What You Need to Know About The Eleven Plus Exam In Birmingham
The eleven plus exams are particularly challenging as they push the boundaries of content taught within the national curriculum.
Second to this is the competitiveness of the exams with regards to available spaces within local grammar schools. The top 30% of students on average pass the eleven plus exam, opening the door to a place at grammar school.
The grammar schools in Birmingham utilise the Durham CEM format. They are going to include the following within the eleven plus exam:
- English (Writing, Grammar, Comprehension)
- Verbal Reasoning
- Numerical Reasoning – Maths
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
More information is available further down the page.
There are two test papers sat within the Durham CEM eleven plus exam, focusing on the areas noted above. The majority of answers will be in multiple choice format and the questions will be in timed sections each containing the different question types.
The eleven plus exam is taken in September of Year 6, with results released in October. This gives time to make the necessary applications to secondary schools. Allocations to grammar schools are released the following March.
Grammar Schools In The Birmingham Region
Interestingly enough, there is a Consortium of Grammar Schools in Birmingham which is comprised of 8 different schools.
- Kind Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
- Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
- King Edward VI Aston School
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
- Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
- King Edward VI Five Ways School
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
- King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls
Registration to take the eleven plus exam is completed on the consortium website. Click here.
The registration is open in the May of Year 4 and closes in the July.
An information brochure is available to view here.
Eleven Plus in Birmingham Exam Criteria
The eleven plus exam in Birmingham is sat at the beginning of September in Year 6 and follows the Durham CEM guidelines.
The first part of the exam will focus on English and Math in multiple-choice answer form. The entire first part of the test will take approximately one hour and each sub-test about twenty-five minutes.
The second part of the test is based on Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning which will also be in multiple-choice answer format and will last approximately one hour with practice tests in between.
What Kind Of Eleven Plus Tests Will My Child Take?
The eleven plus exam in Birmingham is tested using the Durham CEM format. There are four areas tested within this which include:
- Verbal reasoning – Involves the candidate thinking about text and words, solving sequences and other problems. Candidates must have a broad vocabulary and a good understanding of English grammar to pass this.
- Non-verbal reasoning – Involves the candidate thinking about diagrams and pictures as well as solving the problems related to these items. The exam also demands some mathematical reasoning, but it does not place too much emphasis on written language.
- Mathematics and English – While not used by many local authorities as compared to verbal and non-verbal exams, expect their requirements to be quite high if used.
So What Next
Free Assessment
Why not take our free assessment. We have given free access to both a Year 4 and Year 5 test paper so you can see for yourself your child’s current ability and how they might currently fair in the eleven plus exam.
Free Worksheets
To get started on your eleven plus journey, we have free worksheets available for your child whether they are in Year 4 or Year 5. Within our free worksheets, you can access various different work samples across the eleven plus exam range.
Click here to access our free eleven plus exam resources.
FSL 11+ Online
Whether you choose to enrol your child on an 11+ course, one-to-one lessons, or you simply want them to do some more gentle preparation at home, FSL 11+ Online is here to help with everything your child needs to succeed in the exam.
