Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Stretford Grammar School is part of the Trafford Consortium and uses the GL 11 Plus test. The assessment contains two papers, with both papers covering Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. This guide explains the Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus format, what its structure means for preparation, and how our GL courses and Trafford mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Stretford Grammar School |
| Area | Trafford, Greater Manchester |
| Entrance test | Trafford Secondary Transfer Test |
| Exam provider | GL |
| Exam structure | Two papers |
| Paper 1 | Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
| Paper 2 | Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
| Our mocks | Trafford 11 Plus Mock Exams |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Trafford mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Stretford Grammar School entrance test.
Our Trafford mocks are designed around the current two-paper structure covering Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus uses the Trafford test set by GL and consists of two papers, with both Paper 1 and Paper 2 covering Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
Paper 1 covers Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
Paper 2 covers Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
What Does the Stretford Grammar School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The current Trafford format requires children to move between verbal, numerical and visual reasoning skills across both papers.
Vocabulary is particularly important for Verbal Reasoning. A child may understand the technique required for a question but still struggle if unfamiliar words prevent them from interpreting it correctly.
Maths preparation should develop secure KS2 knowledge before children move towards mixed problems where they need to identify the appropriate method independently.
Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning require children to analyse visual information systematically, looking for patterns, relationships, rotations, transformations and changes rather than relying on instinct.
Because both papers contain the same broad subject areas, later preparation should increasingly use mixed practice where children need to switch efficiently between verbal, numerical and visual problems.
A sensible progression is numeracy and vocabulary foundations → subject and reasoning skills → accuracy → flexible application → revision → mixed timed work → complete Trafford mock exams.
Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
At Learning Street, we research the known Trafford 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.
View the Trafford 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.
Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus Pass Marks
We do not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus pass mark.
Results from our Trafford mocks are best used to measure progress and identify weaker areas in Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, accuracy, timing or exam technique rather than as a direct prediction of an official entrance-test result.
How to Prepare for the Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus
Effective Stretford Grammar School preparation should develop secure skills across Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning before children rely heavily on complete timed mock exams.
The strongest preparation develops underlying knowledge and individual reasoning techniques first before gradually introducing mixed work, tighter timings and complete papers.
Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning relies on both reasoning technique and vocabulary.
Children should learn systematic approaches to different Verbal Reasoning question types while developing vocabulary consistently over time.
New words should be introduced deliberately and revisited regularly rather than memorised briefly and then forgotten.
Once individual techniques are secure, children should increasingly complete mixed Verbal Reasoning work where they need to identify the appropriate method independently.
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become accurate and reliable before substantial time pressure is introduced.
Children should then progress towards mixed mathematical problems where they need to decide independently which method is required.
The aim should be flexible mathematical problem solving rather than dependence on questions always being grouped by topic.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal Reasoning requires children to analyse visual information carefully and identify patterns, relationships and changes.
Children should learn systematic methods for comparing figures rather than simply selecting an answer because it appears similar.
Preparation should begin with individual techniques before progressing towards mixed Non-Verbal Reasoning work where the required approach is not identified in advance.
Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Spatial Reasoning requires children to understand how shapes and objects change when they are moved, rotated, reflected or viewed in different ways.
Children should initially work carefully through individual spatial techniques before speed becomes a major focus.
Once these skills are secure, they should practise identifying the relevant spatial relationship independently within mixed reasoning work.
Preparing for Mixed Papers
Both Trafford papers contain Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
Later preparation should therefore increasingly combine these areas within the same practice session so children become comfortable switching between different types of thinking.
This helps develop the flexibility and concentration needed to move between verbal, numerical and visual questions without losing accuracy.
Building Exam Technique and Stamina
Once the underlying knowledge and reasoning techniques are secure, timed work should become increasingly important.
Children should progress from accurate untimed questions to shorter timed exercises, mixed timed sections and eventually complete Trafford mock exams.
Full mocks are most useful later in preparation, when they can help identify whether remaining marks are being lost through knowledge gaps, reasoning technique, vocabulary, accuracy, timing or concentration.
View the Trafford 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Stretford Grammar School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
We provide Complete, Enhance and Boost GL preparation routes for children preparing for Stretford Grammar School.
Our full GL programmes cover Vocabulary Development, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This is the wider GL course syllabus and should not be treated as an exact description of the Stretford Grammar School paper structure given above.
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 Development, 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 focus on core skills such as vocabulary development and accuracy in Maths and English.
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 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 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 GL preparation.
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 Stretford 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 Stretford Grammar School Trafford test.
The courses below are separate supplementary options and should not be interpreted as additional components of the Stretford Grammar School entrance test.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Stretford 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.
