The Aylesbury Grammar School 11 plus is Buckinghamshire's Secondary Transfer Test, and boys need a score of 121 or more to qualify. Aylesbury Grammar School is a boys' grammar school with 186 Year 7 places. Boys at Buckinghamshire primary schools are registered for the test automatically; everyone else applies to Buckinghamshire Council.
This guide covers the test, the key dates for September 2027 entry, how places are offered and how to prepare. It is based on the school's 2027 admissions policy and Buckinghamshire Council's pages, checked on 13 October 2026.
Sources: Aylesbury Grammar School, Admissions Policy 2027; Buckinghamshire Council, marking the test (checked 13 October 2026).
Aylesbury Grammar School at a glance
| Type | State grammar school (academy since 1 July 2011), ages 11 to 18, with a sixth form |
| Pupils | Boys |
| Location | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire |
| Year 7 places | 186 (2027) |
| Entrance test | Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, run by Buckinghamshire Council for all the county's grammar schools |
| Qualifying score | 121 or more, or deemed qualified by a Selection Review |
| Website | ags.bucks.sch.uk |
Age range and sixth form are from the Department for Education's register of schools. For the other grammar schools in the county, see our page on grammar schools in Buckinghamshire.
Key dates for September 2027 entry
If your son is at a Buckinghamshire primary school, he is registered for the test automatically unless you withdraw him. Children at independent schools in Buckinghamshire and at schools outside the county must be registered with Buckinghamshire Council.
- 1 May 2026
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens
- 2 June 2026
Secondary Transfer Test registration closes (children not at Buckinghamshire primary schools must register)
- 8 September 2026
Practice test
- 10 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test
- 9 October 2026
Results released
- 31 October 2026
Deadline to name the school on your home council's application
- 1 March 2027
National Offer Day
Sources: Aylesbury Grammar School, Admissions Policy 2027; Buckinghamshire Council, timeline for entry in 2027; GOV.UK. The school's policy gives 21 June 2026 as its deadline for testing applications; the council, which runs the test, gave 2 June 2026.
The Secondary Transfer Test: what's in it
Boys sit two papers on the same day in the autumn of Year 6, each about 60 minutes, including an introduction with practice examples. All the questions are multiple-choice.
- Verbal skills, including comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning (50% of the score)
- Mathematical skills (25% of the score)
- Non-verbal skills, including spatial reasoning (25% of the score)
The scores in each skill area are age-standardised, so a child born in August isn't at a disadvantage against one born in September. The three standardised scores make up the Secondary Transfer Test Score, and a score of 121 or more qualifies automatically for a Buckinghamshire grammar school place.
If you believe your son would have qualified but for his circumstances on the day, you can ask for a Selection Review. A panel of secondary and primary headteachers considers it before places are allocated. Boys deemed qualified can be considered for any Buckinghamshire grammar school.
How places are offered
If more qualified boys apply than there are places, Aylesbury Grammar School's 2027 policy gives priority in this order. Boys with an Education, Health and Care plan naming the school are admitted first, under separate rules.
- Looked-after boys
Looked-after and previously looked-after boys.
- Up to six places for boys scoring 115 to 120
Looked-after boys living anywhere, or catchment-area boys eligible for Pupil Premium, who scored 115 to 120 and were not deemed qualified by a Selection Review.
- Catchment boys eligible for Pupil Premium
Living in the catchment area continuously from 1 September of Year 6.
- Siblings
Brothers of boys who will still be at Aylesbury Grammar School when he starts, then brothers of girls who will be at Aylesbury High School, then brothers of former pupils.
- Children of staff and exceptional needs
Qualified children of permanent staff, then boys with exceptional medical or social needs that only this school can meet.
- Catchment, then everyone else
Boys living in the catchment area, then all other qualified boys.
Summary of section 5 of the 2027 admissions policy. Within each category, places go to those living closest to the school's main entrance gate on Walton Road, in a straight line.
A map of the catchment area is on the school's website. Appeals and Selection Reviews are handled by Buckinghamshire Council for the school.
How to prepare for the Aylesbury Grammar School 11 plus
Half the score comes from verbal skills, so a strong vocabulary and plenty of reading can help. Buckinghamshire Council publishes a familiarisation booklet with sample questions and points families to free materials from GL Assessment.
For vocabulary, print our free 11 plus vocabulary list with meanings and try the free 11+ vocabulary quiz. Our verbal reasoning guide explains the common question types, and the Year 5 plan and Year 6 guide cover timing.
How 11+ Vocab Master and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master can help
Whichever grammar school you aim for, our two apps help build the vocabulary and verbal reasoning skills that 11+ tests rely on, in short sessions on a phone or tablet.
- 11+ Vocab Master, our 11+ vocabulary app: 2,500+ words for CEM-style and GL Assessment tests across 100 categories, 12,000+ vocabulary questions, 6 practice modes, 7 games and unlimited mock tests.
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master: 2,000+ verbal reasoning questions covering 38+ question types, with flashcards, mock tests and 5 VR games, such as Analogy Arena and Code Cracker.
- Vocab Master has progress tracking, works offline, is ad-free and has audio pronunciation. VR Master has a Hard Questions list. 11+ Vocab Master is Educational App Store Certified.
Both apps come with a 7-day free trial. After that, 11+ Vocab Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £12.99 a year, and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £14.99 a year.
11+ Vocab Master
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Frequently asked questions
What score do you need for Aylesbury Grammar School?
Boys need a Secondary Transfer Test Score of 121 or more, or to be deemed qualified by a Selection Review. Up to six places can go to looked-after boys living anywhere, or catchment-area boys eligible for Pupil Premium, who score 115 to 120.
How many places are there at Aylesbury Grammar School?
The school's planned admission number for Year 7 in 2027 is 186. If more qualified boys apply than there are places, the oversubscription criteria in the admissions policy decide who is offered a place.
Do I need to register my son for the Buckinghamshire test?
Not if he attends a Buckinghamshire primary school: registration is automatic unless you withdraw him. Children at independent schools in Buckinghamshire or schools outside the county must be registered with Buckinghamshire Council.
Does Aylesbury Grammar School have a catchment area?
Yes. Several oversubscription categories give priority to boys living in the catchment area from 1 September of Year 6, and a map is on the school's website. Ties are broken by straight-line distance to the school's main gate on Walton Road.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026. Always check the school's website for the latest dates and policy.
- Admissions Policy 2027 (determined December 2025) and Year 7 admissions, Aylesbury Grammar School
- Secondary Transfer Testing process, marking and timeline for entry in 2027, Buckinghamshire Council
- Aylesbury Grammar School, Get Information about Schools, Department for Education
- School admissions: how to apply, GOV.UK