The Oppidan 11+ Journey
Building on the feedback and success stories from over 10,000 students who we’ve helped tackle the 11+, we’ve launched our new preparation course.
Created in collaboration with leading experts in schools, this journey takes care of everything, from the interviews and assessment days to the key academic tests.
What is the 11+?
The 11+ is a ‘catch all’ term to include several types, and stage, of assessment children face when applying to their chosen senior independent schools. The phrase 11+ can also be used to refer to the entry exams the LEAs (Local Education Authorities) used for grammar schools (these are selective state schools).
Confusingly, the 11+ can refer to the process for admission at 11 or 13. Admission at 11 (Year 7) entry is typical of lots of day schools in London as well as the girls’ boarding schools.
Some schools, such as the Consortium schools (e.g Godolphin and Latymer or South Hampstead High School) have their own standardised tests which include multiple-choice verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English, like the entry process for children applying to state grammar schools.
Therefore, children moving from state primary schools to state secondary schools or senior independent schools, as well as children moving from independent prep schools, might face these tests to a greater or lesser degree.
ISEB Common Pre-Test
For many in the independent sector, the dominant element of the 11+ is the Pre-Test which is taken when a pupil is in Years 6 or 7 and includes four tests in a multiple-choice format; English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
Importantly, the Pre-Test is not for Year 7 (11+ entry) but instead acts as an early assessment for schools in picking candidates for entry at 13+.
The following is taken from the ISEB website regarding details of the ISEB Pre-Tests.
Test are online and adaptive, and in a multiple-choice format
Include four tests: English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
May be taken together at the same time, or at separate times
May be taken in the pupils’ own school, at the senior school they are applying for, or at an independent invigilation centre
Provide a pupils’ results to all senior schools that they have applied to, which means the pupil only needs to sit the tests once
May be taken at any time during the ISEB Pre-Tests session (which runs from October – June in each academic year)
Offer full technical support to schools which use them
Are unique to ISEB and standardised for the independent sector
Provide the ISEB Test Walkthrough so pupils are able to experience the look and feel of the tests
Increasingly, schools have chosen to use the ‘Common Pre-Test’ administered by the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) which is why the exam is commonly referred to as the ‘ISEB Pre-Test’. You can see which schools use the Common Pre-Tests here.
For 13+ entry, children also often face interviews and school specific academic tests (such as the ones for Eton and Harrow) once the first hurdle of the Pre-test has been taken.
It’s worth mentioning that ISEB also administers other common exams including Common Entrance (CE) which is the term applied to the test children take at 13+. The Common Entrance isn’t ‘common’ at all anymore. It’s mainly used for setting in future schools and there’s no standard mark scheme rather being at the senior’s school discretion depending on their own academic system.
What does the Oppidan 11+ journey include?
Our journey guarantees 12, 25 or 50 sessions with your chosen mentor as well as:
A dedicated resource guide in line with up-to-date assessment criteria
Diagnostic assessments throughout including a free APT test (academic profiling test)
Weekly reports, check ins with Oppidan’s team, as well as key impact measurements.
Two six-part video courses: Interview Technique and Financial Literacy
How is it different?
This journey, like everything we do, is about pupil personal development. Whilst success is based on achieving entry to your first choice of school – and that’s our aim - we’re also measuring a development in skills and confidence throughout.
We’re serious about impact, and serious about making that impact positive and enjoyable for your child. This is borne from a consistent approach that relieves pressure for parents and fills students with confidence.
FAQs
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The 11+ Journey includes the choice of a mentor who for consistency sake will be with you for the course of the journey.
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Payment is made upfront on agreement and with signing of the T&Cs.
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Until the end of Year 6 or Year 7 depending on when you start.
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There is a 25% discount for each family if two children complete the journey together.
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The 11+ Journey includes a dedicated 11+ resource, as well as a school-specific set of resources.