Birmingham 11+ practice at a glance
Short answer: Birmingham grammar schools use the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test. One test can be used for participating schools, but families must still name schools on their home authority application.
- Test group
- West Midlands Grammar Schools
- Sittings
- One shared entrance test
- Skills to prepare
- English, maths and reasoning
- Application
- Test registration and the local authority form are separate
These are original Pip materials, not official exam questions. Arrangements can change. Confirm the current format and dates with West Midlands Grammar Schools.
Try four free Birmingham 11+ practice questions
Choose an answer to see the explanation immediately. These original questions demonstrate the broad skills involved and do not reproduce an official paper.
Which word is closest in meaning to reluctant?
Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant to do something.
A rectangle has a perimeter of 38 cm and a length of 12 cm. What is its width?
Two lengths total 24 cm. The remaining 14 cm is two widths, so each width is 7 cm.
Which word does not belong with the others?
Copper, silver and gold are metals. Glass is not a metal.
An arrow points north, then east, then south. Where should it point next?
The arrow rotates 90 degrees clockwise each time, so west comes next.
Answer the questions above to build your score.
Fresh questions, instant explanations and a clear next step
Pip turns the same core skills into a short daily plan and shows parents where five minutes will help most.
- Free daily English, maths and reasoning practice
- No ads or child data collection
- Optional timed mock papers and progress reporting
Free Birmingham 11+ practice papers by subject
Move from quick questions to longer printable practice. Use only the subjects relevant to this exam, and review the method as carefully as the final mark.
GL Assessment practice papers
A full English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning practice paper
Open practice hub →Free PDF practiceMaths practice papers
Printable maths papers with worked answers
Open practice hub →Free PDF practiceEnglish practice papers
Comprehension, grammar and vocabulary practice
Open practice hub →Free PDF practiceVerbal reasoning papers
Codes, sequences and word reasoning
Open practice hub →Free PDF practiceNon-verbal reasoning papers
Patterns, rotations and spatial reasoning
Open practice hub →What should Birmingham 11+ practice cover?
The table keeps preparation aligned with the current regional format instead of treating every 11+ exam as identical.
| Practice area | What to work on | Good first step |
|---|---|---|
| English | Comprehension, vocabulary and language skills | Review why distractors are wrong |
| Maths | KS2 arithmetic and problem solving | Build quick recall of number facts |
| Verbal reasoning | Codes and word relationships | Practise unfamiliar question types in small sets |
| Non-verbal reasoning | Patterns and spatial rules | Track one change at a time |
How to use Birmingham 11+ practice papers effectively
- Check the current format. Use the official admissions source before buying or downloading material.
- Start with a baseline. Record unfamiliar topics, not just the score.
- Practise one skill at a time. Build the method before attempting a full paper.
- Add timing gradually. Begin with a short section once accuracy is stable.
- Review and repeat. Return to the weak topic with a fresh question a few days later.
Turn paper practice into a five-minute daily habit
Pip uses SmartScore to surface topics that need attention, making gaps found in a paper easier to act on.
Birmingham 11+ practice questions: FAQs
Are these official Birmingham 11+ questions?+
No. These are original Pip practice questions covering the relevant broad skills. Pip is not affiliated with West Midlands Grammar Schools. Use the official familiarisation material for the exact current instructions.
What should my child practise for the Birmingham 11+?+
Birmingham grammar schools use the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test. One test can be used for participating schools, but families must still name schools on their home authority application.
How should we use Birmingham 11+ practice papers?+
Begin untimed to learn the methods. Add timed sections once accuracy is stable, then classify every error as a knowledge gap, vocabulary gap, format issue or rushing.
Does passing the Birmingham 11+ guarantee a grammar-school place?+
No. Test qualification and school allocation are separate. Each school applies its published admissions and oversubscription rules, and parents must complete the required school application.