King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

Introduction

King Edward VI Five Ways School is a grammar school located in Birmingham. It was founded in 1552 and is part of the “Schools of King Edward VI”. As a selective state grammar establishment, all operational costs are covered by government financing, ensuring that parents don’t pay any school fees. The school has about 1,300 students enrolled.

The school’s goal is to make learning enjoyable and effective. That’s why it covers the national curriculum and provides diverse texts so students can explore more varied topics. Plus, every Wednesday, students have 25 minutes set aside to read their chosen texts. With this policy, King Edward VI Five Ways School hopes to create a stimulating and fulfilling learning environment for all.

The school offers a unique opportunity for students to explore their talents with an extra-curricular awards programme. The supercurricular awards programme’s name is ARETÉ, and it’s available to all students in Years 10-13. During this programme, the subject teachers carefully select various extracurricular activities for all students. [1]

King Edward VI Five Ways places instilling a sense of belonging, support, and safety at the centre of its ethos. The school’s staff and pupils dynamic is built on mutual respect and care while maintaining high academic and personal growth expectations. The institution seeks to educate young people to uphold their values even without supervision. The systems are designed to promote equity and ensure students have equal access to a high-quality learning experience.

Five Ways students consistently get remarkable grades. Nearly half (41%) of the students who took GCSE exams recently obtained a grade 9, and over two-thirds (67%) received a grade 8 or higher. For A-level exams, 30% of all entries got an A* grade, and 61% of the entries got a grade between A* and A. [1] [2]

Check out this video for a brief overview of the school:

King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

Since 2011, all grammar schools in Birmingham follow the admissions criteria of the West Midlands Grammar School Consortium. At King Edward VI Five Ways School, all prospective Year 7 students are selected for admission based on their combined, age-standardised score in the 11 Plus exam. Due to substantial competition, not every child who achieves the qualifying score can be offered a place at KEFW.

Across grammar schools in the West Midlands, applicants are ranked according to their test score. If test scores are equal, priority is given to students who meet the following criteria:

1. Looked After Children or Previously Looked After Children who achieve the qualifying score by rank order of standardised score
   
2. Children eligible for the Pupil Premium who achieve the qualifying score by rank order of standardised score (limited to 36 places)
   
3. Other children who achieve the qualifying score by rank order of standardised score
   
   

More information about the admission policy at King Edward VI Five Ways can be found on the school’s website.

How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to King Edward VI Five Ways School

If you would like your child to be considered for one of KEFW’s 180 Year 7 places, you must register online with the West Midlands Grammar School Consortium. Parents also need to complete a Local Authority Preference form.

Exam results will be published in October, following the 11+ exam in September, although places will not be allocated until March the following year.

King Edward VI Five Ways School Catchment Area

Does King Edward VI Five Ways School have a catchment area?

Yes, they do. For King Edward VI Five Ways School, priority catchment area is defined by home addresses that are within the following electoral wards:

• Birmingham: Allens Cross, Bartley Green, Bournville & Cotteridge, Frankley Great Park, Harborne, King’s Norton North, King’s Norton South, Longbridge & West Heath, Northfield, Quinton, Rubery & Rednal, Weoley & Selly Oak.

• Sandwell: Abbey, Bristnall, Old Warley.

How to Prepare for the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?

Some children find the thought of sitting the 11 Plus exam an intimidating prospect, but with parental support and good revision techniques, the test itself needn’t cause undue worry in your household.

The King Edward Schools in Birmingham are hugely oversubscribed and KEFW is no different. For your child to have the best chance of gaining one of its 180 Year 7 places, they must do plenty of 11 Plus revision. The 11+ exam requires excellent time management skills if pupils are going to complete all questions, so make sure your child takes practice test papers under timed conditions.

King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

The school’s qualifying score for admission is 205. This is the minimum standardised score that makes applicants eligible for a place.

Pupils who are able to score 80-85%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 Plus exam.

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.

King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers

The resources listed below are specifically designed to help students prepare for the 11+ Exam at King Edward VI Five Ways. They cover every aspect of the exam, which is created by GL Assessment.

All question types that could come up in the actual exam are addressed across English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.

Most of the products below also come with detailed video tutorials to accompany every question. These allow your child to quickly learn from their mistakes and understand the most effective techniques to approach any question that could come up in their exam.

Full Practice Tests

20 Products

The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the West Midlands 11+ Exam, used by King Edward VI Five Ways School for Year 7 entry. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:

Practice Papers

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 1

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 2

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 3

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 4

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 5

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 6

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 7

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 8

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 9

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 10

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 11

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 12

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 13

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 14

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 15

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 16

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 17

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 18

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 19

11+ West Midlands Practice Test 20

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English Comprehension

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11+ West Midlands English 10-Minute Tests

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11+ GL English Comprehension: Inference Questions Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Figurative Language Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Analysing Poetry Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Voice, Tone, and Purpose Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Themes, Summarising, and Sequencing Mini Masterclass

11+ GL English Comprehension: Supported Practice Paper Mini Masterclass

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Verbal Reasoning

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Practice Papers

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11+ Verbal Reasoning Pack 2

11+ Verbal Reasoning Pack 3

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11+ Verbal Reasoning: Anagrams

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Analogies

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11+ Verbal Reasoning: Insert a Letter

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Letter Analogies

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11+ Verbal Reasoning: Letter Grids

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Letter Sequences

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Move a Letter

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Number Analogies

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Number Calculations

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Number Sequences

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Related Words

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Rhyming Synonyms

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Shuffled Sentences

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Synonyms

11+ Verbal Reasoning: Word Completion

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11+ West Midlands Verbal Reasoning 10-Minute Tests

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Video Masterclasses

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11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Form a Word Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Insert a Letter Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Analogies Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Calculations Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Codes Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Grids Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Letter Sequences Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Move a Letter Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Number Analogies Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Verbal Reasoning: Rhyming Synonyms Mini Masterclass

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Mathematics

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Practice Papers

11+ Mathematics (Grammar Schools) Pack 1

11+ Mathematics (Grammar Schools) Pack 2

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11+ Mathematics: Algebra (Grammar Schools)

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11+ Mathematics: Problem Solving (Grammar Schools) Pack 1

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11+ Maths XL Masterclass

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11+ West Midlands Mathematics 10-Minute Tests

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11+ GL Mathematics: Factors & Multiples Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Measurements Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Money Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Operations Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Perimeter, Area & Volume Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Position & Direction Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Mathematics: Properties of Shape Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Ratio & Proportion Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry Mini Masterclass

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11+ GL Mathematics: Special Numbers Mini Masterclass

11+ GL Mathematics: Speed, Distance & Time Mini Masterclass

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Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning

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11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Figure Classification

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Figure Matrices

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Horizontal Codes

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Operations

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11+ Spatial Reasoning Pack 1

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Block Counting

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Combining Shapes

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Fold & Punch

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Folding Cubes

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Hidden Shapes

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Shape Completion

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Spinning Shapes

11+ Spatial Reasoning: Rotation

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11+ West Midlands Non-Verbal Reasoning 10-Minute Tests

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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in King Edward VI Five Ways School 11+ past papers. The information provided about King Edward VI Five Ways School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by King Edward VI Five Ways School.