GL Assessment 11+

Who is GL Assessment?

GL Assessment is a commercial company that makes assessments for schools. On its 11+ website, GL Assessment says its 11+ tests are used by most grammar schools in the UKSource for GL Assessment: Self descriptionGL Assessment: Self descriptionCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: Our 11+ tests are used by the majority of grammar schools in the UKView the official source. GL also says it is part of RenaissanceSource for GL Assessment: Parent companyGL Assessment: Parent companyCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GL Assessment.The source says: We are now a Renaissance company, too, offering an expanded portfolio of teaching and learning toolsView the official source. Besides the 11+, it provides other tests that many primary and secondary schools use.

Which areas use GL Assessment?

GL tests are used in many areas, including:

• Buckinghamshire, where the Secondary Transfer Test is provided by GL AssessmentSource for Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Test providerBuckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Test providerCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The test is commissioned by the The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) acting on behalf of the 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools and is produced by GL Assessment.View the official source and is unique to the county. See the Buckinghamshire 11+ guide.
• The West Midlands Grammar Schools: GL Assessment, two multiple-choice papersSource for GL Assessment: West midlandsGL Assessment: West midlandsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against West Midlands Grammar Schools.The source says: The test is provided by GL Assessment.View the official source. See the West Midlands 11+ guide.
• Slough: Slough changed to GL Assessment in 2024Source for GL Assessment: SloughGL Assessment: SloughCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Please note that following the change of test provider to GL Assessment in 2024, the previous arrangements where some schools used the same test as the Slough Consortium no longer apply.View the official source. See the Slough 11+ guide.
• Northern Ireland: the SEAG test is set and marked by GL AssessmentSource for SEAG (Northern Ireland): Setter markerSEAG (Northern Ireland): Setter markerCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against SEAG (Schools' Entrance Assessment Group).The source says: The SEAG Entrance Assessment is being set and marked by GL Assessment.View the official source. See the SEAG page.

Some areas are moving away from GL for 2028 entry, including Gloucestershire and Trafford (to FSCE) and Bournemouth and Poole (to Quest). Check the exam boards overview and your area page for the entry year that applies to your child.

What is a GL 11+ test like?

Because each area commissions its own version, details differ. GL itself warns that 11+ tests vary from area to area, so a local test’s timings, topics and number of questions may differ from GL’s own materialsSource for GL Assessment: tests vary by areaGL Assessment: tests vary by areaCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: 11+ tests vary from area to area so please be aware that the exact timings, the combination of topics covered (for example, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, Maths and English) and the number of questions in your local 11+ test may differ from those in our familiarisation and practice materials.View the official source. Common features are:

• Multiple-choice answers, usually marked on a separate answer sheet.
• A mix of subjects chosen locally from English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
• Timed sections, sometimes with spoken instructions.

As an example, Buckinghamshire's test has twoSource for Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Paper countBuckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Paper countCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The Secondary Transfer Test (STT) comprises two test papers.View the official source papers, uses multiple choice, on a separate answer sheetSource for Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Answer formatBuckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Answer formatCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: All the questions are multiple-choice.View the official source, and weights the sections as verbal 50%, maths 25%, non-verbal 25%Source for Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): How the test sections are weightedBuckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): How the test sections are weightedCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: verbal – 50%; mathematical – 25%; non-verbal – 25%View the official source. Another area's GL test can look quite different, so use your own area's details.

Is there a GL pass mark?

GL does not set one national pass mark. GL tests produce standardised scores, and each area decides how to use them. Some set a qualifying score; for example, Buckinghamshire's is 121Source for Buckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreBuckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The qualifying score for Buckinghamshire grammar schools is a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above.View the official source. Others rank children or combine scores with other admission rules. Our standardised scores guide explains how these numbers work, and each area page shows its own rules and history. Our page is there a GL 11+ pass mark? looks at how each GL area uses its scores.

What official GL materials are there?

free familiarisation papers to print; practice papers cost moneySource for GL Assessment: free practice materialGL Assessment: free practice materialCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.The source says: While familiarisation papers are freely available for download, practice papers are only accessible for purchase.View the official source. The free familiarisation materials show the layout and question styles, which is especially useful for verbal and non-verbal reasoning that children may not meet at school. Some areas also send their own familiarisation booklet; Buckinghamshire sends one in the summer term of Year 5Source for Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Familiarisation materialsBuckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Familiarisation materialsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: Familiarisation materials for the Buckinghamshire test are made available to parents in the summer term of Year 5.View the official source.

Familiarisation materials show the style of the test; they are not past papers.

How can you prepare calmly for a GL test?

• Check your area's exact format first. Subjects, timings and weightings vary.
• Build the basics: wide reading, vocabulary, times tables and confident arithmetic help in every GL area.
• Get familiar with the answer sheet. Practise marking answers neatly in the right box.
• Practise timing gently, later on. Short timed sections are more useful in the last months than long papers early.
• Use the free familiarisation papers before deciding whether you need anything else.

If you are deciding how much help to get, our guides on preparing without a tutor and when to start may help.

Related pages

• 11+ exam boards explained
• The 11+ formats compared
• Is there a GL 11+ pass mark?
• Buckinghamshire 11+ guide
• South West Herts 11+ guide

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 9 October 2026: GL Assessment (11+ practice and familiarisation page; corporate home page), West Midlands Grammar Schools (the entrance test), the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools guide for 2027 entry, the SEAG, and our verified Buckinghamshire records.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with GL Assessment. How we make our content.