GCSE rank #83 In-site school
The Crypt School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
Consortium guide
Gloucestershire 11 Plus
Understand how the Gloucestershire grammar-school route works, which schools share it, what the assessment usually looks like, and the practical checks to make before building a shortlist.
7 schools GL Assessment 7 key dates
Last checked 29 Mar 2026
Applies To
The Gloucestershire 11 Plus is used by all 7 grammar schools in the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium.
Test Format
The test provider is GL Assessment, and includes the content in the areas of: maths, verbal, and non-verbal reasoning.
Eligibility
Any child in Year 6 can sit the Gloucestershire 11 Plus.
Places Available
Planned Admission Numbers (PANs) can vary by year for each school in the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium.
Applications
Grammar schools in the Gloucestershire area are over-subscribed.
01 / Route overview
What this route covers
The Gloucestershire 11 Plus is an 11 Plus exam set by GL Assessment.
In this section
- What the route covers
- Which schools use it
- What to compare next
Gloucestershire 11 Plus is a shared route used by 7 schools, so it helps to get clear on the test, timeline, and school list before narrowing further.
Once the Gloucestershire route itself is clear, the shortlist usually improves when you compare travel, admissions rules, and school fit instead of treating every school on the route as interchangeable.
Schools using this route
These are the schools currently linked to the Gloucestershire route.
GCSE rank #88 In-site school
Denmark Road High School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #74 In-site school
Marling School
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Boys only
GCSE rank #11 In-site school
Pate's Grammar School
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Mixed
GCSE rank #123 In-site school
Ribston Hall High School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Good Girls only
GCSE rank #39 In-site school
Sir Thomas Rich's School
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Good Boys only
GCSE rank #41 In-site school
Stroud High School
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Ofsted: Outstanding Girls only
What to compare next
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
02 / Selection test
Exam format and structure
The Gloucestershire 11 Plus includes multiple choice papers assessing competence in maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. They are designed to assess your child’s academic ability and reasoning skills, and compare their results against their cohort of applicants. At the beginning of each session there is time built in for the sharing of instructions and, for the non-verbal reasoning element, some worked examples. Students are allocated a total of 45 minutes to complete the tests themselves.
In this section
- Paper structure
- Subjects covered
- Stages or provider
Paper structure
Paper 1: Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
Paper 2: Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment)
See the papers and topics below.
In this paper, students will be tested on their verbal skills (including comprehension, vocabulary and verbal reasoning). The test lasts around an hour in total.
This paper assesses non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding. The test lasts around an hour in total.
03 / Scoring
Pass mark and score guidance
Your child’s score will be age-standardised to ensure no one has an unfair advantage due to their age. This score is then used to determine whether they qualify for a place. The qualifying standard for the Gloucestershire 11 Plus exam is not pre-determined but instead calculated after the test is taken and places are then allocated to students based on a school’s specific admissions criteria.
In this section
- Score mix
- Threshold notes
- How marks are described
The qualifying standard is calculated based off a predetermined proportion of applicants getting places in the schools.
04 / Applications
Key dates and how to apply
To register your child for the Gloucestershire 11 Plus exam, complete the online application on the council website. This is required whether you live in Gloucestershire or are applying from outside the area.
In this section
- Registration timing
- Test day
- Application steps
Key dates
Registration opens
19 May 2025
Registration closes
27 June 2025
Online application facility opens
3 September 2025
Grammar School Entrance Test Day
13 September 2025
Grammar School Test results sent out
Prior 31 October 2025
Closing date for applications
Midnight, 31 October 2025
National offer day
2nd March 2026
Application steps
Register online with Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Consortium
– Complete the registration form during the registration window available from the school’s website. You’ll need to provide your child’s details and the primary school they attend.
Test centre for non-Gloucestershire schools
You will be assigned a test centre where your child can sit the Gloucestershire 11 Plus in September if they do not attend a Gloucestershire primary school.
Keep your confirmation email
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email which you should keep to refer to it later.
07 / Shortlisting
Admissions points to compare school by school
Once the route itself is clear, treat the linked schools as separate choices. This is usually where travel, oversubscription rules, and school fit start to matter most.
In this section
- Travel and realism
- Oversubscription rules
- School-by-school fit
The shared route keeps the testing process simpler, but the final shortlist usually depends on how each linked school applies its admissions rules and how practical each option still looks once travel is taken seriously.
Check these before you rank schools
- Travel time and how realistic the school day looks from home
- Oversubscription and admissions rules applied after the test result
- School type, setting, and whether the environment suits your child
- Any route-specific deadlines, forms, or extra steps to keep alongside the shared test
08 / Preparation
How to prepare for this route
Supporting your child’s preparation for the Gloucestershire 11 Plus makes a huge difference. Here are some practical steps you can take to help them succeed:
In this section
- What to practise
- How to plan
- How to stay grounded
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to give them ample time to confidently build the skills they need.
Use Practice Papers
Work through Gloucestershire 11 Plus style test papers in simulated test conditions. This helps your child get accustomed to the format and practices exam technique.
Focus on Weak Areas
Track your child’s progress to identify the areas and topics they find the most difficult to succeed in.
Encourage Daily Reading
Reading regularly strengthens their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which help out with the the English and reasoning papers.
Try Online Tools
Use online platforms that offer Gloucestershire 11 Plus test papers, specific practice questions and personal feedback to help make revision more engaging and effective.
Keeping preparation consistent, structured, and positive can help your child feel confident and ready for the test on the day.
09 / FAQs
Questions families often ask
Use these answers as a planning guide, then confirm the live admissions details for your application year.
In this section
- Common questions
- Decision checks
- Application-year details
Does one Gloucestershire grammar-school route result cover every school on this page? +
In broad terms, yes: the shared Gloucestershire grammar-school route route lets one test result support several school applications. The important caveat is that final admissions rules can still differ between the schools using that route.
Does a qualifying score guarantee a place? +
No. A strong or qualifying result may keep a school in play, but final offers still depend on the admissions policy, oversubscription rules, and how competitive that year is.
What should parents compare once the route itself is clear? +
Parents usually make better decisions when they compare location, school style, and realistic journey times across the county rather than assuming every Gloucestershire grammar option fits the same family routine. That turns a broad route into a realistic shortlist instead of a wish list.
Who usually manages registration or applications for Gloucestershire? +
The live process usually sits with the participating schools and Gloucestershire admissions processes. This page helps you understand the route, but the final registration and admissions instructions should always be checked on the live official pages for the relevant year.