With a prestigious Royal Charter granted in 1562, The Royal Grammar School (RGS) in High Wycombe is one of the UK’s leading state grammar schools for boys. It has an enduring reputation for exceptional academic success, consistently producing outstanding exam results and a high number of entries to Oxbridge and other top universities.
Beyond its academic prowess, RGS is committed to developing well-rounded, confident, and socially responsible young men. A recent Ofsted inspection, which indicated the school is performing at an exceptional level, praised its ethos of “#BeMore,” which encourages students to develop character, resilience, and a spirit of collaboration. Offering both day and boarding places, RGS provides a vibrant and supportive community.
For parents seeking an environment that combines a rich heritage with a forward-looking approach to education, RGS is a top choice. Gaining a place, however, requires successfully navigating the Buckinghamshire 11+ system. This guide will provide you with a clear, accurate, and strategic roadmap to the entire process.
In this definitive guide, you will learn:
- Key dates for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.
- A detailed breakdown of the 11+ exam format for The Royal Grammar School.
- A clear explanation of the qualifying score, weighting, and the critical importance of the catchment area.
- An expert strategy to prepare your child for the specific demands of the test.
Key Information for 2026 Entry
- Address: Amersham Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 6QT
- Number of Places in Year 7: 182 day places & 10 boarding places
- Exam Provider: GL Assessment
- School Type: Boys’ Grammar School (with day and boarding options)
Key Dates for your Diary (2026 Entry)
- Registration Opens: Friday 2nd May 2025
- Registration Closes: Friday 13th June 2025 (3pm)
- Practice Test Date: Tuesday 9th September 2025
- Secondary Transfer Test Date: Thursday 11th September 2025
- Results Released to Parents: Friday 10th October 2025
- Secondary School Application Deadline (CAF): Friday 31st October 2025
- National Offer Day: Monday 2nd March 2026
Please note that dates can vary slightly, so it is always best to confirm directly with Buckinghamshire Council.
The Royal Grammar School 11+ Exam Format
As part of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) consortium, The Royal Grammar School uses the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test.
The test is written and administered by GL Assessment and consists of two papers, both taken on the same day with a short break in between. Each paper is approximately 60 minutes long.
Paper 1: Verbal Skills This paper focuses on language, logic, and comprehension. It includes:
- English Comprehension
- Technical English (Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar)
- Verbal Reasoning
Paper 2: Maths & Non-Verbal Skills This paper focuses on numerical and spatial reasoning. It includes:
- Mathematics
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
All questions across both papers are multiple-choice, and your child will mark their answers on a separate answer sheet.
The Admissions Process: Score, Weighting, and Catchment
Gaining a place at RGS is a two-stage process.
Stage 1: The Qualifying Score First, your child must achieve the minimum “qualifying score” in the exam. This score is age-standardised to ensure fairness. The final score is calculated using a specific weighting:
- Verbal Ability: 50%
- Numerical Ability (Maths): 25%
- Non-Verbal Ability: 25%
The qualifying score for any Buckinghamshire grammar school is 121.
Stage 2: The Oversubscription Criteria Achieving a score of 121 does not guarantee a place. Because RGS is heavily oversubscribed, it then applies its specific admissions criteria to the pool of qualified children. Places are allocated in the following order of priority:
- Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children.
- Boys eligible for Pupil Premium who live within the catchment area.
- Brothers of current students.
- Sons of staff members.
- Boys living within the school’s defined catchment area.
- All other boys, ranked by straight-line distance from the school.
The Bottom Line: The catchment area is critically important. In recent years, it has been extremely difficult to secure a place if you live outside the defined catchment area. You must check the latest admissions policy on the school’s website to understand the rules and check your address.
[Image: A stylised map graphic showing the concept of a school with a defined catchment area circle around it.]
How to Prepare for The Royal Grammar School Test
A structured and focused approach is the key to success.
- Focus on the GL Format: Ensure all practice materials are in the GL Assessment style. This means practising with multiple-choice questions and, crucially, using a separate answer sheet to perfect exam technique.
- Build a Broad Skillset: The weighting shows that verbal skills are twice as important as Maths or Non-Verbal Reasoning. However, a balanced revision plan is still essential, as a very high score in one area cannot compensate for a weak score in another.
- Develop Speed and Accuracy: The papers are tightly timed. Regular practice under timed conditions is vital to build the speed and accuracy needed to perform well under pressure.
- Don’t Forget the Foundations: The GL Assessment is strongly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. A deep and fluent understanding of core Maths and English topics is the best possible preparation.
By understanding the specific format of the exam and the importance of the admissions criteria, you can create a preparation plan that gives your son the best possible chance of success.
Ready to start your focused preparation?
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