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Introduction
Handsworth Grammar School offers a dynamic and academically successful setting for its pupils, welcoming boys between the ages of 11 and 16, as well as boys and girls into the Sixth Form. The school admits students who have passed the 11+ exam from Birmingham and nearby areas, including the local community. Founded in 1862, HGS has a longstanding history of providing quality education.
The school adheres to the national curriculum, placing importance on fundamental subjects like English, mathematics, and science. It also offers a variety of additional subjects such as humanities, languages, physical education, and creative arts. Furthermore, HGS is dedicated to providing many extracurricular activities that cater to students’ wide-ranging interests. These activities include sports, music, technology clubs, and inter-form quizzes.
Handsworth Grammar School organises multiple concerts annually, enabling students to build self-confidence by performing for an audience or contributing backstage. In addition, numerous pupils receive music lessons at the school, mastering instruments such as the guitar, trombone, piano, and dhol. Consequently, HGS features a variety of musical ensembles, including a big band, brass group, string quartet, and guitar ensemble.
Students participate in multiple excursions throughout the year, from local field trips to international travels to countries like France and Germany. They also engage in activities like raising funds for charitable causes.
HGS aims to establish itself as a centre of excellence by preserving traditional values while adapting to the advancements offered by modern technology. It’s committed to serving the local community and the broader Birmingham area.
The school boasts exceptional exam results at both GCSE and A-level, surpassing the standards of both public and private educational institutions. These achievements have contributed to HGS receiving an “Outstanding” rating in every category from Ofsted. [1]
To gain a glimpse into the academic environment at Handsworth Grammar School, watch this brief promotional video:
Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2025
Address: Grove Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 9ET
County: West Midlands
Admissions info: 0121 554 2794
School type: Boys’ Grammar
Number of pupils: 936 (approx.)
Number of places in Year 7: 150
Open Day date: June / September
Exam date: September 2025
Pass mark: Aim for 80-85% in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Exam type / Board: West Midlands Partnership (GL Assessment)
Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
In Birmingham, all eight grammar schools follow the admission criteria of the West Midlands Grammar School Consortium. Only pupils who reach the required standard via an entrance exam will be considered for entry to Handsworth Grammar School.
The Consortium requires that students are selected for admission based on their combined, age-standardised score in the 11 Plus exam. To be eligible for admission, pupils must attain the minimum ‘qualifying score’ in the exam. Parents should note however, that attainment of the qualifying score doesn’t necessarily guarantee students a place at Handsworth.
Applicants are ranked according to their test score and if test scores are equal, priority is given to:
- Looked after children and previously looked after children.
- Children who live closest to the school.
More information about the admission policy at Handsworth Grammar School can be found on the school’s website. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to Handsworth Grammar School
To apply for a Year 7 place at Handsworth Grammar School, parents need to register their child by completing an online application form. Additionally, parents must complete a Local Authority Preference form. In order to complete the full application, parents must also provide a recent passport sized-photograph of their child, which can be emailed alongside the required forms.
Parents will receive their son’s 11 Plus test results in October, although place allocations will not be known until the following March.
Handsworth Grammar School Catchment Area
Does Handsworth Grammar School have a catchment area?
Yes, they do. For Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, priority catchment area is defined by home addresses that are within the following electoral wards:
- Birmingham : Birchfield, Edgbaston, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Holyhead, Kingstanding, Ladywood, Lozells, Newtown, North Edgbaston, Oscott, Perry Barr, Soho & Jewellery Quarter.
- Sandwell: Smethwick, Soho & Victoria, St Paul’s, West Bromwich Central.
Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus exam consists of two test papers, each lasting approximately 60 minutes. The papers are separated into individually timed sections that cover:
- English Comprehension
- Verbal Reasoning
- Mathematics
- Non-Verbal + Spatial Reasoning
The weightings for the test results are 50% for English/verbal reasoning, 25% for non-verbal reasoning and 25% for mathematics.
The English Comprehension paper examines comprehension skills, including inference. There will be no writing component.
The Verbal Reasoning section of the exam assesses logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary.
The maths paper measures problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including questions on number, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics.
The exam will also cover Non-Verbal Reasoning or Spatial Reasoning, both testing logic and intelligence.
Each subject is tested in both papers. All questions will be multiple choice and scores are age-standardised to ensure that no students have an advantage based on their age.
How to Prepare for the Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?
Many children are at first anxious about sitting the 11 Plus exam, but with thorough and regular revision, you can ensure that your child takes exam day in their stride.
Practice exam papers are an invaluable part of your son’s Handsworth Grammar School 11+ preparation. Doing these papers under timed conditions is a long-standing, proven method of effective revision. Not only do they give your child a clearer idea of the structure of the exam, but they are also shown to improve a child’s time management ahead of the exam.
Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
The school’s qualifying score for admission is 205. This is the minimum standardised score that makes applicants eligible for a place.
Pupils who are able to score 80-85% consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus exam.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.
Handsworth Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers
The resources listed below are specifically designed to help students prepare for the 11+ Exam at Handsworth Grammar School. They cover every aspect of the exam, which is created by GL Assessment.
All question types that could come up in the actual exam are addressed across English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
Most of the products below also come with detailed video tutorials to accompany every question. These allow your child to quickly learn from their mistakes and understand the most effective techniques to approach any question that could come up in their exam.
Full Practice Tests
The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the West Midlands 11+ Exam, used by Handsworth Grammar School for Year 7 entry. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 1
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 2
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 3
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 4
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 5
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 6
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 7
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 8
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 9
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 10
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 11
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 12
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 13
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 14
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 15
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 16
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 17
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 18
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 19
11+ West Midlands Practice Test 20
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English Comprehension
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in GL Assessment 11+ English exams, such as the Handsworth Grammar School assessment. The timings and types of passages used are typical of what you can expect in the actual exam.
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the West Midlands 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ West Midlands English Bundle - Save 10%
Verbal Reasoning
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ Verbal Reasoning exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level. Each pack comes with free, detailed video explanations for every question to help your child learn and improve quickly.
Skill Specific Practice
If you find that certain Verbal Reasoning question types are particularly challenging for your child, the packs below will prove ideal. They provide targeted practice to drill down and focus on specific question formats. All of the types of questions listed below could feature in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ exam. Each pack comes with free, detailed video explanations for every question to help your child learn and improve quickly.
Masterclasses
This set of tutorial videos provides a great overview of the 11+ Verbal Reasoning syllabus, teaching your child the key skills they need to master.
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
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Mathematics
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ Mathematics exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level. Each pack comes with free, detailed video explanations for every question to help your child learn and improve quickly.
Skill Specific Practice
If you find that certain Maths topics are particularly challenging for your child, the packs below will prove ideal. They provide targeted practice to drill down and focus on specific sections of the syllabus. All of the topics listed below could feature in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ exam. Each pack comes with free, detailed video explanations for every question to help your child learn and improve quickly.
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
This set of tutorial videos provides a great overview of the 11+ Maths syllabus, teaching your child the key skills they need to master.
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Non-Verbal Reasoning
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will expose your child to all the key question types used in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level.
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
Skill Specific Practice
If your child struggles with certain types of Non-Verbal Reasoning questions, these packs will prove ideal. Each one focuses on a specific question type, providing efficient and effective practice. This range of packs covers all the possible Non-Verbal Reasoning question types that could come up in the Handsworth Grammar School 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning exam. Each pack includes explanations for every question, so your child can learn and improve quickly.
Masterclasses
This set of tutorial videos provides a great overview of the 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning syllabus, teaching your child the key skills they need to master. The questions in this Masterclass have been exclusively created for us by one of the experts who write the questions for the actual Handsworth Grammar School 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning exam.
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
Spatial Reasoning
Full & Skill Practice Tests
These packs will expose your child to all the key question types used in the West Midlands 11+ Spatial Reasoning exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level. Many of these questions have been exclusively created for us by one of the experts who write the questions for the actual West Midlands 11+ Spatial Reasoning exam. Some of these question types are brand new and you won’t find them in any other practice resource!
– This pack covers all of the key GL Assessment Spatial Reasoning question types that are known to come up in the test:
11+ Spatial Reasoning – Pack 1
– These packs each focus on one of these question types and provide further, targeted practice so you can drill down on weaker areas:
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Handsworth Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Handsworth Grammar School was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning
