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Are you considering a grammar school in Warwickshire? Find out how to apply and prepare for the West Midlands 11 plus for September 2024 entry. We've collated everything you need to know to ensure you and your child are fully prepared.
Warwickshire Grammar Schools 11 plus: key info
Register for test: via West Midlands Grammar Schools portal
Registration opens: 9th May 2023
Registration closes: 30th June 2023
Exam date: 16th or 18th September 2023
Exam board type: GL Assessment (West Midlands 11 plus)
Results: mid-October 2023
Apply for schools: via your local authority website (e.g. Warwickshire, Birmingham, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Walsall, Wolverhampton)
Local authority application form deadline: 31st October 2023
National school offer day: 1st March 2024
Appeals: heard by an independent appeal panel
Dates can vary, so always check with your target schools!
What is the West Midlands 11 plus test?
The 11 plus is an entrance exam used by UK grammar schools as part of their admissions process. Children can only take the test once, in September while they are in Year 6. If your child scores highly on the 11 plus you can include grammar schools on your local authority common application form (CAF).
There are five grammar schools and one bilateral school (partially selective) in Warwickshire. Each grammar school is oversubscribed, celebrating excellent GCSE results as well as superb extracurricular activities and achievements.
What is the new West Midlands Grammar Schools partnership?
From 2023, the 11 plus testing process is shared by all grammar schools in Warwickshire, Birmingham and Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton. You only need to register once and your child only needs to take one test to apply to grammar schools in all of these areas. The scores are shared and the schools apply their own admissions policies.
You can register for the 11 plus on the West Midlands Grammar Schools website.
Test your knowledge
Try answering some 11+ questions
Which schools use the West Midlands 11 plus test?
Warwickshire:
Ashlawn School (90 selective places and 190 non-selective places)
Birmingham:
Shropshire:
Walsall:
Queen Mary’s Grammar School (boys)
Queen Mary’s High School (girls)
Wolverhampton:
What's on the Warwickshire 11 plus test?
Warwickshire uses the West Midlands 11 plus test. It consists of two papers, each lasting about 60 minutes. A few minutes are allocated at the start of each paper for children to listen to instructions and complete some unmarked practice questions.
Both papers are divided into smaller, individually-timed sections that assess:
English comprehension
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
The test is entirely multiple-choice format, with no writing sections. Children record their answers in a separate answer booklet which is marked electronically.
The maths and English questions assess your child's understanding of Key Stage 2 national curriculum content, including Year 6 objectives. It tests their ability to reason and apply knowledge accurately.
The reasoning questions assess your child’s logic and problem-solving ability. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not typically taught at school. They are intended to measure how well children can spot patterns with, connect and manipulate written and visual information.
Learn about 11+ topics in depth
Does Warwickshire use CEM or GL?
Until autumn 2022, Warwickshire grammar schools used CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) to administer the 11 plus test. CEM recently announced it will no longer be providing standard paper 11 plus exams. This has prompted Warwickshire to change its 11 plus test provider to GL Assessment along with other West Midlands grammar schools for entry in 2024 and beyond.
What is the pass mark for the 11 plus in Warwickshire?
There is no single pass mark for Warwickshire 11 plus exams, as the qualifying score differs depending on the year and the school's criteria. Children's 11 plus scores are standardised, to even out any age disadvantage for children born later in the year. Qualifying scores are then calculated based on a top-scoring percentage of the year group.
We can provide estimates for your target schools – please email us at [email protected] stating the schools you're interested in.
Scoring well in the 11 plus doesn't automatically qualify your child for a place at their school of choice – it just means they will usually be given a higher priority when allocating places. We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target school, looking at their oversubscription criterion and their catchment area.
How competitive is the Warwickshire 11 plus?
There is significant competition in Warwickshire to attend one of the six grammar schools in the area. Over 3,000 children sat the Warwickshire 11 plus in 2020. The 11 plus is designed to challenge the top 25% of a cohort, with a number of questions covering academic content not yet taught in the classroom, under stringent time constraints.
How can I help my child prepare for the West Midlands 11 plus?
Here are our top tips on how to help your child prepare for the 2023–24 exam:
No surprises
Make sure your child is familiar with all styles of questions they will experience in the test. This reduces the potential for panic on the day and will give them confidence to answer the questions to the best of their ability. Access to unlimited practice materials and Mock Tests that mirror the format and style of the Warwickshire 11 plus will ensure your child is fully prepared.
Cover all the content
The 11 plus assesses a large breadth and depth of learning objectives. Starting at least one year before the test will allow your child time to securely build the skills and knowledge they need. When preparing it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the content your child prefers. Atom Nucleus tailors your child's personalised learning journey, creating their bespoke programme to cover all elements of the Warwickshire 11 plus in a fun and engaging way.
Engage with their progress
Setting regular goals and celebrating achievements will help your child progress efficiently. Atom offers data-driven insights into your child’s progress towards mastering the Warwickshire 11 plus content, making it easy to see where they need to focus next.
Personalised 11 plus prep for your child
Wondering how to make sure your child covers the depth and breadth of the entire 11 plus curriculum, stays on track with their progress, and gets help when they're stuck? Online learning is a particularly efficient, cost-effective (and fun) way to do this!
Atom Nucleus is an 11 plus online course that gives your child everything they need to prepare for grammar school exams.
Children work independently through over 90,000 interactive practice questions in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Teacher-created helpsheets and videos help them discover new concepts and consolidate their learning.
Atom's algorithm keeps children on their ideal learning path, tailored to their unique learning style and pace to keep them challenged and motivated.
Warwickshire 11 plus practice papers
Atom Nucleus gives children access to unlimited Warwickshire 11 plus test papers. Our online exams are designed to mirror the format and style of real 11 plus questions, so your child will know exactly what to expect on the day.
And what's more, everything is automatically marked for you.
Try Atom Nucleus free for 5 days
Begin your child's journey to grammar school today. Use the full features of Atom Nucleus free for 5 days – cancel anytime.
Personalised 11 plus support for you
We know how keen you are for your child to do well in the 11 plus, to give them every chance of securing a place at their school of choice. Our dedicated team of Education Experts are on hand to support you and your family every step of the way:
Ask us anything
We're happy to help with any questions you may have about admissions processes and helping your child prepare for entry to West Midlands grammar schools.
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