Bucks 11 Plus Results: When They Come Out and What to Do Next
Results for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test are released in October of Year 6. Here is everything parents need to know: when results arrive, what qualified and not qualified mean, how to get your child's actual score, and the critical next steps.
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When Do Results Come Out?
Results are released in October of Year 6 — typically around three to four weeks after the September test date. Buckinghamshire Council publishes the exact results date for each year. Results are communicated to parents by letter and/or email, and may also be available through an online parent portal.
What the Result Means
Qualified (121 or above): Your child has met the Buckinghamshire grammar school standard. They are eligible to apply for grammar school places. This is not a guarantee of a place — it means they can be considered. Places at oversubscribed grammar schools are then allocated by each school's oversubscription criteria, primarily distance from the school.
Not qualified (below 121): Your child did not reach the standardised score threshold. They are not eligible for state grammar school places in Buckinghamshire through the standard admissions route. There are still options — see the FAQ section below for details.
Getting Your Child's Actual Score
The initial results letter states only 'qualified' or 'not qualified'. The actual standardised score is not included automatically. Parents who wish to know their child's score can request it from Buckinghamshire Council — the process and any associated forms are confirmed each year on the Council's website. The score is useful for understanding how far above or below the threshold your child performed, which can inform decisions about appeals or alternative school options.
If Your Child Is Qualified: Next Steps
After receiving a qualified result, the critical next step is submitting the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF). The SCAF allows you to list up to three grammar school preferences and up to three comprehensive school preferences. The SCAF deadline is typically in October or November — check the current year's deadline with Buckinghamshire Council immediately after receiving results. Missing the SCAF deadline means your application is treated as late.
Grammar school preference order on the SCAF matters. List schools in genuine preference order — the form is processed as a ranked list, and schools only see whether you have listed them (not in what position), so there is no strategic benefit to placing a school anywhere other than its true preference position.
If Your Child Is Not Qualified: Options
Not qualifying is not the end of the road for secondary school. Buckinghamshire has strong comprehensive secondary schools, and non-qualifying children apply through the standard admissions process. Additional options include: the formal appeals process (if exceptional circumstances affected performance), late grammar entry in Year 7 or Year 8 at schools that occasionally admit mid-year, and independent school entry which has separate examinations. Some families also consider grammar schools in neighbouring counties (Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire) that have their own entry tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Bucks 11 Plus results come out?
Results for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test are released in October of Year 6, typically around three to four weeks after the test date. For children who sat the September 2025 test, results come out in October 2025. For children sitting in September 2026, results come out in October 2026. Buckinghamshire Council publishes the exact results date each year.
What does 'qualified' mean?
'Qualified' means your child achieved a standardised score of 121 or above on the Secondary Transfer Test. This makes them eligible to apply for grammar school places in Buckinghamshire. It does not guarantee a place at any specific grammar school — that depends on each school's oversubscription criteria, primarily distance.
What does 'not qualified' mean?
'Not qualified' means your child scored below 121 on the standardised score. They cannot apply for state grammar school places in Buckinghamshire through the normal admissions route. Non-qualifying children will be offered places at comprehensive secondary schools based on their SCAF preferences.
Can I find out my child's actual score?
Yes, but not automatically. The initial results communication only states 'qualified' or 'not qualified'. Parents can request their child's actual standardised score from Buckinghamshire Council after results are released. The score is not used in admissions (only the threshold matters), but knowing it can be helpful for understanding performance and planning next steps.
My child didn't qualify — are there any options?
There are several options: (1) Appeal — if you believe there were exceptional circumstances that affected performance, there is a formal appeals process. (2) Apply to late grammar test (Year 7 entry) — some grammar schools occasionally admit pupils directly into Year 7 or Year 8 if places become available, through their own assessment process. (3) Apply to comprehensive schools through normal admissions — non-qualifying children can still attend excellent comprehensive secondary schools. (4) Re-sit — there is no facility to re-sit the Secondary Transfer Test, but some grammar schools (particularly in neighbouring areas or independent schools) have their own entrance exams that can be sat independently.
My child qualified — what happens next?
After receiving a 'qualified' result, parents must submit the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) listing up to three grammar school preferences, along with comprehensive school preferences. The SCAF deadline is typically in October or November. Do not miss this deadline. Place offers are then made on National Offer Day in March.