How is the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test scored?
After the test, answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology, which scans the marks your child has made to indicate their answers. Raw scores are then weighted across the four areas:
- English and verbal reasoning: 50%
- Non-verbal reasoning: 25%
- Maths: 25%
The weighted scores are then age-standardised, which means younger children are not disadvantaged. Results are sent to parents on Friday 16th October 2026.
What's the pass mark for the Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton 11+?
There is no single fixed pass mark. Each school sets its own qualifying score, and this is not decided until after the entrance test has taken place. Grammar schools in the Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton area are competitive and frequently oversubscribed, so achieving the qualifying score does not guarantee a place. Where a school receives more applications than places available, it will allocate places using its oversubscription criteria.
Qualifying scores can change from year to year. We always recommend reviewing your target school's admissions policy carefully before applying, as each school applies its own criteria when allocating places.
How to apply to grammar schools in Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton
If you're considering a grammar school in the Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton area for your child, it's a good idea to speak to your child's teacher first. Grammar schools are academically selective and select children working towards the top of their year group. Your child's teacher can indicate whether they think your child will be able to keep up with the pace at a grammar school.
1. Register for the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
To be considered for a place at any of the five schools in the Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Consortium, you will need to register your child to take the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test. To register, visit the West Midlands Grammar Schools website and complete the online application form. Have a photo of your child ready to upload as part of the registration process.
Registration opens on Tuesday 5th May 2026 and closes on Friday 26th June 2026. Please note that Newport Girls' High School has an earlier registration deadline of Friday 12th June 2026, so it is worth registering early if you are applying to that school.
2. Apply for school places
Your child's test results will be sent to you on Friday 16th October 2026. You'll find out whether your child has achieved the qualifying score for your target school or schools.
You can use these results to decide which schools to name on your secondary school common application form (CAF). Before listing a school on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible.
The application form must be submitted to your home local authority by Saturday 31st October 2026.
3. National school offers day
On Monday 1st March 2027, you'll be informed which secondary school your child has been allocated.
If your preferred school isn't offered, your child will receive another local school place, and you'll be given information about how to appeal.
How can I help my child prepare for the Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton 11+?
The 11+ can feel like a big milestone, but preparation doesn't have to be stressful.
Here are some practical ways to support your child in a calm, structured way.
Stay on track with a clear 11+ revision plan
One of the hardest parts of 11+ preparation isn't motivation – it's knowing what to work on, when, and how to stay consistent without it taking over family life.
A clear plan helps your child build skills in the right order and avoid last-minute cramming.
With Atom's Exam Plan, you enter your child's exam date and target schools, and Atom builds a personalised weekly plan based on the key skills they'll be tested on. It adapts as they improve and shows them exactly what to focus on each week.
That means less guesswork for you, less stress for them, and a clearer path to exam day.
Build 11+ exam technique with realistic practice papers
Once your child feels secure with the main topics, paper practice tests help them feel more confident with the exam format.
Atom's 11+ practice papers are designed to reflect real test conditions. Parents simply photograph their child's answer sheets and upload them to Atom for instant marking.
You'll get:
- a Standardised Age Score (SAS)
- clear insight into strengths and areas for improvement
- a comparison with other children applying to the same schools
The papers are unlimited, meaning your child can practise again and again with new questions each time.
Encourage regular reading for 11+ English success
Strong reading skills underpin almost every part of the 11+.
Encourage your child to read for 10–15 minutes a day, focusing on variety – fiction, non-fiction, different genres and authors.
This helps build:
- vocabulary
- comprehension and inference
- confidence with unfamiliar texts
If you're looking for ideas, Atom's recommended reading lists for Years 3–6 include a wide range of age-appropriate books.
Celebrate progress, not just 11+ scores
When you're supporting your child through 11+ preparation, what really matters is knowing they're moving in the right direction.
Atom's progress tracking gives you a clear, simple view of how your child is doing across topics and how their performance is developing over time.
That makes it easier to give meaningful encouragement, keep motivation steady and focus on consistent improvement – not just one-off test results
