Is there a GL 11+ pass mark?

By ExamKind Editorial TeamFacts checked 19 October 2026Last reviewed 19 October 2026

In short

No. GL Assessment writes 11+ tests for many areas, but it does not set one pass mark for all of them. Each area or school decides how to use the standardised scores its GL test produces. Some publish a fixed qualifying score, some set a standard each year after the results, and some simply tell parents whether their child is eligible. To know what score matters for your child, look at your own area's rules, not at GL.

Facts used on this pageFacts checked between 9 and 12 Oct 2026sources in each row
Fact	Detail	Source
GL Assessment: tests vary by area	11+ tests vary from area to area, so a local test’s timings, topics and number of questions may differ from GL’s own materials	Source: Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, checked 9 Oct 2026
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment): Standardisation	age-standardised by year, month and day of age at the test	Source: Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School, checked 9 Oct 2026
Slough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): Standardisation	marked and standardised by GL Assessment against all Consortium candidates and by age; 100 is the middle of the range	Source: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, checked 9 Oct 2026
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Standardised score range	60 and 170	Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked 9 Oct 2026
West Midlands: Score standardisation	age-standardised scores around a median of 200 (stated by the Walsall schools)	Source: Queen Mary's Grammar School, checked 9 Oct 2026
Buckinghamshire: Qualifying score	121	Source: The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS), checked 9 Oct 2026
Buckinghamshire: Children expected to reach the qualifying score	about 37%	Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked 9 Oct 2026
Lincolnshire: Qualifying score	220	Source: Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools, checked 9 Oct 2026
Slough: Qualifying score	111	Source: Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School), checked 9 Oct 2026
Slough: Expected qualifying share	top 35%	Source: Herschel Grammar School, checked 9 Oct 2026
Walsall: Qualifying rule	Each school's governors set a minimum qualifying score after the test results are known. Children who score below it are not offered a place.	Source: Queen Mary's Grammar School, checked 12 Oct 2026
Warwickshire: Qualifying rule	Each year a Committee of Reference of head teachers and teachers sets each school's Automatic Qualifying Score and the minimum standard for the waiting list.	Source: Alcester Grammar School, checked 12 Oct 2026

Why is there no single GL pass mark?

GL's tests are not the same everywhere. GL itself says 11+ tests vary from area to area, so a local test’s timings, topics and number of questions may differ from GL’s own materialsGL Assessment: tests vary by areaChecked 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. Because the papers, the subjects and the group of children taking them differ from place to place, a score in one area cannot be compared with a score in another.

Each area also writes its own admission rules. Those rules, not the test company, decide whether there is a fixed score, how many children are expected to reach it, and what happens when more children qualify than there are places.

What does a GL score actually measure?

GL areas usually report a standardised score, not the number of questions a child got right. Standardising does two things:

It adjusts for age. In Gloucestershire, for example, scores are age-standardised by year, month and day of age at the testGloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment): StandardisationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: Test Results are standardised according to the age of the pupil at the time of the ... Entrance Test by year, month and day.View the official source. This is meant to make sure a child born in August is not marked down for being younger than a child born in September.
It compares a child with the others who sat the same test. In Slough, papers are marked and standardised by GL Assessment against all Consortium candidates and by age; 100 is the middle of the rangeSlough Consortium 11+ (GL Assessment): StandardisationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: Papers are marked by GL Assessment, who then carry out a standardisation process.View the official source.

The scale differs by area too. Buckinghamshire's scores run between 60 and 170Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Standardised score rangeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: A child's ‘standardised score' will be between 60 and 170.View the official source, while the West Midlands schools describe age-standardised scores around a median of 200 (stated by the Walsall schools)West Midlands: Score standardisationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Queen Mary's Grammar School.The source says: Results will be released throughout the West Midlands Grammar Schools’ partnership using an age-weighted standardisation around a median score of 200.View the official source. That is why a "good score" in one area can look very different from a good score in another. Our guide to standardised scores explains the idea in more detail.

How do GL areas decide who qualifies?

There are three broad approaches. The examples below come from the areas' and schools' own published information.

A fixed qualifying score, published in advance

Buckinghamshire: the qualifying score is 121Buckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreChecked 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, and the council expects about 37%Buckinghamshire: Children expected to reach the qualifying scoreChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: We expect that about 37% of children will get an STTS of 121 or more.View the official source of children who take the test to reach it. See Buckinghamshire pass marks.
Lincolnshire: the qualifying score is a total standardised score of 220Lincolnshire: Qualifying scoreChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools.The source says: The qualifying level is a total standardised score of at least 220 on both papers.View the official source across both papers. See Lincolnshire pass marks.
Slough: a standardised score of 111Slough: Qualifying scoreChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools (hosted by Upton Court Grammar School).The source says: A score of 111 or greater means that a pupil is eligible to be considered for a place in a grammar school if they were to apply.View the official source or above makes a child eligible to be considered for a place, and the schools say this score puts a child in the top 35%Slough: Expected qualifying shareChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Herschel Grammar School.The source says: Pupils who score 111 or above will be in the top 35% of the cohort sitting the examination and will be considered eligible for consideration for a grammar school place should their parents apply on their behalf.View the official source of children sitting the test. See Slough pass marks.

A score set by each school, often after the results

Walsall: Each school's governors set a minimum qualifying score after the test results are known. Children who score below it are not offered a place.Walsall: Qualifying ruleChecked 12 Oct 2026 against Queen Mary's Grammar School.The source says: To be considered for a place at the school, a candidate must achieve the Minimum Qualifying Score. This score is determined by the School’s Governors after the Test results are available. Any candidate scoring below the Minimum Qualifying Score will not be offered a place.View the official source
Warwickshire: Each year a Committee of Reference of head teachers and teachers sets each school's Automatic Qualifying Score and the minimum standard for the waiting list.Warwickshire: Qualifying ruleChecked 12 Oct 2026 against Alcester Grammar School.The source says: In South Warwickshire the Committee of Reference sets the required Minimum Academic Standard and the Automatic Qualifying Score (AQS) for each school, taking account of the applications for the individual schools and the number of places available.View the official source
Gloucestershire (2027 entry, the last GL year): a child must meet the qualifying standard (and any other criteria) of each grammar school to be considered for a place thereGloucestershire: Qualifying ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Gloucestershire grammar schools (G7), hosted by Sir Thomas Rich's School.The source says: For each grammar school you must meet the qualifying standard and any other criteria as stipulated in its admissions policy to be eligible to be considered for a place.View the official source. The standard is Set by each school after results are knownGloucestershire: Qualifying standard timingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Ribston Hall High School.The source says: The qualifying standard is not a pre-defined pass mark but is set after the test is taken and the results are known.View the official source. At Stroud High School, for example, there is No pre-defined pass mark; the Qualifying Standard is set each year by the School's Admissions Committee having regard to all candidates' standardised scoresStroud High School entrance test: Pass mark methodChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Stroud High School.The source says: The Qualifying Standard is not a pre-defined pass mark, but is determined each year having regard to the standardised scores achieved by all candidates taking the Gloucestershire Grammar School test that year. The Qualifying Standard is ultimately determined by the School’s Admissions Committee.View the official source.
Torbay: Each school sets its own eligible score / pass threshold on the shared test after standardisation; one guidance letter tells parents Yes/No for each Torbay selective school.Torbay: Qualifying ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Torquay Girls' Grammar School.The source says: Guidance will be given whether the scores achieved would be likely to gain a place at each of the selective schools in Torbay.View the official source At Churston Ferrers Grammar School: School-set standardised pass mark; the exact threshold changes year on year depending on the cohort.Churston Ferrers Grammar School entrance test: Pass mark methodChecked 13 Oct 2026 against Churston Ferrers Grammar School.The source says: There is a standardised pass mark, but the exact threshold changes year on year depending on the cohort.View the official source
Wiltshire: at South Wilts Grammar School: Combined standardised score must reach the standardised pass mark (out of 420; set annually, method of setting not stated); 3% lower for Pupil Premium.South Wilts Grammar School 11+ (GL Assessment): Pass mark methodChecked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: All candidates whose combined score in the maths, English and verbal reasoning papers reaches the standardised pass mark will be regarded as having passed the entrance test.View the official source At Bishop Wordsworth's School: Qualifying standard set after the test by the Admissions, Property, Health & Safety Committee with the Head Master, by reference to candidates' scores; not a pre-defined mark; 10% lower for LAC/PLAC and Pupil Premium.Bishop Wordsworth's 11+ (GL Assessment): Pass mark methodChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Wordsworth's School.The source says: The qualifying standard is determined by the Admissions, Property, Health & Safety Committee in consultation with the Head Master, or another member of the senior staff at their direction. The qualifying standard is not a pre-defined mark but is determined in reference to the scores of students sitting the examination.View the official source
Reading: at Kendrick School: Qualifying score set each year (to two decimal places); 5 points lower for looked-after / PP / SP candidates.Kendrick School entrance test (GL Assessment): Pass mark methodChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Kendrick School.The source says: A qualifying score will be determined (to two decimal places) for candidates in categories 3-6 of the oversubscription criteria below.View the official source

A yes-or-no eligibility result

Bournemouth and Poole (2027 entry): Eligibility for all four schools is determined from the one shared set of entrance tests; each candidate is told whether they are 'eligible' (met the required standard) or 'ineligible'.Bournemouth and Poole (BCP): Qualifying ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bournemouth School.The source says: The eligibility for admission to consortium schools will be determined on the basis of the entrance test results. ... The school will advise parents whether, on the basis of the tests taken, their child is eligible or ineligible for a place at a Bournemouth and/or Poole Grammar School.View the official source
Medway: the Medway Test score is weighted as English x 2 + maths x 2 + reasoning x 1 (standardised scores)Medway Test (GL Assessment, written for Medway Council): Weighted scoreChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Medway Council.The source says: English test standardised score | x 2 |View the official source, and the tests are designed to assess the equivalent of 26Medway Test (GL Assessment, written for Medway Council): Designed percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Medway Council.The source says: The tests are designed to assess the equivalent of 26% of children attending Medway maintained schools as grammar.View the official source% of children at Medway maintained schools as suitable for grammar school. See Medway pass marks.

Even where a fixed score exists, reaching it usually makes a child eligible for a place, not certain of one. When more children qualify than there are places, each school's oversubscription rules (such as distance or catchment) decide who is offered a place.

Is the West Midlands GL score a pass mark?

It depends on the school. The West Midlands grammar schools share a test provided by GL AssessmentWest Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test: Test providerChecked 9 Oct 2026 against West Midlands Grammar Schools.The source says: The test is provided by GL Assessment.View the official source. On how places are offered: Each school's own admissions policy explains how it offers places. Check the individual school websites.West Midlands: Qualifying ruleChecked 12 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: To view the admissions policies and how each of the schools offer places please visit the individual school websites.View the official source In Birmingham, one qualifying score applies to all the grammar schools: 205Birmingham: Qualifying score2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: The Qualifying Score for all of the Birmingham grammar schools for 2027 entry is 205.View the official source for 2027 entry. See West Midlands pass marks and Birmingham pass marks.

Why do some schools use a lower score for some children?

Several GL schools set a lower qualifying score for children who are looked after, previously looked after or eligible for the pupil premium. Kendrick School, South Wilts Grammar School and Bishop Wordsworth's School are examples, as their policies quoted above show. Each school's admissions policy gives the exact rule. Our guide to pupil premium and the 11+ explains how these priorities work.

What should you look for in your area?

When you read your area's information, check:

Is there a fixed qualifying score? If so, is it published before the test or set afterwards?
What scale is it on? Areas use different scales, so the same number can mean very different things in two areas.
Does qualifying mean a place? Usually it means eligibility; the oversubscription rules decide the rest.
Which entry year? Some areas are moving away from GL. Gloucestershire has FSCE from 2028 entry, tested in July of Year 5Gloucestershire: change to FSCE testsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Pate's Grammar School (Gloucestershire).The source says: The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test for entry into Year 7 in September 2028 will take place on Saturday 3 July 2027.View the official source, and Bournemouth and Poole has GL for the September 2026 test (2027 entry); Quest from the September 2027 test (2028 entry)Quest: BcpChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bournemouth School.The source says: From September 2027 (for entry into Year 7 in 2028), our entrance tests will be provided by Quest Assessments.View the official source. A rule for one year may not apply to the next.

Your area's 11+ page links to its pass marks and rules, with every figure dated and sourced.

GL Assessment 11+: format and areas
Standardised scores explained
What is a good standardised score?
Is 70% enough to pass the 11+?
11+ score converter
South West Herts: lowest marks offered, not pass marks

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked between 9 and 13 October 2026: GL Assessment, Buckinghamshire Council and The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools, Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire grammar schools, the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, Medway Council, the West Midlands grammar schools, the Gloucestershire grammar schools, the Torbay grammar schools, South Wilts Grammar School, Bishop Wordsworth's School, Kendrick School and the Bournemouth and Poole grammar schools.

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