Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Chesham Grammar School is a mixed selective grammar school in Buckinghamshire. Children applying for Year 7 entry sit the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, produced by GL Assessment and covering verbal, mathematical and non-verbal skills across two multiple-choice papers. This guide explains the Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus format, what it means for preparation, and how Learning Street’s courses and Buckinghamshire mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Chesham Grammar School |
| Location | Chesham, Buckinghamshire |
| School type | Mixed selective grammar school |
| Test | Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Exam structure | Two multiple-choice papers |
| Areas tested | English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning |
| Scoring | Age-standardised; verbal 50%, mathematical 25%, non-verbal 25% |
Information and Mock Exam Review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Buckinghamshire 11 Plus mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test.
Learning Street’s Buckinghamshire Mock Exam Packs 1–4 follow the current two-paper structure and cover English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning using researched Buckinghamshire timings and answer sheets.
View the latest Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test information
Quick Contents
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus consists of two GL Assessment multiple-choice papers testing verbal, mathematical and non-verbal skills.
The first paper tests verbal skills, including comprehension, technical English and Verbal Reasoning. The second tests Maths and non-verbal skills, including Spatial Reasoning.
Each paper contains approximately 45 minutes of assessed questions and lasts around one hour when instructions and examples are included.
What Does the Chesham Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
Children need strong literacy and vocabulary, secure Maths and systematic verbal and visual reasoning skills. Verbal preparation deserves particular attention because verbal skills account for half of the final Secondary Transfer Test Score.
Preparation should begin with secure underlying knowledge and accuracy before progressing towards timed sections and full Buckinghamshire mock exams.
Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Learning Street has developed four Buckinghamshire-specific mock exam packs for children preparing for Chesham Grammar School and the other Buckinghamshire grammar schools.
Each mock consists of two full timed papers covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The mocks use researched Buckinghamshire paper and section timings, separate multiple-choice answer sheets and parent invigilation instructions.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48.
Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Children need a Secondary Transfer Test Score of 121 or above to qualify for consideration for a Buckinghamshire grammar-school place.
The final score is age-standardised and weighted 50% verbal skills, 25% mathematical skills and 25% non-verbal skills.
A score higher than 121 does not itself give a child greater admissions priority. Once a child has qualified, Chesham Grammar School applies its published admissions criteria when allocating places.
A raw percentage from a commercial practice paper cannot be converted directly into an official Buckinghamshire score, so mock results are most useful for tracking progress and identifying weaker areas.
How to Prepare for the Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus
Preparation should build secure English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills before moving towards revision, timed work and realistic full mocks.
English Preparation
Children should develop strong reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar and accurate understanding of written language. Regular reading should form part of preparation rather than relying entirely on practice papers.
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should secure KS2 knowledge, times tables, mental Maths and the four operations before moving towards increasingly unfamiliar problem solving and timed work.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Children should develop a broad vocabulary and learn systematic methods for questions involving words, letters, codes and logical relationships. This area is particularly important because verbal skills carry 50% of the final test weighting.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Children should learn to analyse shapes systematically, considering features such as number, position, rotation, reflection and shading rather than relying on visual guesswork.
Once these underlying skills are secure, full Buckinghamshire mocks can help children practise the complete test under realistic timed conditions.
View the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Chesham Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three main GL preparation routes for children preparing for Chesham Grammar School. The most suitable route mainly depends on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Learning Street route | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete | Most comprehensive preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance | Shorter structured programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost | Focused preparation when less time remains |
Complete — 30–40+ Weeks
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Enhance — 15–30 Weeks
Boost — 6–15 Weeks
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the literacy and numeracy foundations needed before dedicated 11 Plus preparation begins, use Learning Street’s primary-school course chooser.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Already Completed Substantial Preparation?
The GL Revision Course is suitable for children who have already covered substantial 11 Plus material through books or tutoring. It should not normally be added after completing one of Learning Street’s full programmes because some material overlaps.
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests may need additional preparation in areas not covered by the Buckinghamshire test.
Creative Writing |
Maths Stretch & Revision |
Comprehension
Current Chesham Grammar School Admissions Information
Chesham Grammar School uses the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test for Year 7 selection. Children who score 121 or above are academically qualified, but qualification does not itself guarantee a place.
Admissions priorities and oversubscription arrangements can change, so families should check the latest school and Buckinghamshire guidance when applying.
View Chesham Grammar School’s current information
