Ask the Experts: Preparing for Wolverhampton Grammar Schools

The Question

Wondering how to help my daughter work towards 11 plus exams please? She started year 5 in September this year. She does not go for any tuitions yet.

We are aiming for schools in and around Wolverhampton area. I’m not sure if the exams are GL or CEM? And if there is more than one test for the area?

Any information on how to go about preparing her would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I feel I have zero knowledge about grammar schools and the tests in general, compared to other parents.

Our Answer

Thank you for your question. Hopefully, our advice will help you feel more confident about the process.

West Midlands Exam Provider

-There is a consortium of schools in the West Midlands so the testing process is shared by all the grammar schools in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Warwickshire and Shropshire. This means that you only need to register once and your daughter will only take one test for a grammar school place in the West Midlands.

-The schools use GL, comprising of Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-verbal reasoning. Students take two 1-hour papers. You will need to register for the test in May 2025 and sit the test in September 2025. Dates will be confirmed closer to the time.

Starting the Journey

- Workbooks: CGP, Bond and many others offer a vast selection of workbooks. I recommend starting with age 9-10 then progressing to 10-11 later in the year. I always recommend 10-minute tests at the start of Year 5 as they are not too overwhelming and they are a gentle way to work on time management.

- Reading, reading and more reading: Regular reading is crucial for the English part of the paper as it’s an excellent way to develop vocabulary knowledge and comprehension skills. I would also recommend investing in some vocabulary flashcards. The Collins and CGP sets are great as they include definitions, synonyms and antonyms. You could also create your own.

Best of luck with your daughter’s learning journey 🙏