If you live in the area where Buckinghamshire and Berkshire meet, you are in a unique but often confusing position. You have access to two different sets of excellent grammar schools: those in the Buckinghamshire county consortium and those in the Slough consortium.
However, many parents don’t realise that the 11+ exams for these two groups are significantly different. A child who is well-prepared for one may be caught out by the style and content of the other.
Understanding these differences is the first and most critical step in creating a focused, effective revision plan that gives your child the best chance of success, whichever schools you are targeting.
At elevenplus.com, we specialise in demystifying this process. This guide will provide a clear, side-by-side comparison of the two exams, explaining the key differences in format, content, and style.
In this definitive guide, you will learn:
- The different exam providers for each consortium (GL vs. CEM).
- A clear breakdown of the subjects tested in each exam.
- The crucial differences in exam structure and timing.
- Why your child’s preparation strategy must be tailored to the specific test they are taking.
The First Key Difference: The Exam Provider
The single biggest difference between the two exams comes down to who creates them.
- The Buckinghamshire Transfer Test is written by GL Assessment. GL is known for its clear, structured papers that are strongly aligned with the school curriculum.
- The Slough Consortium 11+ Exam is written by CEM (the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring). CEM exams are known for being less predictable and having a stronger focus on vocabulary and reasoning skills.
This fundamental difference influences everything from the subjects tested to the style of the questions.
Comparison: Subjects and Structure
Let’s break down what your child will face in each test.
| Feature | Buckinghamshire Transfer Test (GL) | Slough Consortium Exam (CEM) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Verbal Skills: (approx. 50 mins) • English Comprehension • Technical English (SPaG) • Verbal Reasoning | Verbal Skills & English: (approx. 50 mins) • English Comprehension • Verbal Reasoning • Synonyms & Antonyms |
| Paper 2 | Maths & Non-Verbal Skills: (approx. 50 mins) • Mathematics • Non-Verbal Reasoning • Spatial Reasoning | Non-Verbal & Numerical Skills: (approx. 50 mins) • Non-Verbal Reasoning • Numerical Reasoning (Maths) |
What Are the Key Differences in Practice?
On the surface, the subjects look similar, but the style and emphasis are very different.
1. Exam Structure
- Bucks (GL): The sections within each paper are usually separate and clearly signposted. For example, a comprehension section will be followed by a distinct verbal reasoning section.
- Slough (CEM): The papers are often more mixed. A CEM paper might jump between short comprehension tasks, synonym questions, and maths problems in a less predictable order. This tests a child’s ability to switch focus quickly.
2. Content and Focus
- Bucks (GL): Has a very strong focus on core curriculum knowledge. The Maths questions, for example, will feel very familiar to a child who is secure in their Key Stage 2 work.
- Slough (CEM): While it covers the curriculum, CEM places a much heavier emphasis on vocabulary and verbal reasoning. The verbal reasoning section is often considered more challenging and requires a very wide vocabulary to do well.
3. Timing and Pacing
- Bucks (GL): The timings are tight but generally manageable. Children are often instructed on how much time to spend on each section.
- Slough (CEM): The CEM exam is known for being very fast-paced, with many questions to answer in a short time. Children who cannot work quickly and efficiently can find themselves running out of time.
Why Your Preparation Must Be Different
You cannot prepare for both exams in the same way.
- Preparing for Bucks: Your focus should be on ensuring rock-solid curriculum knowledge in Maths and English, and practising the specific question types found in GL-style Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers.
- Preparing for Slough: Your focus must include a significant and early emphasis on vocabulary building. Your child also needs to practice working at a much faster pace and be comfortable switching between different question types quickly.
The Bottom Line
The Buckinghamshire and Slough 11+ exams are two very different tests that require two very different preparation strategies. The first step on your journey is to decide which schools you are realistically targeting and then commit to preparing for that specific exam format. Trying to prepare for both at the same time can lead to confusion and prevent your child from mastering either one.
Ready to start your focused preparation?
➡️ Explore our range of Practice Packs, with specific resources tailored to both the GL Assessment (Bucks) and CEM (Slough) exam styles.
