Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Competition
Highly selective
Prism’s suggested target
85% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the West Midlands 11+ (Birmingham & Walsall)
The Birmingham consortium and neighbouring grammars use two GL papers mixing English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Stage
Paper
Questions
Time
Test day
Paper 1
60
60 minutes
Test day
Paper 2
60
60 minutes
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare
The West Midlands 11+ (Birmingham & Walsall) covers maths, English, verbal reasoning 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.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
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.
Practice questions in the style of the test
Written by Prism in the style of the test, not taken from any school’s papers.
Question 1Aim for about 60 seconds
Priya spends £2.11 and pays with a £5 note. What is the smallest number of coins Priya can get in change?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, 7
How to work it out
The change is £5.00 − £2.11 = £2.89.
Use the biggest coin that fits each time: £2 + 50p + 20p + 10p + 5p + 2p + 2p.
That is 7 coins.
Why the other options are wrong
B (9): Use £2 and £1 coins before smaller ones.
C (6): Check the change again: one of the amounts has been missed.
D (5): Too few coins to make the change exactly.
E (8): This splits one coin into two smaller ones. Use the biggest coin that fits each time.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which part has a spelling mistake? Choose “No mistake” if there is none.
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, No mistake
How to work it out
There is no mistake: the whole sentence is spelt correctly.
Check every part before choosing “No mistake”.
Why the other options are wrong
A (Lightning flashed across): Every word in this part is spelt correctly.
B (the sky and the): Every word in this part is spelt correctly.
C (thunder was so loud): Every word in this part is spelt correctly.
D (that Tom’s dog hid.): Every word in this part is spelt correctly.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Which word is most opposite in meaning to “rigid”?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, flexible
How to work it out
“flexible” is the opposite of “rigid”.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
The first figure changes into the second. Which option changes the third figure in the same way?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D
How to work it out
The figure becomes shaded solid, and then is reflected (mirrored).
What entrance test does Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School use?
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School uses the West Midlands 11+ (Birmingham & Walsall), which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 85% consistently in practice for a highly selective school. This is Prism’s own estimate, not a figure from the school, and no score guarantees a place.
When should my child start preparing for Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School?
Most families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, then practise timed papers during the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
Preparing for Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School?
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.