11 Plus Exams Birmingham
Entry Procedures for Birmingham Grammar Schools
Grammar Schools in Birmingham
Admissions Procedures (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School)
Entrance Test (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School)
Allocation of Places
Key Dates
Verbal Reasoning Recommended Papers
Non-Verbal Reasoning Recommended Papers
Mathematics Recommended Papers
Tutors
List of Birmingham Grammar Schools
Entry Procedures for Birmingham Grammar Schools
Parents must apply separately on the Birmingham City Council’s preference form indicating the preferred grammar school and must also apply separately for their child to sit the 11 plus entrance exam.
The preference form will be available from your child’s primary school and should be returned to the primary school or to the Birmingham City Council (BCC), Directorate of Children, Young People and Families, Admissions and Appeals, Margaret Street, B3 3BU if you live outside Birmingham. The deadline for returning the preference form is TBA.
The application for the 11 plus entrance test is available from the schools and must sent to the be returned to the Birmingham City Council and NOT the primary school The deadline for return is strictly 16.15pm TBA.
Grammar Schools in Birmingham
There are nine grammar schools in Birmingham. Admissions procedure for Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is administered by the Birmingham local authority and details are given below. The other seven grammar schools listed below administer their own selective tests and you will need to obtain any further information from the schools directly:-
Handsworth Grammar School
The tests at Handsworth Grammar School are held on (probable) 15 November 2008.
The tests comprise the following and are all in the standard style: –
- Verbal Reasoning – 1 hour
- English – 30 minutes
- Maths standard – 30 minutes
Verbal Reasoning is the key test and the results of English and Maths will only be taken into account if your child does not meet the requisite mark for the Verbal Reasoning.
Queen Marys Grammar School
The tests at Queen Mary’s Grammar school is held on TBA.
The tests are understood to be 50 minutes each and are both multiple choice by NFER.
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non Verbal Reasoning
A detailed information pack is available from the school directly.
The King Edward VI Grammar Schools
- King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys School
- King Edward VI Aston School
- King Edward VI Camp Hills Girls School
- King Edward VI Five Ways School
- King Edward VI Handsworth School
The tests at the five King Edward VI Schools will be held on Saturday 8th November 2008.
Little detailed information is available about the tests but the schools will provide sample papers once you have registered your to take their child, usually by the time of the open day.
There are two tests of 45 minutes and include the following :
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non Verbal Reasoning
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension / literacy skills
Children will write their answers in the test booklets and most of the test questions will be multiple choice. The marks (for the 3 types of NVR, VR/comprehension and Numerical/Maths questions across the 2 papers) will be standardised to take account of differences in age and then added together.
Sample questions will be sent to you on receipt of your completed registration form.
A range of publications designed to assist preparation for school admission tests are available from leading bookshops. Suitable practice papers are multiple choice style tests that cover the above topics. Suitable practice papers are multiple choice style tests that cover Verbal Reasoning, Non Verbal Reasoning. Maths and Reading Comprehension.
If your child is unable to sit tests on Saturdays for religious reasons we are able to arrange an alternative date. Please tick the box on the registration form and enclose a supporting letter from your religious leader if you would like us to do this.
If your child has a disability and/or requires special resources to sit the test, please ensure that the Foundation Office is notified in writing as early as possible.
You will be asked to complete a form describing your child’s disability and to supply medical evidence.
The date for the return of these forms is Friday 19 September 2008.
Please note that this date is earlier than the test registration deadline.
For further details of admissions visit the King Edward VI Schools.
Admissions Procedures (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School)
Admission for Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School is administered by Birmingham local authority. All l application forms received will be acknowledged within five working days and parents will be informed of the date and venue for the selective entrance tests.
The venues are not allocated on a geographical basis. Places available at the these grammar schools are filled first and then will be allocated places at other test centres.
The tests for both schools are the same and will be held on (note probable date) 18th October 2008.
In the event that your child was unable due to valid medical or religious grounds to sit the test then a supplementary tests will be held in November. These will only be available for those who provide proof of illness on the day of the original tests or who are able to provide evidence of special circumstances such as religious grounds
If your child is unwell on the day of the test do consider whether attendance is appropriate as once your child has stated the test now no allowance can be made for bad performance or re-sitting the test. You should telephone the test centre if your child will be absent.
It will be assumed that absentees have withdrawn from the tests unless a written explanation is then sent with a medical certificate to the Admissions and Appeals Section by TBA at the latest. Failure to attend at the appointed time and place without prior arrangement or evidence of sickness will prevent the possibility of the tests being taken at a later date.
Open days, for parents wishing to visit the schools before choosing to enter the tests, will be held on in September 2008 (see below).
The 11 Plus Entrance Test (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School)
The entrance examination consists of three separate papers. These have been designed to identify the most able candidates and are likely to be very difficult for children of average or below average ability. The three papers are:
- Verbal Reasoning: This paper will test pupils’ ability to reason and will be of 30 minutes duration, with a practice test of 10 minutes.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: This paper tests the ability of pupils to reason with shapes and symbols, and will be of 35 minutes duration, including some time for practice.
- Mathematics: This paper emphasises problem solving skills applying mathematical knowledge appropriate for key stage 2 of the National Curriculum and will be of 50 minutes duration. There is no practice paper.
Each of the questions will have an equal weight and will be standardised to account for age differences in candidates. The tests are considered to be valid, reliable and fair. It is recognised that parents may wish to help their children. “However, it is believed that excessive practice and coaching should be discouraged because it is counter productive.” The tests are in the Standard, and not the Multi Choice format.
Our open sessions for entry for 2009 will be arranged in due course but should take place during September 2008. (Dates to be confirmed) If you have any additional queries, please contact the school. Specific queries about the entrance tests however should be directed to the Education Department at the address given above.
Standardisation of Scores
Once the test papers have been marked, the raw scores are sent NFER to be age standardised, producing the final score. Standardised scores are more useful measures than raw scores because adjustments are made to take allowance of different ages. Candidates eligible are born between 1 September in one year and 31 August of the following year, which means that some children are 12 months apart in age. Almost invariably older pupils achieve slightly higher raw scores than younger pupils and standardised scores are obtained in a way that takes the age into account. Therefore an older pupils high raw score may result in a lower standardised score.
Allocation of Places
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
The school does not have a catchment area and entrance is based solely on the scores gained whether or not candidates live in Birmingham. There are 124 places. Where there is oversubscription more than one pupil with the same score preference will be given to firstly, children in public care, and secondly to the candidate or candidates who live nearer the school.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls does not have a residence requirement and entry to this school is solely as a result of scores gained in the tests whether or not candidates live in Birmingham. Candidates not offered places but who have obtained a qualifying score (318) will be put on a waiting list in descending score order. Where there is oversubscription and more than one pupils of the same score preference will be given to firstly, children in public care, and secondly to the candidate who have siblings in the school and thirdly to candidates who live nearer the school.
Key Dates: (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School)
| TBA | First Open Day Sutton Coldfield Grammar |
| TBA | Second Open Day Sutton Coldfield Grammar |
| TBA | First Open Day Bishop Vesey’s Grammar |
| TBA | Second Open Day Bishop Vesey’s Grammar |
| TBA | Preference form to be returned to Primary School or Birmingham City Council |
| TBA | Application to sit the 11 plus entrance to be returned to Birmingham City Council |
| 14th October 2008 | Probable 11 Plus Entrance Tests Held |
| 1st March 2007 | Results posted to parents |
| 22nd March 2007 | Deadline for filing appeals |
Verbal Reasoning Recommended Papers
The familiarisation pack is:
NFER Nelson Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Practice Papers
NFER only publish four verbal reasoning familiarisation papers therefore these papers should be used sparingly and it would be prudent to save some of these for the final build up of the examinations. This pack contains all four.
Children usually show the greatest improvement between the first and second or first and third verbal reasoning papers they attempt.
The verbal reasoning questions test intelligence, speed and accuracy through a series of questions based on vocabulary, sequences, patterns and decoding.
These exams are based on 15 types of verbal reasoning questions
You can see get a feel for these types of questions by looking at the interactive Eleven Plus Exams Verbal Reasoning Volume 1 CD demo and reviewing the first 15 types.
Essentially verbal reasoning exams breakdown to two key tasks: mastering the techniques for these question types and possessing a strong vocabulary, rumoured to be around 2,500 to 3,000 words.
Practice material comes in all shapes and forms: practice papers, e-papers (pay and download 11plus practice papers), interactive CDs, lessons in the post, websites that coach your child online. Though final examination is a pencil and paper examination many children respond to other forms, such as the interactive CDs. Ultimately your objective as parents is to master techniques and build the vocabulary for this exam.
Our recommended pack for verbal reasoning would include:
- NFER Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Practice Papers
- Vocabulary list from The Tutors (FREE)
- IPS Verbal Reasoning Method and Technique Guide (in this book types HIKNOS not critical)
- Verbal Reasoning CDs (in Volume 1 types 16-21 not critical)
- Dynamite Educational Series
- Athey Educational Verbal Reasoning Practice Packs 1-3 Multiple Choice
- AFN Publications
There is a lot of practice material available in verbal reasoning, most of it relevant in that it build up your child’s mental agility and more critically their vocabulary.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Recommended Papers
This paper will be split into two parts and includes times for a practice page before each half of the test.
The familiarisation pack is:
NFER Nelson Non-Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Practice Papers
NFER only publish four Non-Verbal Reasoning familiarisation papers therefore these papers should be used sparingly and it would be prudent to save some of these for the final build up of the examinations. This pack contains all four.
Practice material comes in all shapes and forms: practice papers, e-papers (pay and download 11plus practice papers), interactive CDs (coming soon on this website), lessons in the post, websites that coach your child online. Though final examination is a pencil and paper examination.
Our recommended pack for Non-Verbal Reasoning would include:
- NFER Nelson Non-Verbal Reasoning Multiple Choice Practice Papers
- Bond Assessment 11Plus Practice Papers in Non-Verbal Reasoning, Multiple Choice
- Athey Educational Non-Verbal Reasoning Packs 4 & 7
- AFN Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers A-D, Multiple Choice
- Learning Together Verbal Reasoning Preparation Books 1 & 2
Mathematics Recommended Papers
The Mathematics test, which is based on the National Curriculum, will not include any practice questions and will last for 50 minutes.
As with verbal reasoning and non verbal reasoning, the test is multiple choice and set by NFER (National Foundation for Educational Research). The questions typically ask the candidate to elect one answer from five options but they have sometimes sought two answers from five or six. The answer sheet is self-explanatory (supplied with familiarisation pack – see below) and requires the child to mark a horizontal pencil line, a bit like an A4 page version of the National Lottery slips. The answer sheets will be marked electronically.
The familiarisation pack is:
NFER only publish four mathematics familiarisation papers therefore these papers should be used sparingly and it would be prudent to save some of these for the final build up of the examinations. This pack contains all four. Another reason for holding back on these papers is that if you are starting preparation early your child would not have covered the entire syllabus.
Essentially mathematics exams breakdown to two key tasks: covering the syllabus thoroughly so that your child is not phased by any question and being super efficient at mental arithmetic (thus agile).
Practice material comes in all shapes and forms: practice papers, e-papers (pay and download 11plus practice papers), interactive CDs, lessons in the post, websites that coach your child online. Though final examination is a pencil and paper examination many children respond to other forms, such as the interactive CDs. Ultimately your objective as parents is to cover the syllabus and build mental agility in mental arithmetic for this exam.
You can get an idea of the typical eleven plus mathematics syllabus from looking at this page .
Our recommended pack for mathematics would include:
- Peter Robson Maths for Practice and Revision Books 1-5 & Answer Book . These books represent exceptional value (at £2.95 each) in covering the syllabus and providing thousands of practice questions.
- Bond Assessment 11Plus Practice Papers in Mathematics, Multiple Choice
- Athey Educational Mathematics Packs 5 & 8
- Scofield & Sims Mental Arithmetic Books
- Learning Together Preparation for 11+/12+/Common Entrance Mathematics
Tutors
Parents usually employ a professional tutor for the preparation of these examinations however that is not strictly necessary. The fact that some parents do raises the bar for the others also attempting these 11 plus exams.
List of Birmingham Grammar Schools
| School Name | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School | Lichfield Road Sutton Coldfield B74 2NH |
Tel 0121 250 5400 Fax 0121 250 542 |
| Handsworth Grammar School | Grove Lane Handsworth Birmingham B21 9ET |
Tel 0121 554 2794 Fax 0121 554 5404 |
| King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls | Vicarage Road Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7QJ |
Tel 0121 444 2150 Fax 0121 444 5123 |
| King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys | Vicarage Road Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7QJ |
Tel 0121 4443188 (Reception) Fax 0121 4412796 |
| King Edward VI Aston School | Frederick Road Aston B6 6DJ |
Tel 0121 327 1130 Fax 0121 328 7020 |
| King Edward VI Five Ways School | Scotland Lane Bartley Green Birmingham B32 4BT |
Tel 0121 475 3535 Fax 0121 477 8555 |
| King Edward VI Handsworth school | Rose Hill Road Birmingham B21 9AR |
Tel 0121 5542342 Fax 0121 5543879 |
| Queens Mary’s Grammar School | Sutton Road Walsall WS1 2PG |
Tel 01922 720696 Fax 01922 725932 |
| Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls | Jockey Road Sutton Coldfield B73 5PT |
Tel 0121 354 1479 Fax 0121 354 9418 |
Further information
Whilst we take great care to ensure that the above general information is a true reflection of the current regime for 11 plus exams in Birmingham please check details with the individual School and the LEA:
Birmingham City Council
Schools Admissions & Appeals
Children, Young People and Families
Margaret Street
Birmingham
B3 3BU
Telephone0121 303 2432 / 2537 / 2547
Fax 0121 464 4593
www.bgfl.org/services/admissions/
