Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Queen’s School – Bushey uses the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus for selective entry. The GL assessment consists of two separate papers: Mathematics followed by Verbal Reasoning. This guide explains the Queen’s School 11 Plus exam format, what its focused structure means for preparation, and how our GL courses and South West Hertfordshire mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Queen’s School – Bushey |
| Area | South West Hertfordshire |
| Entrance test | South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus |
| Exam provider | GL |
| Exam structure | Two separate papers |
| Paper 1 | Mathematics |
| Paper 2 | Verbal Reasoning |
| Areas tested | Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning |
| Our mocks | South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus Mock Exams |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Queen’s School – Bushey mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Queen’s School – Bushey entrance test.
We provide South West Hertfordshire-specific mock exams alongside structured GL courses that can be used to develop the Maths, vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning skills needed for this test.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus Exam Format
The Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus uses the South West Hertfordshire GL test and consists of two separate papers: Paper 1 is Mathematics and Paper 2 is Verbal Reasoning.
Paper 1 – Mathematics focuses on mathematical knowledge and problem solving. Children need secure KS2 methods, reliable arithmetic and the ability to decide independently how to approach unfamiliar questions.
Paper 2 – Verbal Reasoning requires strong vocabulary alongside logical thinking and reliable approaches to different verbal reasoning question types.
Our current South West Hertfordshire information does not publish exact timings or specify a particular response format for either paper, so these should not be inferred from another GL test.
What Does the Queen’s School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The South West Hertfordshire test has a particularly focused structure because Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning are tested in separate papers.
This means children need enough depth and concentration to maintain their performance throughout a complete subject paper rather than relying on frequent changes between different areas.
Maths preparation should establish strong numerical foundations first. Secure arithmetic allows children to devote more attention to recognising what an unfamiliar problem is asking and choosing an appropriate method.
Verbal Reasoning preparation should combine explicit reasoning techniques with systematic vocabulary development. A child may understand how a question type works but still struggle if unfamiliar words prevent them from recognising the required meaning or relationship.
The separate-paper structure also makes subject-specific stamina important. Children who perform well on short mixed exercises should eventually become comfortable sustaining concentration across longer Maths and Verbal Reasoning work.
A sensible progression is numeracy and vocabulary foundations → individual Verbal Reasoning techniques → mathematical problem solving → accuracy → flexible application → revision → timed subject work → South West Hertfordshire mock exams.
Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
At Learning Street, we research the known South West Hertfordshire format, paper length and timings when producing our mocks. We also provide realistic answer sheets, invigilation instructions and guidance on when time should be called so parents can reproduce the practical demands of the test at home as closely as possible.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48.
South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Our South West Hertfordshire mocks are designed around the Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning structure used for the consortium test and incorporate researched instructions and timings to help children become familiar with the demands of the assessment.
We provide realistic answer sheets, detailed answers and parent invigilation guidance so each mock can also be used diagnostically to identify areas that need further preparation.
There is no repetition of questions between the four mock exams, allowing families to space fresh papers throughout the later stages of preparation.
Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
We do not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on one of our South West Hertfordshire mocks should therefore be used primarily to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official entrance-test result.
The two-paper structure also means an overall percentage can hide an important difference between Maths and Verbal Reasoning performance.
A child may perform strongly in Mathematics while repeatedly losing marks in Verbal Reasoning, or vice versa.
Our detailed answers can help identify whether marks are being lost because of mathematical knowledge, vocabulary, understanding of a reasoning type, accuracy, timing or exam technique.
Parents can then focus preparation on those weaker areas before using another fresh South West Hertfordshire mock to assess whether performance improves.
How to Prepare for the Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus
Effective Queen’s School preparation should concentrate particularly on Maths, Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning before children rely heavily on complete timed mock exams.
Our full GL programmes cover a wider GL syllabus that also includes English and Non-Verbal Reasoning. For Queen’s School specifically, however, the current South West Hertfordshire test information identifies Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning as the tested papers.
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become accurate and reliable before significant time pressure is introduced.
Children should then progress towards mixed mathematical problems where they need to decide independently which method is required rather than being told the topic in advance.
As preparation develops, children should practise maintaining concentration across longer Maths work so that accuracy remains high throughout a complete paper.
Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Vocabulary is a central part of effective Verbal Reasoning preparation.
Children should develop their knowledge of word meanings, relationships and language systematically rather than relying solely on repeated practice tests.
Alongside vocabulary development, children should learn reliable techniques for different word, letter, code and relationship questions.
Once individual techniques are secure, preparation should move towards mixed Verbal Reasoning sets where children need to recognise independently which approach each question requires.
Building Accuracy and Flexible Application
Early preparation should prioritise understanding and accuracy rather than speed.
In Maths, children should be able to identify an appropriate method and carry it through reliably. In Verbal Reasoning, they should be able to recognise the question type and apply the correct technique without relying on prompts.
Once those foundations are secure, mixed and timed work can be introduced progressively.
Building Exam Technique and Stamina
The separate Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning papers require children to sustain concentration within one discipline at a time.
Children should therefore progress from short exercises to longer subject-specific sections before completing entire timed mock papers.
Our South West Hertfordshire mocks can then bring the preparation together under realistic test-style conditions and help identify any remaining weaknesses.
View the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Queen’s School – Bushey 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
We provide Complete, Enhance and Boost GL preparation routes for children preparing for Queen’s School.
Learning Street’s full GL programmes cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This is broader than the current South West Hertfordshire test structure, which specifically identifies Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning.
The most suitable programme depends mainly on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Course | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete GL | Our most comprehensive GL preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance GL | A shorter structured GL programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost GL | Focused GL preparation when less time remains |
Complete GL — 30–40+ Weeks
Our Complete GL 11 Plus Programme is the most comprehensive GL preparation route.
It contains 40 structured parts covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The programme includes more than 60 timed papers and tests, full answers with detailed explanations and additional work focused on core skills such as vocabulary development and accuracy in Maths and English.
For Queen’s School, the Maths, vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning content is directly relevant to the current South West Hertfordshire test. The programme also contains English and Non-Verbal Reasoning because it is designed for the wider GL 11 Plus.
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Focused Complete options are also available:
Complete – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Complete – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
For Queen’s School, the first focused course contains the relevant vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning work alongside additional English, while the second contains the relevant Maths work alongside additional Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Enhance GL — 15–30 Weeks
Our Enhance GL programme is a shorter 20-part preparation route covering Vocabulary Development, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
It includes more than 35 timed papers and tests alongside structured learning and detailed answers.
Enhance is most suitable where there is still enough time for substantial structured preparation but not enough time to work properly through all 40 parts of Complete.
Focused Enhance options are also available:
Enhance – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Enhance – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Boost GL — 6–15 Weeks
Our Boost GL programme is the shortest full GL preparation route.
It contains 10 intensive parts covering Vocabulary Development, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning and includes more than 25 timed papers and tests.
Boost is most suitable where there is insufficient time to work properly through Complete or Enhance but a family still wants structured learning, revision and testing.
Focused Boost options are also available:
Boost – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Boost – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the numeracy, vocabulary and reasoning foundations needed before dedicated Queen’s School 11 Plus preparation begins, our primary-school course chooser can help you select an appropriate starting point.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Already Completed Substantial Preparation?
Our 11 Plus Revision Course – GL is suitable for children who have already completed substantial preparation through books, tutoring or another programme but now want a structured period of GL-style revision.
The course contains four intensive parts and is normally completed over around 4–6 weeks.
It should not normally be completed after one of our Complete, Enhance or Boost programmes because there is some crossover in the material.
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests may need additional preparation in subjects or formats beyond the Queen’s School South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus.
The courses below are separate supplementary options and should not be interpreted as additional subjects or components of the Queen’s School entrance test.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Queen’s School – Bushey Admissions Information
Admissions arrangements can change from year to year. For general guidance on 11 Plus preparation and our courses, use our FAQs below.
