Entry at 11+

All candidates registered by the registration deadline will sit the following assessments:

Part 1: online assessment (105 minutes)

Part 2: creative writing (30 minutes)

Candidates should expect to sit both Part 1 and Part 2 on the same day. There will be breaks at various points throughout the assessments, so we expect them to be with us for about 2.5 hours.

The results of these assessments will be considered alongside confidential report from the Head of the candidate’s current school when selecting candidates for interview.

The Part 1 assessment is online and will cover the following subject components:

The majority of questions in Part 1 are multiple-choice, with only a few questions requiring a candidate to type one word or number at most.

Candidates will write a short story, based on a prompt. They will be free to write from any perspective (first person, third person or any other), and may invent something entirely new or base their story on their own or someone else’s experience.

It must be written in paragraphs, and they will be tested on the following criteria:

• Creativity – how interesting, imaginative and descriptive is it?
• Vocabulary – can they use interesting words and techniques for effect?
• Accuracy – can they spell and punctuate accurately?

Please note that phrases, words and imagery that have been pre-prepared are often apparent to those who mark the pieces, and often are not helpful.

Candidates are advised to prepare by reading widely and practising creative writing, including describing sensory details and convincing character behaviour, making sure they understand and can use punctuation conventions will also help them write with clarity.

The Part 2 assessment is usually hand-written (unless appropriate access arrangements for typing are in place). Content for Part 2 will be unrelated to Part 1.

Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning will be adaptive: this means questions will get harder or easier based on their responses as each candidate moves through the assessment to ensure the questions are at the right level for each individual. Therefore, candidates will not be able to skip or go back and change their answers to questions. It also means that each candidate may see different questions to others sitting the assessments.

English, Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension will be non-adaptive: this means all candidates will see the same questions, although some will progress further through the questions than others. They will have the ability to move backwards and forwards and be able to change their answers.

Candidates will be permitted blank scrap paper (provided by school) and pencil/pen in all parts of the assessments for any working out. Candidates may not use any other additional materials during any stage, e.g. dictionaries, thesauruses, calculators, rulers, mobile phones, etc.

During the assessment, students will see a clock on their screen showing them how long they have left for each section. It will be visible but not so large as to distract them from their work.

Parents are asked to declare the need for extra time (and/or other access arrangements) when they register their child. Where extra time is approved, the additional time will be automatically added to the timer visible on their screen for each section of the assessment.

Many senior schools run online assessments. An adaptive online assessment allows for a better candidate experience and a shorter examination that still provides us with robust data. No extended typing is required, so typing ability does not impact results.

The entry assessment will be sat using a laptop or desktop computer provided by CLS.

Click here for further information and to access the familiarisation test.

Given the adaptive nature of elements of the assessment, the questions shown in this familiarisation exercise are designed to demonstrate the style of questions used, not any content that may be tested.

We require candidates to sit their assessments with us at CLS. By prior arrangement, candidates living overseas may be permitted (at additional cost) to take the assessments under exam conditions at their current school. Please contact the Admissions team for further information.

We recommend that all candidates look at the familiarisation materials provided.

Beyond that, our assessments will test knowledge based on the National Curriculum appropriate for your child’s age, and candidates will need to know how to read an extended comprehension passage to answer questions on it. These are all skills that your child will be developing in school, so they will not need any special tuition or intensive additional practice.

Yes, provided they meet the academic entry requirements of the School. Parents of a child who has any special educational needs should disclose this when they register and should submit all relevant educational psychologists’, medical practitioners’ or specialist teachers’ reports shortly thereafter. This information is required in order to make appropriate arrangements during the assessments or at interview. After admission, the Learning Support Department, in consultation with parents, will make recommendations as to the type of help needed by each individual pupil. Support may include individual or group lessons, providing study skills or specialist tuition, enabling those with special educational needs to work with greater independence and success within the School.

City of London School has a long-standing relationship with Temple Church choir, where many of our pupils have been choristers over the years. It offers an outstanding musical education and auditions boys and girls, from any school, during Year 3, to join the choir in Year 4 through to the end of Year 8.

The church pays a scholarship of £7,500 per year. Occasional opportunities to join the choir in years higher up arise and are advertised separately. The Director of Music is Thomas Allery. For further information and details of upcoming taster sessions, please contact Susan Keeling, the Temple Church Administrator: susan@templechurch.com at any time, or see Becoming a Chorister – Temple Church.

You can read about our links with CLSG on our City Schools page, which can be found below.

City Schools

You can read about our extensive Sports programme through the Sports page below.

Sport at CLS