BIRMINGHAM 11 Plus Guidance

All across the country, Year 6 pupils will need to make that all important decision as to where they want to continue their education. Choosing the right secondary school will have a huge impact on the rest of their academic life, and thus this choice needs to be the right one for your child.

The first big decision you and your child will need to make is whether or not they wish to attend a grammar secondary school. If you wish to apply for a grammar school placement, then there are a few things that you are going to need to know.

This ultimate FREE resource will guide you through the entire process of applying to a grammar secondary school, specifically focusing on Birmingham grammar schools. This resource will answer some of the most common questions concerning the 11+ Test, in the hope to make the transition from primary to grammar school much, much easier.

Don’t forget to download your Free 11 Plus Birmingham Practice Papers at the end of this resource.

11 Plus Birmingham Practice Papers PDF
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BIRMINGHAM 11+ Information and Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Birmingham 11 Plus?

If your child wishes to apply to a grammar school situated in Birmingham, then they will be required to sit the Birmingham grammar school entry test.

The 11+ assessment which is taken by some pupils in their last year of primary school (Year 6 in England and Year 7 in Northern Ireland) to gain a placement in a grammar school. The 11 plus assessment is the assessment used for children who wish to attend a grammar school in Birmingham.

As the name suggests, the Birmingham Grammar School Entry Test is ONLY used for schools situated in Birmingham; schools in other areas will use a different form of 11+ assessment.

There are 2 exams in total for the Birmingham 11+ Test.  The papers themselves are divided into smaller, timed sections, which assess children’s skills in the following areas:

• English (Comprehension);
• English (Verbal Reasoning);
• Maths (Numerical Ability);
• Maths (Non-Verbal Reasoning).

There will be additional time during the test for instructions to be given out. Answer booklets to be filled in are provided separately to the question papers. The majority of the questions in the exam are in a multiple-choice format.

There are two tests in total, and each one lasts approximately 45 to 50 minutes.

If your child passes the Birmingham 11+ exam, any Birmingham grammar school will consider your child’s application.

However, we cannot stress this enough – just because your child passes the test, does not automatically guarantee them a place at the grammar school of their choice.

You should consider the following when applying to grammar schools:

  • How close you live to that grammar school;
  • What the grammar school’s admission requirements are;
  • Does any of their siblings attend the same grammar school?

For a list of Birmingham grammar schools, please visit the government website.

How do I register for the Birmingham 11 Plus?

Registering for the Birmingham Grammar School Test is relatively easy. For details on how to register for the Birmingham Eleven Plus visit the government website.

11 Plus Mock Test Birmingham

One of the most important things you should remember regarding the Birmingham 11 Plus is the KEY DATES.

There are a few dates that you should write down and make a note of in your calendar:

1 May 2020 Registration opens
28 June 2020 Registration closes
12 September 2020 The date for pupils living in Birmingham
16 October 2020 Results are sent to parents

*Please note, these test dates are based on applications for 2020 entry. Generally, for each year, these dates will be around the same time.

There are a lot of cases whereby pupils are only a few marks off from achieving the requirements needed for a grammar school placement. If parents have viable reasons, they may be able to appeal.

There are several reasons which make you viable for grammar school appeals:

  • The child passed the assessment, but the grammar school is full;
  • The child has not passed the assessment, but the grammar school has spaces available.

If you are unhappy with the schools that have been offered to your child, you do have the right to appeal against this. You will be able to appeal for any of the schools you listed on your application.

Although you want to appeal, it is best to accept the place your child has been offered already. This won’t go against you in the appeal, but will guarantee your child has a secondary school placement, in case the appeal doesn’t go in your favour.

For details on the process of appealing your child’s school, visit the government website.

As mentioned earlier, there are four parts to the grammar school entry assessment.

You will be assessed on the following:

  • English
  • Maths
  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

Scroll down to grab yourself a FREE Birmingham 11 Plus Practice Paper PDF, with questions and answers for each of these.

Looking for more practice questions and answers? Check out our Birmingham 11+ Revision Guide.

For a FREE 11 Plus Birmingham Practice Paper, signup to our newsletter below and you’ll be sent a real 11+ Mock Practice Paper which has been developed by us to help your child prepare for the real Eleven Plus exam:

11 Plus Birmingham Practice Papers PDF
  • Maths Practice Questions & Answers;
  • English Practice Questions & Answers;
  • Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions & Answers;
  • Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions & Answers.

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The below revision videos have been made to help your child revise for areas of the Birmingham 11 Plus exam including; Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.