Walsall 11+: the West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test

Walsall's Queen Mary's grammar schools admit through the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools (WMGS) GL test. A guide to the format, registration and how to prepare.

West Midlands Grammar Schools (WMGS) 11+ Entrance Test: key facts

Typical test date: The WMGS entrance test is sat in September of Year 6
Papers: Two GL Assessment papers
Duration: Each paper is typically around 50 minutes
Subjects: Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical (Maths) Reasoning
Indicative qualifying threshold: A standardised qualifying score is published each year; Walsall's Queen Mary's schools are competitive, so treat any figure as indicative and confirm with the school
Registration window: Register through the central WMGS portal in the summer term of Year 5; a test centre near your home is then allocated

Why Walsall is different

Walsall has two long-established grammar schools — Queen Mary's Grammar School (boys) and Queen Mary's High School (girls). Both admit through the West Midlands Grammar Schools (WMGS) consortium, a shared entrance test used by grammar schools across Walsall, Wolverhampton, Shropshire and the wider West Midlands. Registering once for the WMGS test lets a child be considered by several consortium schools without sitting multiple separate papers.

The WMGS test is produced by GL Assessment and assesses verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical (maths) reasoning across two papers. Because it is a GL test, the question types are well-documented and respond well to structured practice — an advantage over regions with less predictable formats.

Although Walsall's schools sit within the same broad West Midlands family as Birmingham's King Edward VI grammars, the consortia and registration routes are not necessarily identical, so always confirm which test your target schools use. Our [Birmingham 11+ guide](/11-plus/birmingham) covers the King Edward VI route for families also looking there.

How the West Midlands Grammar Schools (WMGS) 11+ Entrance Test is structured

Two GL Assessment papers, each typically around 50 minutes, sat in September of Year 6.
Content assesses verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical (maths) reasoning.
Answers are recorded in GL's standard format and the test is machine-marked; scores are age-standardised.
Registration is through the central WMGS portal, after which a test centre near your home address is allocated.
Following the test, you still apply for school places through your home local authority's secondary application by the 31 October deadline.

Notable grammar schools in Walsall

2 grammar schools in Walsall, within the wider WMGS consortium.

Queen Mary's Grammar School (boys, Walsall)
Queen Mary's High School (girls, Walsall)
Wolverhampton Girls' High School
Adams' Grammar School (Newport, Shropshire)
Newport Girls' High School (Shropshire)

How to prepare your child for the Walsall 11+

Treat this as a classic GL preparation task. Cover the full set of GL verbal reasoning question types, build non-verbal reasoning fluency, and secure numerical reasoning well above standard Year 5 level. Because the format is predictable, consistent practice across Year 4 and Year 5 produces reliable gains — our exam boards comparison explains the GL question families you will encounter.

Build accuracy and speed together. The consortium's most sought-after schools, including Walsall's Queen Mary's pair, attract strong applicants, so marginal marks lost to careless errors or slow pacing matter. Introduce timed papers from the spring of Year 5 and keep an errors log — see our guide to using practice papers well.

Confirm the exact arrangements on the WMGS portal and each school's admissions page before buying materials, as consortium membership and test details are updated annually. For a starting benchmark across the subjects, our free diagnostic at grammarprep.uk/onboarding shows where your child stands.

Frequently asked questions about the Walsall 11+

Which grammar schools are in Walsall?

Walsall has two grammar schools: Queen Mary's Grammar School (boys) and Queen Mary's High School (girls). Both admit through the West Midlands Grammar Schools (WMGS) consortium test.

What exam board does the Walsall 11+ use?

GL Assessment. The WMGS entrance test is produced by GL and assesses verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and numerical (maths) reasoning across two papers.

How do I register for the Walsall grammar test?

Registration is through the central West Midlands Grammar Schools (WMGS) portal, typically in the summer term of Year 5. After registering, your child is allocated a test centre near your home address.

Is one test enough for several West Midlands grammar schools?

Yes — registering for the WMGS test lets your child be considered by several consortium schools across Walsall, Wolverhampton and Shropshire without sitting multiple separate papers. Always confirm each target school is part of the same test.

Is the Walsall test the same as Birmingham's King Edward VI test?

They sit within the same broad West Midlands family, but the consortia and registration routes are not necessarily identical. Confirm which test each target school uses; our Birmingham guide covers the King Edward VI route.

When is the Walsall 11+ test sat?

The WMGS entrance test is sat in September of Year 6. You then apply for secondary places through your home local authority by the 31 October national deadline.