Calday Grange, West Kirby and the two Wirral Grammar Schools share a Quest Assessments test in September of Year 6: Paper 1, verbal reasoning, and Paper 2, maths and non-verbal reasoning, about 50 minutes each. Every question is multiple choice, answered on a separate sheet. There is no English paper.
At a glance
Subjects
Verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning
Answers
Multiple choice
Usually held
September
Set by
Quest Assessments
Schools
4
The papers
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
Test day
Paper 1: Verbal reasoning
Multiple choice
50 questions, 50 minutes
Test day
Paper 2: Maths & Non-verbal
Multiple choice
50 questions, 50 minutes
Test setters rarely publish how many questions a paper has, so the question counts are the length of Prism’s practice papers; timings follow the setter’s published guidance where there is any. Arrangements change from year to year: always check them with the school or local authority.
How to prepare for the Wirral
The Wirral Consortium 11+ (Quest) covers verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
Which word is most opposite in meaning to “vertical”?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, horizontal
How to work it out
“horizontal” is the opposite of “vertical”.
Why the other options are wrong
A (rustle): “rustle” means “to make a soft, dry, whispering sound”. That is neither the same as “vertical” nor its opposite, so it is unrelated.
B (harsh): “harsh” is neither the same as “vertical” nor its opposite: it is unrelated, while “horizontal” is the true opposite.
D (clumsy): “clumsy” is neither the same as “vertical” nor its opposite: it is unrelated, while “horizontal” is the true opposite.
E (ripple): “ripple” is neither the same as “vertical” nor its opposite: it is unrelated, while “horizontal” is the true opposite.
Question 2Aim for about 60 seconds
A club has 540 players. 20% of them are under ten. How many players are under ten?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, 108
How to work it out
Find 10% first: 540 ÷ 10 = 54.
Build 20% from it: 108.
Why the other options are wrong
A (432): This is how many are left over, not 20% of 540.
B (54): This is 10% of 540; build 20% from it.
D (20): This is the percentage, 20, used as if it were the answer.
E (216): This is double the correct answer, 108. Check whether you doubled when you should not have.
Question 3Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure completes the grid?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
Three things to check.
Across a row the shading changes (black to unshaded); down a column the shape changes (trapezium to square) and the small corner mark changes too (dot to ring).
Why the other options are wrong
A: The shading and the ring are right, but the trapezium belongs to the top row.
B: The square and the unshaded shading are right, but the corner mark is a dot, the top row's. Down a column the mark changes to a ring.
C: Shape and shading are right, but a cross does not appear in this grid. The bottom row's mark is a ring.
D: The square and the ring are right, but the shading is black, the left column's. Along a row it changes to unshaded.
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the Wirral?
The Wirral tests verbal reasoning, maths and non-verbal reasoning.
When is the Wirral?
The main test usually takes place in September of Year 6. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the Wirral?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the Wirral format. Prism builds this plan automatically from a free starting assessment.
Find out where your child stands today
Practise straight away at your child’s school year in maths and English, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning for the 11 Plus, and every answer explained. A free check, whenever you like, shows what to practise next and builds a weekly plan, for their year or for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.