Gloucestershire Grammar Schools 11+ Guide for Parents
The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the shared 11+ test used by the seven Gloucestershire grammar schools, often referred to as the G7 schools.
This guide explains which schools use the Gloucestershire entrance test, what the current test assesses, what is changing from 2028 entry, and how to use the Scholars Tutorial online platform and printed paper sets to prepare effectively.
What Is the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test?
The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the shared entrance test used by the seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire for Year 7 entry.
Families only need to register once for the shared Gloucestershire grammar schools test, even if they are interested in more than one of the seven schools. During registration, parents choose which schools they want the child’s result to be shared with.
Sharing the result with the correct schools is important. If parents do not choose to share the result with a particular grammar school, that school will not be able to provide the child with a rank, and parents will not be able to apply to that school through the grammar route.
Achieving a qualifying rank does not automatically guarantee a grammar school place. Parents must still list the grammar school on the secondary school application form, and school admissions policies and oversubscription criteria still apply.
Which Grammar Schools Are in the Gloucestershire G7?
Gloucestershire County Council lists seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire.
| Gloucestershire Grammar School | Area | School Type |
|---|---|---|
| Pate's Grammar School | Cheltenham | Mixed |
| Denmark Road High School | Gloucester | Girls, with mixed sixth form |
| Ribston Hall High School | Gloucester | Girls, with mixed sixth form |
| Sir Thomas Rich's School | Gloucester | Boys, with mixed sixth form |
| The Crypt School | Gloucester | Mixed |
| Marling School | Stroud | Boys, with mixed sixth form |
| Stroud High School | Stroud | Girls, with mixed sixth form |
Parents should read the admissions policy for every school they are considering because each grammar school manages its own admissions criteria, ranking, appeals and oversubscription arrangements.
Current Test Provider for 2027 Entry
For September 2027 entry, the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test is provided by GL Assessment.
The test is taken in September of Year 6. For September 2027 entry, the planned test date is Saturday 12 September 2026.
Registration for September 2027 entry is open from noon on Monday 18 May 2026 to noon on Friday 26 June 2026.
Parents should check the current information for the child’s entry year, because Gloucestershire has announced important changes from 2028 entry onwards.
Important Change from 2028 Entry
The seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools have appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise as their admissions test provider for Year 7 entry from 2028 onwards.
From the 2028 entry process, the test date will move from September of Year 6 to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5. This means parents preparing for future years must check whether their child falls under the current GL Assessment route or the new FSCE route.
Preparation Warning for Parents
If your child is sitting the Gloucestershire test for 2027 entry, prepare for the current GL Assessment format. If your child is preparing for 2028 entry or later, check the latest G7 information carefully because the provider and timing are changing.
What Does the Current Gloucestershire Test Assess?
For the current GL Assessment test, the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test assesses:
- Verbal skills, including comprehension, vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning
- English skills
- Mathematics
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
In practical preparation terms, pupils should build confidence across:
- English comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Spelling, punctuation and grammar
- Verbal Reasoning
- Maths arithmetic
- Maths word problems
- Numerical reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial and visual reasoning
- Multiple-choice technique
- Working accurately under timed conditions
Current Gloucestershire Test Format
The current GL Assessment test has two test sessions. Each session takes around an hour, including instructions and preparation time.
| Paper / Session | Main Areas | Preparation Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal skills paper | Comprehension, vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning | English, vocabulary, SPAG, reading accuracy and Verbal Reasoning. |
| Non-verbal reasoning and mathematics paper | Non-Verbal Reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding | Maths, word problems, NVR, spatial reasoning and visual problem solving. |
The test is multiple choice. Each test session includes a total of 45 minutes of test time, with additional time for instructions and, where relevant, worked examples.
Important Preparation Point
Gloucestershire preparation should not focus only on English and Maths. Pupils should prepare across English, vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and multiple-choice exam technique.
Registration, Results and Applications
Parents register once for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test. During registration, they choose which of the seven grammar schools should receive the child’s test result.
Results are usually emailed to parents in mid-October before the Common Application Form deadline. Parents must still submit the secondary school application form to their home local authority by the published deadline.
For September 2027 entry, the Common Application Form deadline is 31 October 2026.
Parents should remember that the entrance test and the secondary school application are separate steps. A grammar school will not be offered if it has not been listed on the secondary school application form.
Qualifying Rank and School Allocation
After the test, each grammar school that parents have chosen to share the result with will confirm whether the child has achieved a qualifying score or qualifying rank for that school.
Gloucestershire grammar schools may use ranks, qualifying standards and individual admissions criteria. Therefore, qualifying for one school does not necessarily mean the same outcome for every school.
The local authority allocates school places through the coordinated admissions process. If more qualified children apply than there are places available, each school’s admissions and oversubscription criteria are used.
Special Educational Needs and Reasonable Adjustments
If a child has special educational needs, disabilities or usual classroom arrangements that may affect how they access the test, parents should check the current G7 school information and speak to the child’s school early.
Access arrangements and reasonable adjustments are usually considered before the test. Parents should not wait until close to the test date to raise concerns.
Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route for Gloucestershire
On the Scholars Tutorial platform, Gloucestershire preparation should focus on English, vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, SPAG and mixed exam-style practice.
Recommended Scholars Tutorial Online Route
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ English
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ Maths
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ Maths : Word Problems
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ VR
- 11+ Core Subjects → 11+ NVR
- 11+ Mock Exams → 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE
- 11+ Mock Exams → 11+ SPAG
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced VOCAB
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced English, for stronger pupils
- 11+ Advanced → 11+ Advanced Maths, for stronger pupils
The Scholars Tutorial 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets are useful because they combine:
- English + Verbal Reasoning
- Maths + Non-Verbal Reasoning
This supports the Gloucestershire test skill areas: verbal skills, English, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.
Scholars Tutorial Online Categories
Scholars Tutorial organises 11+ preparation into clear categories. For Gloucestershire, the most relevant areas are Core Subjects, Mock Exams, Foundation and selected Advanced practice.
11+ Core Subjects
These are essential for Gloucestershire preparation.
- 11+ English
- 11+ Maths
- 11+ Maths : Word Problems
- 11+ VR
- 11+ NVR
11+ Mock Exams
This category supports mixed exam-pattern practice.
- 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE — mixed sets for GL, CEM and ISEB-style preparation.
- 11+ SPAG — spelling, punctuation, grammar and language accuracy practice.
11+ Foundation
Foundation subjects are useful for children who need to strengthen basics before harder practice.
- 11+ Foundation English
- 11+ Foundation Maths
- 11+ Foundation VR
11+ Advanced
Advanced subjects are useful for pupils who need extra challenge.
- 11+ Advanced English
- 11+ Advanced Maths
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB
- 11+ Advanced SPAG
- Creative Writing, if also preparing for schools or tests with a writing element
English, Comprehension and Vocabulary Preparation
The verbal skills paper includes comprehension, vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning. Pupils should build strong English and word knowledge.
Your child should practise:
- Reading comprehension
- Inference
- Retrieving information from a passage
- Vocabulary in context
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Spelling accuracy
- Grammar and punctuation
- Sentence structure
- Careful reading of instructions
- Multiple-choice English questions
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ English
- 11+ SPAG
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB
- 11+ Advanced English, for stronger pupils
Maths Preparation for Gloucestershire
Mathematics is tested alongside non-verbal reasoning in the current Gloucestershire GL Assessment format. Pupils should practise both arithmetic and reasoning.
Your child should practise:
- Times tables and mental maths
- Written calculations
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Percentages
- Ratio and proportion
- Measurement
- Geometry
- Data handling
- Algebra basics
- Number patterns
- Word problems
- Multi-step reasoning
- Checking calculations
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ Maths
- 11+ Maths : Word Problems
- 11+ Foundation Maths
- 11+ Advanced Maths, for stronger pupils
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning forms part of the verbal skills assessed in the current Gloucestershire test.
Your child should practise:
- Word relationships
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Letter codes
- Word codes
- Compound words
- Hidden words
- Logical word sequences
- Vocabulary-based reasoning
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ VR
- 11+ Foundation VR
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB
- 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets
Non-Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal Reasoning assesses visual logic, pattern recognition and problem solving.
Your child should practise:
- Shape patterns
- Sequences
- Matrices
- Odd-one-out questions
- Rotation
- Reflection
- Symmetry
- Spatial awareness
- Visual problem solving
Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:
- 11+ NVR
- 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets
Printed Paper Sets for Gloucestershire 11+ Preparation
Printed paper sets are useful because they help pupils practise concentration, timing, multiple-choice answer selection and full-paper discipline.
Useful Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets include:
- 11+ Mixed Practice Papers
- 11+ English Practice Papers
- 11+ Maths Practice Papers
- 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
- 11+ SPAG Practice Papers
- 11+ Foundation Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers
- 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers
Printed papers should be used alongside online practice. Online practice helps target weak areas, while printed papers help pupils apply skills in a realistic paper format.
Multiple Choice Format
The current Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test uses multiple-choice style questions.
Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets support Multiple Choice Format practice.
This helps pupils learn how to:
- Read each question carefully
- Identify key information
- Use rough working effectively
- Eliminate incorrect options
- Avoid rushing
- Check calculations and reasoning
- Mark answer choices accurately
- Manage time across timed sections
Suggested Weekly Gloucestershire 11+ Preparation Plan
A balanced weekly plan for the current GL Assessment route could include:
- 2 days per week: English comprehension, vocabulary or SPAG
- 2 days per week: Maths or word problems
- 1 day per week: Verbal Reasoning
- 1 day per week: Non-Verbal Reasoning
- 1 day per week: Mixed practice, printed paper practice or mistake review
Pupils preparing for 2028 entry or later should check the new FSCE test specifications when published and adjust the preparation plan accordingly.
Common Gloucestershire 11+ Preparation Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Practising only English and Maths while ignoring reasoning
- Leaving Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning until the final weeks
- Using outdated test provider information
- Forgetting that the 2028 entry process is changing to FSCE
- Not sharing the test result with every school you want to apply to
- Doing papers without reviewing mistakes
- Starting timed work before the child understands the question types
- Focusing only on speed instead of accuracy
- Missing the registration deadline
- Assuming a qualifying rank guarantees a place at a specific school
How Parents Can Support at Home
Parents can make Gloucestershire 11+ preparation more effective by keeping it steady, calm and balanced.
Helpful habits include:
- Check whether your child is preparing under the 2027 GL route or the 2028 FSCE route
- Read individual grammar school admissions policies
- Choose the correct schools when sharing test results during registration
- Encourage daily reading and vocabulary discussion
- Practise mental maths regularly
- Review mistakes after each test
- Keep a notebook of weak topics
- Use online practice to target gaps
- Use printed papers for exam discipline
- Practise Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning consistently
- Avoid last-minute cramming
- Focus on confidence as well as scores
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test?
It is the shared entrance test used by the seven Gloucestershire grammar schools for Year 7 admissions.
Which schools are in the Gloucestershire G7?
The seven schools are Pate's Grammar School, Denmark Road High School, Ribston Hall High School, Sir Thomas Rich's School, The Crypt School, Marling School and Stroud High School.
Who provides the Gloucestershire 11+ test for 2027 entry?
For September 2027 entry, the test is provided by GL Assessment.
What is changing from 2028 entry?
From 2028 entry onwards, the seven Gloucestershire Grammar Schools have appointed Future Stories Community Enterprise as the new admissions test provider. The test date will also move to the latter part of the summer term of Year 5.
What does the current Gloucestershire test assess?
The current GL Assessment test assesses verbal skills, including comprehension, vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning, plus English skills, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
How many test sessions are there?
The current test has two sessions. One paper tests verbal skills, and the other assesses Non-Verbal Reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding.
Are the current Gloucestershire test questions multiple choice?
Yes. The current GL Assessment test uses multiple-choice style questions.
Do parents need to register separately for each Gloucestershire grammar school?
No. Parents register once for the shared entrance test, but they must choose which schools they want the child’s result to be shared with.
Does a qualifying rank guarantee a place?
No. A qualifying rank allows the child to be considered, but school admissions policies, oversubscription criteria and the Common Application Form still apply.
Which Scholars Tutorial subjects are best for Gloucestershire preparation?
Useful subjects include 11+ English, 11+ Maths, 11+ Maths : Word Problems, 11+ VR, 11+ NVR, 11+ SPAG, 11+ Advanced VOCAB and 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets.
Are printed paper sets useful for Gloucestershire 11+ preparation?
Yes. Printed paper sets help pupils practise multiple-choice technique, timed sections, concentration and full-paper discipline. They work best when combined with online topic practice.
Final Advice
Gloucestershire 11+ preparation should be balanced across English, vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The most important accuracy point is to prepare for the correct entry year. For 2027 entry, the test is provided by GL Assessment. From 2028 entry onwards, Gloucestershire has announced a move to FSCE and an earlier test timing in Year 5.
The Scholars Tutorial online platform helps pupils strengthen these areas through organised subject categories, while printed paper sets help children practise with realistic exam discipline.
For Gloucestershire preparation, the 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets under 11+ Mock Exams are useful because they combine English with Verbal Reasoning and Maths with Non-Verbal Reasoning.
By combining online practice, printed paper sets, timed work, careful mistake review and up-to-date admissions checking, pupils can build the confidence and accuracy needed for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test.