Warwickshire Grammar Schools 11+ Guide for Parents

What Is the Warwickshire 11+ Test?

The Warwickshire 11+ test is used to assess whether a child is suitable for a Warwickshire grammar school place. The test is open to eligible children by date of birth, and children do not have to live in Warwickshire to sit it.

Warwickshire uses a shared test arrangement with the grammar schools in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Shropshire. The same test papers are used across these authorities, and parents can opt for results to be shared across the participating areas if they plan to apply to grammar schools in more than one area.

Sitting the test or achieving a high score does not automatically guarantee a place. Parents must still complete the normal secondary school application process, and each school’s admissions policy, priority area and oversubscription criteria still apply.

Which Grammar Schools Are in Warwickshire?

Warwickshire County Council lists six selective grammar school routes in Warwickshire. Ashlawn School is a bi-lateral school with one selective class.

Rugby High School is a girls’ grammar school and should not be confused with Rugby School, which is a fee-paying independent school.

Each Warwickshire grammar school is its own admission authority and publishes its own admissions arrangements. Parents should read the admissions policy for every school they are considering.

Who Provides the Warwickshire 11+ Test?

For 2027 entry, the Warwickshire grammar school test provider is GL Assessment.

Because Warwickshire is part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools shared testing arrangement, parents should prepare for the shared West Midlands GL Assessment format.

What Does the Warwickshire 11+ Test Assess?

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test used by Warwickshire contains four sections:

• English
• Verbal Reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Mathematics

Lawrence Sheriff School describes the 2027 entry test as covering the four competencies of Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

In practical preparation terms, pupils should build confidence across:

• English comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Verbal Reasoning
• Maths arithmetic
• Maths word problems
• Numerical reasoning
• Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Spatial and visual reasoning
• Multiple-choice technique
• Working accurately under timed conditions

Warwickshire 11+ Test Format

The Warwickshire 11+ test is in multiple-choice format. Children sit two tests, and each test takes around 60 minutes to complete, including spoken instructions and explanations of practice items.

The raw data is standardised and weighted to provide a total score for each child. Applications are then considered for each grammar school using the total score data and the school’s admissions arrangements.

Shared Test with Other West Midlands Areas

Warwickshire’s 11+ test is currently operated as a shared test with grammar schools in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Shropshire.

The same test papers are used across all participating authorities. Parents can opt for the child’s results to be shared across all authorities if they plan to apply for grammar schools in those areas.

If a child has taken another 11+ test in a different authority outside Warwickshire, Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton or Shropshire, that score cannot be transferred for an application to Warwickshire grammar schools. The child would still need to sit the Warwickshire 11+ test.

Registration and 2027 Entry Timeline

For 2027 entry, Warwickshire County Council lists the following key dates:

A test registration is not the same as applying for a school place. Parents must also submit the secondary school application form through their home local authority by the published deadline.

Access Arrangements and Pupil Premium Support

If a child has special educational needs, medical issues or usual classroom arrangements that may affect access to the test, parents should complete the relevant testing arrangements request after registering the child.

For 2027 entry, the access arrangements application deadline is 30 June 2026, including submission of supporting evidence.

Warwickshire County Council also signposts free 11+ familiarisation support for children eligible for Pupil Premium. Parents who are unsure whether their child is eligible should speak to the child’s school office.

Residency and Proof of Address

Warwickshire grammar schools have their own residency requirements in addition to the usual proof of address required for school admissions.

If parents apply for at least one Warwickshire grammar school, Warwickshire Admissions contacts them at the beginning of December to request proof of address. Failure to comply with the residency requirements can mean the application for Warwickshire grammar school places is treated as late.

Parents should read each school’s admissions policy carefully to understand priority areas, accepted proof of address and any other residence-related requirements.

Qualifying Scores and School Allocation

There is no single universal Warwickshire “pass mark” that guarantees a place at every grammar school.

Each Warwickshire grammar school is its own admission authority and sets its own admissions arrangements. Usually, higher priority is given to children who achieve higher scores in the 11+ test and live within the school’s priority area.

Parents should use the 11+ result alongside each school’s admissions policy before deciding which schools to list on the secondary school application form.

Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route for Warwickshire

On the Scholars Tutorial platform, Warwickshire preparation should focus on English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, vocabulary, SPAG and mixed exam-style practice.

The Scholars Tutorial 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets are useful because they combine:

• English + Verbal Reasoning
• Maths + Non-Verbal Reasoning

This supports the Warwickshire test areas: English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Scholars Tutorial Online Categories

Scholars Tutorial organises 11+ preparation into clear categories. For Warwickshire, the most relevant areas are Core Subjects, Mock Exams, Foundation and selected Advanced practice.

11+ Core Subjects

These are essential for Warwickshire preparation.

• 11+ English
• 11+ Maths
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems
• 11+ VR
• 11+ NVR

11+ Mock Exams

This category supports mixed exam-pattern practice.

• 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE — mixed sets for GL, CEM and ISEB-style preparation.
• 11+ SPAG — spelling, punctuation, grammar and language accuracy practice.

11+ Foundation

Foundation subjects are useful for children who need to strengthen basics before harder practice.

• 11+ Foundation English
• 11+ Foundation Maths
• 11+ Foundation VR

11+ Advanced

Advanced subjects are useful for pupils who need extra challenge.

• 11+ Advanced English
• 11+ Advanced Maths
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB
• 11+ Advanced SPAG

English and Vocabulary Preparation

English preparation supports comprehension, vocabulary and accurate reading of questions.

Your child should practise:

• Reading comprehension
• Inference
• Retrieval questions
• Vocabulary in context
• Synonyms and antonyms
• Spelling accuracy
• Grammar and punctuation
• Sentence structure
• Careful reading of instructions
• Multiple-choice English questions

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:

• 11+ English
• 11+ SPAG
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB
• 11+ Advanced English, for stronger pupils

Maths Preparation for Warwickshire

Mathematics is one of the four assessed areas. Pupils should practise arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving.

Your child should practise:

• Times tables and mental maths
• Written calculations
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Percentages
• Ratio and proportion
• Measurement
• Geometry
• Data handling
• Algebra basics
• Number patterns
• Word problems
• Multi-step reasoning
• Checking calculations

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:

• 11+ Maths
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems
• 11+ Foundation Maths
• 11+ Advanced Maths, for stronger pupils

Verbal Reasoning Preparation

Verbal Reasoning tests how pupils work with words, meanings, patterns and logic.

Your child should practise:

• Word relationships
• Synonyms and antonyms
• Letter codes
• Word codes
• Compound words
• Hidden words
• Logical word sequences
• Vocabulary-based reasoning

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:

• 11+ VR
• 11+ Foundation VR
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB
• 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets

Non-Verbal Reasoning Preparation

Non-Verbal Reasoning assesses visual logic, pattern recognition and problem solving.

Your child should practise:

• Shape patterns
• Sequences
• Matrices
• Odd-one-out questions
• Rotation
• Reflection
• Symmetry
• 2D and 3D shape reasoning
• Spatial awareness
• Visual problem solving

Useful Scholars Tutorial subjects include:

• 11+ NVR
• 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets

Printed Paper Sets for Warwickshire 11+ Preparation

Printed paper sets are useful because they help pupils practise concentration, timing, multiple-choice answer selection and full-paper discipline.

Useful Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets include:

• 11+ Mixed Practice Papers
• 11+ English Practice Papers
• 11+ Maths Practice Papers
• 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers
• 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
• 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers
• 11+ SPAG Practice Papers
• 11+ Foundation Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers
• 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers

Printed papers should be used alongside online practice. Online practice helps target weak areas, while printed papers help pupils apply skills in a realistic paper format.

Multiple Choice Format and Answer Technique

The Warwickshire 11+ test is multiple choice. Pupils need to solve questions accurately and mark answers carefully.

Scholars Tutorial printed paper sets support Multiple Choice Format practice.

This helps pupils learn how to:

• Read each question carefully
• Identify key information
• Use rough working effectively
• Eliminate incorrect options
• Avoid rushing
• Check calculations and reasoning
• Mark answer choices accurately
• Manage time across timed sections

Suggested Weekly Warwickshire 11+ Preparation Plan

A balanced weekly plan could include:

• 2 days per week: English comprehension, vocabulary or SPAG
• 2 days per week: Maths or word problems
• 1 day per week: Verbal Reasoning
• 1 day per week: Non-Verbal Reasoning
• 1 day per week: Mixed practice, printed paper practice or mistake review

Pupils closer to the test can gradually increase timed practice and printed paper work. Pupils still building foundations should use shorter, focused sessions.

Common Warwickshire 11+ Preparation Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Practising only English and Maths while ignoring reasoning
• Leaving Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning until the final weeks
• Not practising multiple-choice answer technique
• Doing papers without reviewing mistakes
• Starting timed work before the child understands the question types
• Focusing only on speed instead of accuracy
• Missing the registration deadline
• Forgetting that the school application is separate from test registration
• Not opting into result sharing where needed
• Ignoring priority areas, residency requirements or proof of address rules
• Assuming one score guarantees a place at every Warwickshire grammar school

How Parents Can Support at Home

Parents can make Warwickshire 11+ preparation more effective by keeping it steady, calm and balanced.

Helpful habits include:

• Check the current Warwickshire registration and admissions timetable
• Read individual grammar school admissions policies
• Check priority areas and proof of address requirements early
• Encourage daily reading and vocabulary discussion
• Practise mental maths regularly
• Review mistakes after each test
• Keep a notebook of weak topics
• Use online practice to target gaps
• Use printed papers for exam discipline
• Practise Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning consistently
• Avoid last-minute cramming
• Focus on confidence as well as scores

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Advice

Warwickshire 11+ preparation should be balanced across English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Pupils should build strong comprehension, vocabulary, SPAG, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and multiple-choice skills, supported by regular mistake review.

The Scholars Tutorial online platform helps pupils strengthen these areas through organised subject categories, while printed paper sets help children practise with realistic exam discipline.

For Warwickshire preparation, the 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE mixed sets under 11+ Mock Exams are useful because they combine English with Verbal Reasoning and Maths with Non-Verbal Reasoning.

By combining online practice, printed paper sets, timed work, careful mistake review and up-to-date admissions checking, pupils can build the confidence and accuracy needed for the Warwickshire 11+ test.