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
The shared West Midlands test mixes English, verbal reasoning, maths and visual reasoning. The tasks below sample those skills; the official guide supplies the answer-sheet and timing instructions.
“Despite the drizzle, Noor lingered by the gate, watching the empty road.” What does lingered suggest?
Lingered means remained for a while. The empty road does not tell us who she is waiting for.
A recipe for six people needs 450 g of rice. How much rice is needed for ten people at the same rate?
Each person needs 450 ÷ 6 = 75 g. Ten people need 750 g.
Scaling both quantities preserves the rate.
Complete both words with the same three letters: ___LIGHT and ___RISE.
SUN makes SUNLIGHT and SUNRISE. Check that the same letters form a word in both positions.
Which dot group comes next?
One dot is added each time. After four dots comes five.
Answer the four starter tasks. This score is not an admissions prediction.
Fresh questions, instant explanations and a clear next step
After these tasks, choose one missed skill to practise in Pip. Ask your child to explain the new answer before moving on; remembering the answer here is not the same as learning the method.
- 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
Use subject papers for gaps and the official West Midlands guide for section rules. A mixed paper is only useful if your child also practises putting each answer in the correct answer-sheet row.
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?
| 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
- Use the West Midlands Grammar Schools familiarisation guide, including its sample answer sheet. Only the answer sheet is marked.
- Try English and verbal work together in one session, then maths and visual reasoning another day. The official weighting is 50% English/verbal, 25% maths and 25% non-verbal.
- Rehearse section boundaries. The official instructions say children cannot return to a previous section or start the next one early.
- After the recipe question, ask your child to scale a different recipe aloud. That checks the method rather than memory of 750 g.
Turn paper practice into a five-minute daily habit
Note the skill behind a missed answer, such as inference, unit conversion or rotation. Choose that topic for the next practice session, then return to a fresh paper question.
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?+
Use the West Midlands Grammar Schools familiarisation guide, including its sample answer sheet. Only the answer sheet is marked.
Try English and verbal work together in one session, then maths and visual reasoning another day. The official weighting is 50% English/verbal, 25% maths and 25% non-verbal.
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.