Wycombe High School

Wycombe High School is a selective girls' grammar school in Buckinghamshire that uses the GL Assessment Bucks 11+ exam. The test takes place in September of Year 6 and covers Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, and English. You'll need to register through the Buckinghamshire Council online portal, with registration typically closing in late June or early July.

The Bucks 11+ exam at Wycombe High is more competitive than a standard GL paper, mainly because the pass mark is set high and the cohort of candidates is strong. The questions themselves follow standard GL formats, so you won't encounter unusual question types — but your child will need to perform well to secure a place. The qualifying score is not announced beforehand; it's determined after the test based on how many places are available and how candidates perform overall.

Vocabulary is the biggest challenge. The Verbal Reasoning section includes less common words beyond everyday language, so wide reading and targeted vocabulary building are essential preparation. English comprehension also rewards children who read widely, mixing straightforward questions with more demanding inference tasks. Mathematics is fairly standard for GL papers, with solid preparation in multi-step word problems and fractions/percentages being the key focus. Time pressure is moderate and in line with typical GL exams, so it shouldn't be a major concern if your child is familiar with GL-style questions.

Always check the school's official admissions information and Buckinghamshire County Council's 11+ guidance for the most up-to-date details about registration, exam format, and any changes to the process.

#### Key dates — checked October 2026 - Bucks Secondary Transfer Test 2026 (for September 2027 entry): practice test 8 September, main test 10 September 2026; results emailed 9 October 2026. - Qualifying standard: a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above qualifies for a Buckinghamshire grammar school (unchanged for 2028 entry). Below 121, entry is only via selection review or appeal. - Next cycle (September 2028 entry): registration May–June 2027 (Bucks state-primary pupils entered automatically); test early September 2027; results mid-October 2027. - CAF deadline: 31 October; National Offer Day: 1 March.