Bucks Transfer Test

post updated November 2020

Familiarisation Booklet

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/451100 ... -entry.pdf

CGP have just issued new tests specifically for Bucks

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... e-papers-s

https://www.thebucksgrammarschools.org/faqs

Each Secondary Transfer Test paper will take about 45 minutes. This means that it can be administered in under an hour including the introduction and examples. Children will be tested on verbal, mathematical and non-verbal skills.

Verbal skills will be tested in the first test paper and will include English comprehension, English technical and verbal reasoning questions. In the second paper children will answer non-verbal, spatial reasoning and maths skills questions. All the questions will be multiple-choice.

The verbal skills section will have a weighting of 50%. The mathematical and non-verbal sections will each have a weighting of 25%.

Is the test age appropriate?

The Buckinghamshire STT is designed to be taken at the beginning of the Autumn term when children move in to Year 6. Literacy levels in the test are kept as low as possible to ensure that the test assesses reasoning ability rather than levels of literacy. Additionally maths or English content in the test does not go beyond what the national curriculum expects children to know and be able to do by the end of Year 5



Test 1

Comprehension
Technical English (SPAG)
Verbal Reasoning (Not necessarily the old 21 types. GL and Bucks CC have stated these questions are always evolving. New Types have been used.

Test 2

NVR
Spatial Reasoning
Maths skills (up to the end of year 5)

Timings for each test

Test 1

Comprehension and SPAG 25 minutes
VR 20 minutes

Test 2

NVR and Spatial 20 minutes
Numeracy 25 minutes

Some recommended material

GL Assessment

https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/product ... ce-papers/

GL Assessment free material

https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-familiarisation

Schofield and Sims Mental Arithmetic Book 4

https://www.schofieldandsims.co.uk/prod ... ithmetic-4

CGP 10-minute comprehension – I have opted for the CEM version as it is all multiple choice, their GL version requires children to write their answers

I would add some questions to each comprehension regarding Vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and grammar

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... omprehensi

CGP SPAG 10-Minute Tests for 11+ English: Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar Ages 10-11

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... lish-spell

CGP Verbal Reasoning

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... ctice-book

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... bal-reason

CGP 10-minute Maths

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... maths-ages

CGP NVR

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... practice-b

CGP 10-minute Spatial Reasoning

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/11-plus-13-p ... -verbal-re

One very important aspect of 11 plus preparation is reading out loud to a parent at least three times a week, discussing vocabulary and comprehension.

Patricia

Thanks a lot Patricia...
I'VE also come across these books as well for the GL 11+ 2018.
http://www.letts-revision.co.uk/page/11 ... swersheets

Hi Patricia
l'm so pleased to see your post. Your advice was invaluable 6 years ago when l home tutored my daughter for 11+. l was feeling really nervous this time around as l had no idea what to expect from the new test and information was understandably scant. l'll search out all the resources you mentioned. May l get your opinion? l started tutoring my daughter in the Jan of her exam year so presumed l could do the same this time. There seems so much more to contend with though, have l left it too late?
Any and all advice gratefully received.

Hi New to all this

Absolutely not left it too late. You just need a timetable and keep to it! There is obviously a fine line between over kill and completing a fair amount of work.

In addition do not give up over the summer - six weeks off and children are "brain dead" on returning to school in September. My view is that this is the only summer children will need to work, all other school /college/ uni exams are taking before the summer break not within days of returning after a six weeks break.

Patricia

ln your opinion how much time per week should be devoted to studying for the transfer test. Also is there a parent guide/how to book that you recommend for the new style test? There just seems so much more to cover than with the old 21 types and a lot ( maths in particular ) has not been covered at school so l want to be sure that l am covering all the content.

Maths is only covering the Year 5 curriculum so should be done by the end of the year. You can check what the NC covers by looking here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 220714.pdf

Much appreciated guest 55!

Hi everyone..
Can anyone please guide me about which full practice papers to use near the end.??
As all the books mentioned above are 10 minutes practice tests.
Just GL assessment test papers pack 2 is enough? Because all others are CEM..

Only one book recommended is CEM - comprehension for reasons given

Plus the free tests from GL as mentioned in the original post.

Pack 1 from GL can be used if you need/want more

CGP also have some free versions

There are no tests on the market with the exact same content as the Bucks test - you could do some cutting and pasting of the GL tests to give them a more authentic feel.

Test 1 - Comprehension and spag from the English tests plus a selection from the VR

Test 2- NVR and Numeracy

None of the tests use spatial reasoning, so you would need to add a few questions from the 10 minute CGP spatial reasoning book

Patricia

Awesome information - thank you so much!