Two papers, each around 50 to 60 minutes, split into individually timed sections that your child cannot go back to. Instructions and timings come from an audio recording, every question is multiple choice, and only the separate answer sheet is marked.
That last detail catches children out every year, so it is worth going through the day properly.
The shape of the day
According to the partnership entrance test page, candidates sit two papers, each approximately 50 to 60 minutes long including the time taken for instructions and example questions.
Each paper contains several separately timed sections covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics, and non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
The audio, and the rule that matters most
Instructions and timings are delivered by audio recording rather than by an invigilator reading them out. Children are told in advance how long each section will last, and sections longer than five minutes get a five minute warning.
Then the rule that shapes everything: a child cannot revisit a previous section, and cannot move on to the next one until told to do so.
So if your child finishes a section early, there is nothing to move on to. If they run out of time, those marks are gone. There is no coming back at the end to the ones they left.
This is why timed section practice matters far more than timed whole papers. A child who has only ever practised a full paper against a single clock has learned the wrong skill.
Only the answer sheet is marked
Every question is multiple choice, and answers are recorded on a separate answer sheet. That sheet is the only thing that gets marked.
Beautiful working in the question booklet earns nothing. A correct answer circled in the booklet but not transferred earns nothing. A child who loses their place and shifts every answer down one row loses the lot.
Practise the transfer itself. It is a mechanical skill, it is genuinely easy to get wrong under pressure, and it is worth more marks than most topic revision.
How to mark the sheet, exactly
The partnership's own familiarisation guide is specific about this, and the detail is worth knowing before the morning.
- Draw a line through the small box beside your answer. It is a line, not a tick and not a filled circle.
- If you change your mind, rub it out as completely as you can and mark the new answer.
- Never cross out an answer. The sheet is marked by computer, and a crossed-out answer cannot be read, so the question is lost even though the child knew it.
- Check the question number matches the row every few questions.
That third point is the one to drill. A child who crosses out, as they would in any classroom book, throws the mark away entirely. Give them an eraser and make rubbing out the habit.
What to bring, and what will be confiscated
| Bring | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Two HB pencils | Rulers |
| An eraser | Highlighters |
| A pencil sharpener | Calculators and protractors |
| In a clear pencil case or clear food bag | Watches, phones, smart watches |
| Working out goes in the booklet | Scrap paper of any kind |
Note the watch. Children who have practised at home with a watch on the desk need to know there will not be one. A clock is provided in the test room, so practise glancing at a wall clock rather than a wrist.
Two pencils, not one, and sharpen both the night before.
The week before, and the morning itself
- Do the familiarisation questions on the partnership site, which show the exact style and, more importantly, how answers must be recorded.
- Practise sections to time, not whole papers to time.
- Stop new material. The week before is for confidence, not content.
- Normal bedtime, normal breakfast. An early night two nights before is more use than one the night before.
- Arrive early. Check where the test centre actually is, because it may not be your child's own school.
See our guide to using mock exams and our free timed mock test, which runs sections to the clock in the same way.
See where your child stands today
Timed sections in the GL Assessment format, marked instantly, with a topic-by-topic breakdown. No sign-up to start.
Practise the answer sheet, not just the questions
The thing I would most want a parent to take from this is that the answer sheet is a skill of its own. It is the only thing marked. A child can solve a question perfectly in the booklet and score nothing for it.
The individually timed sections are the other piece families underprepare. A child cannot go back to an earlier section and cannot run ahead into the next one. So practising a whole paper against one clock teaches the wrong habit entirely. Each paper is split into sections and a child has to learn to pace inside each one, finish it, and let it go.
And practise with a wall clock, because watches are not allowed in the room. Small thing, but a child who has always had a watch on the desk at home will notice its absence at exactly the wrong moment.
Mushtaque Ahmed, Founder of GrammarPath and Bright Mentors
Frequently asked questions
What happens on 11+ test day in the West Midlands?
Children sit two papers, each approximately 50 to 60 minutes long including instructions and example questions. Each paper is divided into separately timed sections covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics, and non-verbal and spatial reasoning, with instructions and timings delivered by audio recording.
Can my child go back to an earlier section in the 11+?
No. Children cannot revisit a previous section and cannot move on to the next one until told to do so. If a section is finished early there is nothing to move on to, and if time runs out those marks are lost. This is why practising individual sections against the clock matters more than practising whole papers.
What can my child take into the 11+ test?
Two HB pencils, an eraser and a sharpener, carried in a clear pencil case or clear food bag. Rulers, highlighters, calculators, watches and mobile devices are not permitted. A clock is provided in the test room.
Is the 11+ multiple choice?
Yes. All questions are multiple choice and answers are recorded on a separate answer sheet, which is the only material marked. Working shown in the question booklet earns no marks, so transferring answers accurately is a skill worth practising in its own right.
How long is the West Midlands 11+ test?
Two papers of approximately 50 to 60 minutes each, including the time taken for instructions and example questions. Each is split into shorter individually timed sections, and children are told in advance how long each section will last, with a five minute warning on longer ones.