiarity with individual question types. A broad vocabulary is particularly valuable because unfamiliar words can make otherwise manageable reasoning questions significantly harder.
Non-Verbal Reasoning requires a systematic approach to visual information. Children should learn to check features such as shape, position, number, shading, rotation, reflection and movement rather than relying on an answer simply looking correct.
Accuracy should initially take priority over speed. Once the underlying methods are secure, timed work should be introduced progressively so that children become comfortable maintaining concentration and accuracy across a full reasoning paper.
Boston Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Boston Grammar School is covered by Learning Street’s Lincolnshire 11 Plus mock exams. 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 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
Boston Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
There is no raw practice-paper percentage that guarantees admission to Boston Grammar School.
The Boston Grammar School selection procedure is norm-referenced and is designed to identify approximately the top 25% of the relevant local cohort. Performance is therefore assessed through the formal 11 Plus testing process rather than by applying a simple raw percentage to practice papers.
Children who achieve the required academic standard become eligible to be considered for a place at Boston Grammar School. Passing the entrance test does not itself constitute an application to the school, and qualification should not be treated as an automatic guarantee of admission.
Practice-paper percentages can still be useful for monitoring a child’s progress, but different papers vary in difficulty. It is more useful to look for consistently strong performance across both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning while identifying weaknesses in vocabulary, technique, accuracy, timing and concentration.
View Boston Grammar School’s latest 11 Plus admissions information
How to Prepare for the Boston Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective preparation for Boston Grammar School should focus specifically on Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal 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 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 can understand the method behind a question but still be unable to answer it confidently if key words are unfamiliar. Regular vocabulary development should therefore sit alongside practice of the different Verbal Reasoning techniques.
Preparation should initially focus on understanding how each type of question works and completing it accurately. Timed practice can then be introduced gradually once the underlying techniques are secure.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require careful, systematic observation rather than curriculum knowledge.
Children should learn to examine features such as shape, size, position, number, shading, rotation, reflection and spatial movement. A consistent checking process helps prevent children from selecting an answer simply because it appears visually plausible.
As preparation progresses, children should become comfortable moving between different visual question types while maintaining accuracy under time pressure.
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 Boston Grammar School.
View the Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Boston Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three Lincolnshire-specific preparation routes for children preparing for Boston 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 Boston Grammar School 11 Plus.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Boston Grammar School Admissions Information
Registration arrangements, test dates and admissions criteria can change. Always check Boston Grammar School’s own guidance for the latest information before applying.
View Boston Grammar School’s latest 11 Plus information
For general questions about the 11 Plus, preparation and Learning Street courses:
