Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Haberdashers’ Adams School uses the shared West Midlands 11 Plus for selective Year 7 entry. The GL Assessment test covers English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning across two papers. This guide explains the Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus exam format, what it means for preparation, and how Learning Street’s GL courses and West Midlands mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Haberdashers’ Adams School |
| Area | Shropshire / West Midlands test group |
| Entrance test | West Midlands 11 Plus |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Exam structure | Two papers |
| Areas tested | English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning |
| Learning Street mocks | West Midlands Mock Exam Packs 1–4 |
Information and Mock Exam review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Haberdashers’ Adams School mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Haberdashers’ Adams School entrance test.
Learning Street provides both structured GL 11 Plus courses and West Midlands mock exams for children preparing for this test.
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Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus uses the shared West Midlands GL test, consisting of two papers, with both papers containing English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning, including Spatial Reasoning.
Paper 1 contains a mixture of English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning questions, including Spatial Reasoning.
Paper 2 follows the same overall structure and contains the same subject types.
This means children need to prepare across several different skill areas rather than treating English, Maths and Reasoning as completely separate tests. They need to be comfortable moving between different question styles while maintaining accuracy and concentration.
The West Midlands test is delivered by GL Assessment and Learning Street’s current mock series is designed around the known content, style, instructions and timings used for this shared test.
What Does the Haberdashers’ Adams School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The breadth of the West Midlands 11 Plus means Haberdashers’ Adams School preparation should develop English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning rather than concentrating heavily on one strong subject.
English and Verbal Reasoning are closely linked through vocabulary. Children may understand how to approach a reasoning question but still lose marks if they do not recognise the words being used. Regular reading and structured vocabulary development should therefore continue throughout preparation.
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 foundations so routine calculations can be completed accurately and efficiently. Children can then spend more time applying their knowledge to less familiar problems and deciding which mathematical method is required.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require systematic visual analysis. Children should learn to inspect changes involving shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading rather than relying on guesswork.
Because each paper combines several areas, children also need to become comfortable switching between different types of question. Preparation should therefore progress from core skills → accuracy → flexible application → revision → timed work → complete mock exams.
Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Learning Street researches the known West Midlands 11 Plus format, paper length and timings when producing its West Midlands mocks. We also provide realistic answer sheets, invigilation instructions and guidance on when time should be called so parents can reproduce the practical demands of the test at home as closely as possible.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48.
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
Learning Street’s current Haberdashers’ Adams School preparation information does not provide one fixed raw practice-paper percentage that should be treated as a permanent Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus pass mark.
A percentage achieved on a Learning Street mock should therefore be used primarily to measure preparation and progress rather than treated as equivalent to an official West Midlands 11 Plus result.
An overall mock percentage can also hide differences between individual areas. A child may appear to be performing strongly overall while consistently losing marks through weaker comprehension, vocabulary, a particular Maths topic or one type of reasoning.
Learning Street’s detailed answers are most useful when they help identify whether marks are being lost because of knowledge gaps, accuracy, timing or exam technique.
Parents can then target the weaker areas before using another fresh mock to see whether performance improves under timed conditions.
How to Prepare for the Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus
Effective Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus preparation should develop secure underlying skills before children rely heavily on complete mock exams.
Learning Street’s approach is to develop English, Maths, vocabulary and reasoning skills first, consolidate them through revision and then introduce progressively more timed work as the West Midlands 11 Plus approaches.
English Preparation
English preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Children should become comfortable reading unfamiliar material accurately while still working efficiently. Regular reading should be combined with structured comprehension practice so children learn to retrieve information, interpret wording carefully and distinguish between closely related answers.
Vocabulary development is particularly useful because stronger word knowledge supports performance in both English and Verbal Reasoning.
Maths Preparation
Maths preparation should begin with secure KS2 knowledge. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become accurate and reliable before significant time pressure is introduced.
Children should then move towards mixed problems where they need to decide independently which mathematical method is required.
This develops flexible problem solving rather than dependence on questions being organised by topic. Accuracy should come before speed, with timed practice becoming more useful once the core methods are secure.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning combines language knowledge with logical thinking. Children should learn reliable methods for different word, letter, code and relationship questions rather than simply memorising solutions to familiar examples.
Vocabulary development is central to this preparation. Even where a child understands the reasoning method, unfamiliar words can make otherwise manageable questions much harder.
Vocabulary should therefore be developed systematically and revisited regularly throughout preparation.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning require children to analyse visual information carefully and systematically.
Children should learn to inspect features such as shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading. Developing a consistent approach helps children solve unfamiliar visual problems rather than relying on recognition of previously practised questions.
Because the West Midlands papers combine several subject areas, children should also become comfortable switching from one style of thinking to another while maintaining concentration.
Once these core skills are secure, Learning Street’s West Midlands mock exams can be introduced to develop timing, stamina, answer-sheet accuracy and familiarity with realistic test conditions.
View the West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three main GL preparation routes for children preparing for the Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus: Complete, Enhance and Boost. These programmes develop Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning through structured learning, revision and timed testing.
The most suitable programme depends mainly on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Learning Street course | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete GL | Our most comprehensive preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance GL | A shorter structured programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost GL | Focused preparation when less time remains |
Complete GL — 30–40+ Weeks
Learning Street’s Complete GL 11 Plus Programme is our most comprehensive preparation route. It contains 40 structured parts covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The programme includes more than 60 timed papers and tests, full answers with detailed explanations and additional work focused on core skills such as vocabulary development and accuracy in English and Maths.
It is most suitable where there is enough time to develop the underlying skills progressively before moving towards substantial revision and timed work.
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Focused Complete options are also available:
Complete – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Complete – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Enhance GL — 15–30 Weeks
Learning Street’s Enhance GL programme provides a shorter structured preparation route while continuing to cover Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
It is designed for families with less time available who still want a planned progression through core learning, revision and timed work rather than relying on unrelated books and practice papers.
Focused Enhance options are also available:
Enhance – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Enhance – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Boost GL — 6–15 Weeks
Learning Street’s Boost GL programme is the shortest full preparation route and is intended for families beginning focused Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus preparation later.
It concentrates the main learning, revision and timed practice into a shorter period while retaining work across Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Focused Boost options are also available:
Boost – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Boost – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still developing the literacy and numeracy foundations needed before dedicated Haberdashers’ Adams School 11 Plus preparation begins, Learning Street’s primary-school course chooser can help you select an appropriate starting point.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Already Completed Substantial Preparation?
Learning Street’s 11 Plus Revision Course – GL is suitable for children who have already completed substantial 11 Plus preparation through books, tutoring or another programme but now want a structured period of revision.
It should not normally be completed after one of Learning Street’s Complete, Enhance or Boost programmes because some of the material overlaps.
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests may need additional preparation in areas or formats beyond the West Midlands 11 Plus.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Haberdashers’ Adams School Admissions Information
Admissions arrangements can change from year to year. For general guidance on 11 Plus preparation and Learning Street courses, use the Learning Street FAQs below.
