11+ in Slough: the GL Assessment format
What a child sits in Slough, what each paper is really testing, and what that format means for how you prepare. Format and method only — the dates, thresholds and admission rules belong to Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, and we do not restate them.
What the papers cover
- Verbal reasoning
- Maths
What to prioritise for this format
- With only two papers, each one counts for more. There is no third paper to absorb a weak morning, so consistency matters more here than breadth.
- Verbal reasoning rests on vocabulary more than on puzzle technique. Wide reading through Year 5 is the highest-return preparation available.
- Because there is no separate non-verbal paper, time is better spent on arithmetic fluency and word problems than on shape puzzles.
Dates, pass marks and admission rules change every year and vary by school. Always confirm the current details with Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools — we deliberately don’t republish them here.
Free worked examples by topic
Each page below explains the method, shows five worked examples rising in difficulty, and names the mistake that costs marks.
Verbal reasoning
Common questions
- Which papers does the Slough 11+ include?
- Verbal reasoning, Maths. The format is set by GL Assessment. Confirm the current arrangements with Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools before you plan around them.
- When is the Slough 11+ sat?
- Almost all 11+ tests are sat at the start of Year 6, for entry the following September — which means the preparation year is Year 5. Registration usually closes months before the test itself, so check the deadline with the admissions authority early.
- What score does a child need in Slough?
- We deliberately do not publish thresholds. They are set by the schools, adjusted for age, and move from year to year depending on who applies — a number quoted on a website is out of date the moment it is written. Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools is the source worth trusting.
- How should we prepare for the Slough format specifically?
- With only two papers, each one counts for more. There is no third paper to absorb a weak morning, so consistency matters more here than breadth.
See where your child stands
Ten questions across the papers, no account needed, and a written report naming the topics with marks left in them.
Take the free 10-question diagnostic →