Exam format not yet verified. We have not confirmed this school's exam board or paper format from an official source. Where this guide describes the test, treat it as a working assumption and check the school's admissions page before relying on it.
The exam at a glance
King Edward’s School Bath is an independent co-educational school, and the main senior entry point is Year 7. For 2028 entry, the working assumption for this guide, not yet verified with the school, is the school’s own assessment using a GL Assessment paper covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The school’s admissions process page says Year 7 applicants sit assessments in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning and also have an informal interview with a senior member of staff. ElevenReady’s directory (not yet verified with the school) additionally lists Non-Verbal Reasoning as tested, so parents should prepare across all four areas while we wait for the school to publish the 2028 cycle in full.
In practice, that means children need broad, even preparation rather than a heavy focus on just one paper. A sensible approach is to build secure core maths, accurate reading and writing, and steady reasoning skills, then gradually add timed work once methods feel familiar.
What the assessment day looks like is only partly published on the school’s site. The school confirms assessments and an informal interview, but it does not currently set out a full minute-by-minute schedule for the 2028 cohort. Parents should therefore expect an assessment session, some waiting time between activities, and a short interview-style conversation designed to help the school get to know the child as well as their academic profile.
Because the school uses a GL-style paper, preparation should be practical and balanced:
- Maths: fluent arithmetic, word problems and secure Key Stage 2 topics.
- English: careful reading, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and clear written expression.
- Verbal Reasoning: code, sequence, vocabulary and pattern-based language tasks.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: visual patterns, shapes, rotations, reflections and analogies.
The school has not clearly published on its admissions page whether the assessment is paper-based or computer-based for 2028 entry, so families should check the latest admissions information when registration opens.
Registration and key dates
For Year 7 entry, applications are run directly by King Edward’s School Bath rather than by a local authority grammar-school testing system. Parents should use the school’s admissions route and the enquiry or application process on the school website.
At the time of writing, the school has published dated information for the 2027 entry cycle, but not the full confirmed dates for 2028 entry. That means the safest way to plan is to use the previous cycle as a guide and then check the school’s admissions page regularly for updated dates.
For the previous cycle, the school published these Year 7 dates:
- Open Morning: 3 October 2026
- Taster Morning registration deadline: 2 November 2026
- Taster Morning: 7 November 2026
- Year 7 application deadline: 16 November 2026
- Year 7 bursary application deadline: 27 November 2026
- Year 7 interviews: from November 2026 to January 2027
- Special Talent Award assessments: week commencing 11 January 2027
Based on that published cycle, families considering 2028 entry should expect the process to begin in the autumn of Year 6, with open events and application deadlines likely to fall during that term. That is a typical pattern rather than a confirmed 2028 timetable.
The school’s admissions page also states that there is a £120 non-refundable application fee and a £500 deposit.
What should parents prepare when registering? The school does not publish a full checklist on the page we found, but independent-school applications commonly require basic pupil details, current school information and, where relevant, bursary or scholarship paperwork. Because requirements can change, it is best to confirm the exact documents with the admissions team before submitting.
Two useful ways to stay organised are to bookmark the school page and set a reminder for the start of the autumn term in Year 6. You can also use Free email alerts for this school's key dates.
For a quick overview of the current published format and admissions summary, see The King Edward's School 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).
Who can apply: catchment and admissions
King Edward’s School Bath is an independent school and does not operate a state-school-style catchment area for Year 7 admissions. The school says it welcomes applicants from both state and independent schools.
The school’s senior school is for pupils aged 11 to 18, and the main point of entry is the start of Year 7. Families considering 2028 entry should therefore expect most places at this stage to be offered for that main intake, with applications considered through the school’s own admissions process.
The school also states that bursaries are available for pupils joining Year 7 and Year 12 only. In addition, Year 7 applicants can apply for Special Talent Awards in Art, Drama, Music or Sport.
Independent schools do not always publish the same level of numerical admissions data that local authority schools do. On the sources we checked, King Edward’s School Bath does not clearly publish a verified Year 7 places figure, oversubscription statistic or a score threshold for entry. If you want the latest detail on likely numbers in the year group, ask the admissions office directly.
In practical terms, this means families should think about admissions in three parts:
- Academic suitability: steady preparation across maths, English and reasoning.
- School fit: the interview and open events matter, because the school is getting to know the child as well as assessing performance.
- Financial planning: if you may need help with fees, read the bursary information early so there is time to gather evidence and meet deadlines.
Parents interested in an award should avoid leaving preparation to the last minute. Academic preparation still matters, but children applying for a Special Talent Award should also be ready to present their strengths clearly and calmly in their chosen area.
A month-by-month preparation plan
For 2028 entry, your child will sit the assessment in the autumn of Year 6. A calm, structured plan usually works better than an intense final push. Below is a realistic schedule working back over Year 5 and into Year 6.
January to March of Year 5
Keep it light and skills-based. Aim for 1 to 2 hours a week in short sessions.
- Read widely and talk about vocabulary.
- Secure times tables, number bonds and written methods.
- Introduce gentle verbal and non-verbal reasoning tasks as puzzles, not tests.
- Notice strengths and weaker areas without timing anything heavily yet.
April to June of Year 5
Increase to around 2 to 3 hours a week.
- Start topic-based practice in each subject.
- Build accuracy in arithmetic and confidence with multi-step maths questions.
- Practise comprehension, spelling patterns, punctuation and concise written answers.
- Teach the common method types used in verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
July to August before Year 6
Use the summer to build consistency rather than pressure. Around 2 to 4 hours a week is enough for most children.
- Mix short revision with reading and mental maths.
- Begin untimed or lightly timed mixed practice sets.
- Review mistakes carefully so methods become automatic.
- If your child tires quickly, prioritise regularity over volume.
September of Year 6
This is the point to move into more exam-style work. Aim for 4 to 5 hours a week, split across several sessions.
- Start timed sections rather than full papers straight away.
- Practise switching cleanly between subjects.
- Work on pace: not rushing, but not getting stuck.
- Begin light interview preparation through conversation about school, interests and learning.
October of Year 6
Keep the workload steady at about 4 to 6 hours a week.
- Use at least one mixed paper or multi-subject session each week.
- Track recurring errors: careless arithmetic, vocabulary gaps, missed instructions or slow pattern recognition.
- Practise answer checking routines.
- Attend open events if offered, so the school feels familiar.
November and the final run-in
In the final weeks, quality matters more than cramming.
- Use short, focused revision sessions.
- Do a small number of timed practices under calm conditions.
- Reduce brand-new material.
- Protect sleep, sport and normal routines.
If the school confirms a slightly earlier or later assessment date for 2028 entry, shift this plan by a few weeks. The overall pattern stays the same: learn methods first, then increase timing gradually.
Subject by subject: what to practise
Maths
For King Edward’s School, maths preparation should focus on secure Year 5 and early Year 6 content rather than unusual tricks. Children should be comfortable with the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, measures, shape, perimeter, area and multi-step word problems.
Useful practice includes:
- daily arithmetic for speed and accuracy
- word problems that require choosing the right method
- questions with two or three steps
- working neatly so errors are easier to spot
If your child tends to rush, train them to underline key information and estimate before calculating. If they are slow, help them recognise which facts and methods need to become automatic.
English
English preparation should cover both reading and writing-related accuracy. On GL-style assessments, children may need to show comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Useful practice includes:
- reading high-quality fiction and non-fiction regularly
- answering comprehension questions in precise language
- vocabulary building through discussion and notebooks
- grammar revision, especially sentence structure and punctuation choices
- spelling review using patterns, roots and common exceptions
A strong habit is to ask, “What in the text proves that?” This encourages careful reading instead of vague guessing.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning rewards familiarity with question types. Children often improve well once they learn how each task works and practise spotting patterns quickly.
Useful practice includes:
- letter and number codes
- word relationships and analogies
- sequences
- finding hidden words or letter patterns
- vocabulary-based logic tasks
Build this subject in short, frequent sessions. Long verbal reasoning sessions can be tiring, but ten focused minutes several times a week can be very effective.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning is about recognising visual rules accurately and efficiently. Even confident pupils benefit from being taught the common pattern families before they work under time pressure.
Useful practice includes:
- shape analogies
- odd-one-out tasks
- rotations and reflections
- symmetry
- counting features such as sides, shading or orientation
Encourage your child to say the rule aloud at first: for example, what is changing, what is staying the same, and in what order. This helps visual reasoning become systematic rather than guess-based.
Practice papers and mock exams
Practice papers are most useful when they are used as a learning tool, not just a score generator. Start with untimed or lightly timed work so your child can learn the method behind each question type. Once accuracy improves, move to timed sections and then mixed papers.
A good sequence is:
- learn the question type
- do a few examples slowly
- complete a short timed set
- review every mistake
- redo similar questions a few days later
When you mark a paper, look beyond the total. Separate errors into three groups:
- knowledge gaps — the topic or method is not secure yet
- technique errors — the child knows it, but misread or worked inefficiently
- timing errors — too much time spent on one question or section
This makes the next week’s practice much more productive than simply doing another paper.
For school-specific practice, use these free ElevenReady resources:
- Free King Edward's School practice papers (one per tested subject, with answers)
- The King Edward's School 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates)
- Free email alerts for this school's key dates
Mock exams can be helpful later in the process, especially in the term before the assessment, because they build stamina and confidence with timing. They are most useful once your child already understands the common question types. There is little value in sitting full mocks too early if every unfamiliar format still needs teaching afterwards.
A simple rule works well: teach first, time second, mock third.
On the day
The best preparation on the day is practical and calm. Keep the morning predictable and avoid last-minute teaching.
- Lay out clothes, stationery and travel essentials the night before.
- Allow plenty of time for the journey so your child does not arrive flustered.
- Choose a familiar breakfast and keep hydration sensible.
- Speak positively and briefly; avoid discussing scores or competition.
Remind your child of a few simple strategies:
- listen carefully to instructions at the start of each section
- if a question feels hard, move on and come back if time allows
- keep an eye on the clock without panicking
- check work at the end if there is time
Because the school also uses an informal interview, it helps to frame that part gently. Your child does not need polished speeches. They just need to be ready to talk naturally about their interests, what they enjoy at school and why they would like to join King Edward’s.
Before the day, practise a few warm-up conversations at home. Keep them friendly. The aim is to help your child feel comfortable speaking to an adult they have not met before.
After the exam: results, allocation and appeals
After the assessment, independent schools usually combine test performance with the rest of their admissions process, including interview outcomes and, where relevant, bursary or award assessments. Offers are then made directly by the school rather than through National Offer Day for state secondary schools.
For the previous Year 7 cycle, the school published interview dates running from November to January and Special Talent Award assessments in the week commencing 11 January 2027. That gives families a useful sense that the process can continue for some time after the initial assessment.
The school pages we found do not clearly publish a detailed 2028 results timetable, ranking information or any score threshold. They also do not set out a formal appeals route in the same way a state school admissions authority would. If your child is unsuccessful, the right next step is to ask the admissions team politely whether feedback is available, whether a waiting list operates and whether there is any review process.
If you receive an offer, check the acceptance deadline carefully and be ready for the published deposit. If you have applied for a bursary or Special Talent Award, make sure you understand whether those decisions arrive at the same time as the main offer or separately.
Where independent schools are concerned, clear communication matters. Keep copies of forms, email confirmations and any financial paperwork so you can respond promptly when decisions arrive.
What has changed recently
For the current research round, we found published dated information for the 2027 entry cycle on the school’s admissions page, including open events, the application deadline, bursary deadline, interview window and Special Talent Award assessments. However, we did not find a fully published 2028 entry timetable yet.
We did not find an official announcement on the school website confirming a recent change of exam board, a change to catchment rules, or a published change in Year 7 place numbers over the last two years.
There is one point parents should note carefully: the school’s admissions process page currently names assessments in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning, while ElevenReady’s directory (not yet verified with the school) 2028 format records Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Until the school publishes the 2028 cycle in full, families should prepare for all four subjects and check the admissions page for confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Does King Edward's School Bath have a catchment area?
No. It is an independent school and does not use a state-school catchment model for Year 7 admissions.
What subjects should my child prepare for?
For 2028 entry, prepare Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The school page currently mentions Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning, so it is sensible to cover all four until the 2028 details are published.
Is there an interview for Year 7 entry?
Yes. The school says Year 7 applicants have an informal interview with a senior member of teaching staff.
When should we start preparing?
For most children, a gentle start in Year 5 works well. Build core skills first, then increase timed practice in the autumn of Year 6.
Are bursaries available at Year 7?
Yes. The school says bursaries are available for pupils joining Year 7 and Year 12 only.
Are there scholarships or awards for Year 7 applicants?
The school offers Special Talent Awards for Year 7 applicants in Art, Drama, Music or Sport.
How do we keep track of the dates?
Check the school's admissions page regularly and sign up for ElevenReady's free email alerts for this school so you do not miss the published 2028 deadlines.
Sources
- King Edward's School Bath – Admissions Process – Senior School: School type and senior age range; main senior entry at Year 7; Year 7 applicants sit assessments in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning; informal interview with a senior member of teaching staff; welcomes applicants from state and independent schools; bursaries available for Year 7 and Year 12 only;
- King Edward's School Bath – Home: School identity as King Edward's School Bath and official school website.
Preparing for other schools in Bath and North East Somerset
- Bath Academy · practice papers
- How to prepare for the Kingswood School 11+ · practice papers
- Monkton Combe School · practice papers
- Prior Park College · practice papers
- How to prepare for the Royal High School GDST 11+ · practice papers
Written by ElevenReady from the school's published information and reviewed by a person before publishing. Last reviewed 4 October 2026. Exam arrangements change. Check the school's admissions page for the current year.