11+ in Birmingham: the GL Assessment format
What a child sits in Birmingham, what each paper is really testing, and what that format means for how you prepare. Format and method only — the dates, thresholds and admission rules belong to Birmingham Grammar Schools' consortium, and we do not restate them.
What the papers cover
- English & verbal reasoning
- Maths & non-verbal reasoning
What to prioritise for this format
- Both papers are composite, so each one asks a child to change register mid-paper. Practising two subjects in one sitting is closer to the real thing than practising either alone.
- A weakness in one half of a composite paper is easy to miss, because the total can look reasonable. Track the two halves separately when you review.
- Pacing is the specific risk here: spending too long on the first half leaves the second under-attempted, and unattempted questions score nothing.
Dates, pass marks and admission rules change every year and vary by school. Always confirm the current details with Birmingham Grammar Schools' consortium — we deliberately don’t republish them here.
Free worked examples by topic
Each page below explains the method, shows five worked examples rising in difficulty, and names the mistake that costs marks.
Verbal reasoning
Common questions
- Which papers does the Birmingham 11+ include?
- English & verbal reasoning, Maths & non-verbal reasoning. The format is set by GL Assessment. Confirm the current arrangements with Birmingham Grammar Schools' consortium before you plan around them.
- When is the Birmingham 11+ sat?
- Almost all 11+ tests are sat at the start of Year 6, for entry the following September — which means the preparation year is Year 5. Registration usually closes months before the test itself, so check the deadline with the admissions authority early.
- What score does a child need in Birmingham?
- We deliberately do not publish thresholds. They are set by the schools, adjusted for age, and move from year to year depending on who applies — a number quoted on a website is out of date the moment it is written. Birmingham Grammar Schools' consortium is the source worth trusting.
- How should we prepare for the Birmingham format specifically?
- Both papers are composite, so each one asks a child to change register mid-paper. Practising two subjects in one sitting is closer to the real thing than practising either alone.
See where your child stands
Ten questions across the papers, no account needed, and a written report naming the topics with marks left in them.
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