Birmingham Grammar School Consortium 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information
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Table of Contents
Introduction
There are eight grammar schools in Birmingham. These schools are part of the West Midlands Partnership/Consortium, meaning they use a shared exam for 11+ entry.
For 11 Plus exam admissions information for each specific school, please visit the pages below:
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
King Edward VI Five Ways School
King Edward VI Handsworth School
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
⬇️ Read on to learn more about their exam and admissions process!
11 Plus (11+) Exam Information for Birmingham Grammar Schools
The Birmingham entrance exam serves as a shared criterion for admission decisions for the participating grammar schools. Students who achieve outstanding results in the exam have the opportunity to be considered for admission to multiple schools within the consortium, increasing their chances of securing a place at their desired grammar school. Here are important details about the Birmingham 11+ exam:
Registration closing date: June
Common Application Form (CAF) closing date: October
Exam date: September
Exam board type: West Midlands Partnership (GL Assessment)
Pass mark: Aim for 80-85%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Results date: October
Allocations date: March
Admissions info: Birmingham City Council, 0121 303 1888
Birmingham Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Prospective pupils aiming to gain a Year 7 place at a Birmingham grammar school must sit the 11 Plus exam.
Each of the eight schools mentioned above host specific open events for prospective pupils and parents to visit and learn more about the facilities on offer and the curriculum, as well as ask any questions about entry to Year 7.
Please note that, with admissions coordinated by the West Midlands Partnership, you must register your child for the eleven plus exam before the deadline.
How to Register for the Birmingham Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
Your child needs to be registered for a Year 7 place at a Birmingham grammar school electronically – via the relevant school website – before the deadline in June. Following this, you will be asked to complete a Common Application Form (CAF) before the closing date in October, where you can select more than one preferred school. This step can be completed online via the Birmingham City Council website.
Birmingham Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Birmingham 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 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. Results from the 11 Plus will be available to parents online in October, with final Year 7 place allocations published in March the following year.
Birmingham 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
West Midlands will use age-weighted standardisation with a median score of 200.
Pupils who are able to score 80-85%+ consistently in our practice tests listed above should be on track to pass the 11 Plus in Birmingham.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Birmingham 11+ exam.
Passing the test does not guarantee that your child will be offered a place. It simply means they have surpassed the required threshold. As such, it makes sense to aim for as high a score as possible.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring this high from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Practice Exam Papers for the Birmingham Grammar Schools 11 Plus (11+) Exam
The resources listed below are specifically designed to help students prepare for the West Midlands11+ Exam. 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 Birmingham Grammar Schools 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
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11+ West Midlands Tests 6-10 Bundle - Save 15%
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 West Midlands assessment. The timings and types of passages used are typical of what you can expect in the actual exam.
11+ Inference Skills – Pack 1
11+ Inference Skills – Pack 2
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11+ West Midlands English Bundle
Verbal Reasoning
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in the West Midlands 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.
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3
11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4
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 West Midlands 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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11+ West Midlands VR Bundle
Mathematics
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in the West Midlands 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 West Midlands 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+ Problem Solving – Pack 1
11+ Problem Solving – Pack 2
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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11+ West Midlands Maths Bundle
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Full Practice Tests
The packs below will expose your child to all the key question types used in the West Midlands 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
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 West Midlands 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 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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11+ West Midlands NVR & SR Bundle
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Birmingham Grammar Schools: Results & Leavers’ Destinations
Birmingham Grammar Schools – Progress 8 Scores
Progress 8 is a measure that assesses the progress students make as they transition from primary school, at the end of Key Stage 2, to secondary school, all the way through to the end of Key Stage 4. It helps evaluate the educational value schools offer by tracking students’ academic growth.
The Progress 8 score is determined by comparing students’ actual achievements in eight key subjects, including English, mathematics, sciences, humanities and languages, with their expected achievements based on their prior performance at the end of primary school. The score reflects the average progress students make across these subjects.
đź“Š Please refer to the chart below for details on Progress 8 scores at grammar schools in Birmingham:
Source: Gov.uk
A positive Progress 8 score indicates that students, on average, have made more progress than expected, while a negative score suggests that they have made less progress than expected. A score of zero means that students have progressed as expected.
Birmingham Grammar Schools – Leavers’ Destinations
Leavers’ destinations here refer to the next steps that students take after completing their studies at Birmingham grammar schools.
Russell Group universities are highly esteemed institutions across the nation, celebrated for their outstanding accomplishments. These universities demonstrate exceptional research output, hosting esteemed scholars and pioneering discoveries. Their academic reputation is exemplary, drawing talented individuals from around the world.
Among the esteemed members of the Russell Group are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both renowned for their rich heritage, academic eminence and rigorous educational programmes. With distinguished faculty and a dedication to excellence, these universities have upheld their prestigious standing for centuries.
đź“Š The chart below shows the recent leavers’ destinations for grammar schools in Birmingham:
Source: Gov.uk
As the chart above shows, a significant number of students from Birmingham Grammar Schools are offered places at top universities in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About The 11 Plus (11+) Birmingham Grammar School Entry
Does Birmingham have grammar schools?
Yes, Birmingham has eight selective grammar schools that use the West Midlands 11+ exam to assess Year 7 applicants. Click here to access the articles we have for each of these schools, addressing their history and ethos, as well as all the details about their 11+ entry procedure.
When should applications for the Birmingham 11+ exam be made?
Registration for the exam is done online. Initially, you need to enter your postal code and your child’s sex in this portal, which will take you to the relevant website where you can register for the entrance test.
When do Birmingham grammar schools administer their 11+ exam?
The West Midlands Partnership 11+ Exam, used by grammar schools in Birmingham, is held in September.
What comes up in the Birmingham 11+ exam?
The West Midlands 11+ exam consists of GL Assessment created papers assessing English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.
What is the pass mark for grammar schools in Birmingham?
Test results will use age-weighted standardisation with a median score of 200. Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ West Midlands practice tests should be on track to pass the 11 Plus Exam.
Who is the 11+ exam provider for Birmingham?
Grammar schools in West Midlands, including those in Birmingham, use GL Assessment as their exam provider.
The information provided about the West Midlands Partnership/Consortium was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the schools directly if you are unsure of anything. Contact details are provided within individual school posts.
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