Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School uses the Buckinghamshire GL 11 Plus test covering English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. The assessment is split into two papers: Paper 1 contains English and Verbal Reasoning, while Paper 2 contains Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning and Maths. This guide explains the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus exam format, what its structure means for preparation, and how our GL courses and Buckinghamshire mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School |
| Area | Buckinghamshire |
| Entrance test | Buckinghamshire 11 Plus |
| Exam provider | GL |
| Exam structure | Two papers |
| Paper 1 | English and Verbal Reasoning |
| Paper 2 | Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning and Maths |
| Areas tested | English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning and Maths |
| Paper 1 timings | English: 5-minute practice + 25-minute test; Verbal Reasoning: 5-minute practice + 20-minute test |
| Paper 2 timings | Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning: five 5-minute subtests; Maths: 5-minute practice + 25-minute test |
| Our mocks | Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock Exams |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Buckinghamshire mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School entrance test.
We provide a dedicated Buckinghamshire mock series alongside structured GL courses that can be used to develop the English, Maths and reasoning skills required for the test.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus uses the Buckinghamshire test set by GL and consists of two papers: Paper 1 contains English and Verbal Reasoning, while Paper 2 contains Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning and Maths.
Paper 1 – English begins with a 5-minute practice section followed by a 25-minute test.
Paper 1 – Verbal Reasoning begins with a 5-minute practice section followed by a 20-minute test.
Paper 2 – Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning is divided into five subtests, each lasting 5 minutes.
Paper 2 – Maths begins with a 5-minute practice section followed by a 25-minute test.
What Does the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The Buckinghamshire test requires children to move between several different types of work within two papers, so preparation needs to develop both secure subject knowledge and the ability to switch efficiently between different skills.
In Paper 1, vocabulary supports both English and Verbal Reasoning. A child may understand a reasoning technique but still struggle if unfamiliar words make passages or questions harder to interpret.
Paper 2 combines visual reasoning and Maths. Children therefore need to move between Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning tasks and numerical problem solving while maintaining concentration and accuracy.
The five short Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning subtests create a particular timing demand. Children need to work accurately within tightly defined periods rather than relying on extra time from another section.
The practice periods before English, Verbal Reasoning and Maths also mean children should become familiar with moving from instructions and practice into the timed test itself without losing focus.
A sensible progression is core literacy and numeracy → vocabulary and reasoning techniques → accuracy → flexible application → revision → timed section work → complete Buckinghamshire mock exams.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
At Learning Street, we research the known Buckinghamshire 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.
Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
All four mock exams contain different questions, allowing families to space fresh tests throughout preparation and use later mocks to measure improvement.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
We do not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on one of our Buckinghamshire mocks should primarily be used to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official entrance-test result.
The range of subjects within the two papers also means that an overall mock result can conceal a particular weakness.
A child may achieve a reasonable total score while repeatedly losing marks in English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning or Spatial Reasoning.
Our detailed answers can help identify whether marks are being lost because of knowledge gaps, vocabulary, accuracy, reasoning technique, timing or exam technique.
Parents can then target those weaker areas before using another fresh Buckinghamshire mock to assess whether performance improves.
How to Prepare for the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School preparation should develop secure skills across English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning before children rely heavily on complete timed mock exams.
Preparation should begin with strong underlying knowledge and reasoning techniques before progressively introducing the specific timing demands of the Buckinghamshire test.
English Preparation
English preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar material carefully and understanding what each question requires before substantial time pressure is introduced.
Vocabulary is particularly important because it also supports Verbal Reasoning and can make unfamiliar questions easier to interpret efficiently.
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.
Once these foundations are secure, practice should increasingly reflect the need to maintain accuracy within the timed Maths section.
Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning relies on both reasoning technique and vocabulary.
Children should learn systematic approaches to the verbal reasoning question types they encounter while developing vocabulary consistently over time.
New words should be introduced deliberately and revisited regularly rather than memorised briefly before moving on.
Because the Verbal Reasoning test follows its own practice period and timed section, children should eventually become comfortable working accurately throughout a sustained period of verbal reasoning.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require children to analyse visual information carefully and identify patterns, relationships and changes.
Preparation should encourage a systematic approach rather than relying on instinct or selecting an answer simply because it looks plausible.
The five 5-minute subtests also make controlled speed important. Children need to become comfortable working accurately within each individual timed section.
Building Exam Technique and Stamina
Once the underlying English, Maths and reasoning skills are secure, timed work should become increasingly important.
Children should progress from accurate untimed practice to shorter timed exercises, complete timed sections and finally full Buckinghamshire mock exams.
Preparation should also reproduce the need to move between practice sections, timed sections and different subject areas while maintaining concentration.
Our Buckinghamshire mocks can then bring the preparation together under realistic test-style conditions and help identify any remaining weaknesses.
View the Buckinghamshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
We provide Complete, Enhance and Boost GL preparation routes for children preparing for Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School.
Our full GL programmes cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The Buckinghamshire test’s detailed structure also describes the Paper 2 visual-reasoning section as Non-Verbal & Spatial 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 our 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 English and Maths.
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Focused Complete options are also available:
Complete – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Complete – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Enhance GL — 15–30 Weeks
Our Enhance GL programme provides a shorter 20-part preparation route covering Vocabulary Development, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
It contains 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 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 literacy, numeracy, vocabulary and reasoning foundations needed before dedicated Sir William Borlase’s Grammar 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.
It contains 4 intensive parts and is normally completed over approximately 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 Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Buckinghamshire test.
The courses below are separate supplementary options and should not be interpreted as additional subjects or components of the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School entrance test.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Admissions Information
Admissions arrangements can change from year to year. For general guidance on 11 Plus preparation and our courses, use our FAQs below.
