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
If 25 December is a Monday, what day of the week is 21 February?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, Wednesday
How to work it out
Count the days: 6 more in December, 31 in January and 21 in February, so 58 days.
58 = 8 weeks and 2 days.
Whole weeks bring you back to Monday; 2 more days gives Wednesday.
Why the other options are wrong
A (Tuesday): This counts one day too few. Count the days after the start date, up to and including the end date.
B (Friday): Check the number of days left in December again.
C (Monday): This treats December or January as having 30 days; both have 31.
E (Thursday): This counts one day too many: the start day itself is not counted.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word best completes the sentence?
Yesterday we _____ our lunch in the playground.
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, ate
How to work it out
“ate” is the word that fits: Yesterday we ate our lunch in the playground.
Why the other options are wrong
A (eight): “Eight” is the number 8.
B (eating): “Eating” needs a helping verb: “we were eating”.
C (eaten): “Eaten” needs a helping verb: “we had eaten”.
D (eats): “Eats” is present tense and goes with he, she or it.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Here are four words and three number codes. The codes are not in the same order as the words, and one code is missing. What is the code for MEAL?
MULE MEAL EARN FLAW 5927 4231 7368
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, 5732
How to work it out
Find a letter that appears in only one place, or two words that share a pattern, and match them to the codes.
Working through the letters: M = 5, E = 7, A = 3, L = 2, U = 9, F = 4, W = 1, R = 6, N = 8.
So MEAL is 5732.
Why the other options are wrong
A (7532): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
C (2375): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
D (5372): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
E (5723): Two digits are in the wrong place: check each letter against its number.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which of the shapes below could join this group?
The group
Show the worked answer
Answer: A
How to work it out
Every shape in the group has the same number of dots as it has sides.
Shading and rotation change freely, so they are distractors.
What entrance test does Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls use?
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?
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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?
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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?
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.
Prism Learning is not affiliated with Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls. Details are indicative; always check admissions arrangements with the school.