7 Plus (7+) Exam – Magdalen College School (MCS) – Key Admissions Details 2024
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Table of Contents
Introduction
A renowned public school for boys, Magdalen College School (MCS) was founded in 1480 by William Waynfleet. He believed that education is the primary facilitator of social mobility and wanted to create a one-of-a-kind educational setting that would successfully prepare future scholars for Oxford University. Today, around a third of MCS’ leavers enroll at Oxford or Cambridge. [1]
The junior division has a dedicated team of specialist teachers and boys enjoy full access to the main school facilities. Emphasis is placed on pastoral care and the house system cultivates values of cooperation, loyalty and friendship. The syllabus is varied and relevant, actively preparing boys for the challenges of further education.
The extracurricular offering is exceptionally broad, allowing pupils to thoroughly explore their strengths and discover new interests. The abundance of opportunities includes everything from hockey, Ukulele Club and chess to public speaking, Forest School and orienteering, maximising the effects of experiential learning while cultivating pupils’ independence and social agility. [2]
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Information
Address: Cowley Place, Oxford OX4 1DZ
County: Oxfordshire
Admissions info: registrar@mcsoxford.org or 01865 253430
School type: Independent day school for boys
Open events: Each term
7+ Exam date: January of Year 2
Pass mark: Aim for 70%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Open Days
Open Mornings provide prospective families and students with the chance to experience the school’s atmosphere firsthand. The events begin with an introductory speech by the Master and the Head of Junior School. Attendees will then be given a guided tour of the school facilities, concluding with a meeting with the Head of Junior School and the Registrar. You can view MCS’ exact location on the map below:
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Admissions
The deadline for 7+ exam applications to MCS Junior School is in October prior to the year of entry. The registration form can be accessed on this page and should be submitted with a fee of £100, which is non-refundable.
The admissions process includes a paper-based exam, observation lessons, group activities and an interview with a member of senior staff. The quality of the reference from your child’s current school will also be considered.
MCS sends out offers in February, to be accepted with a payment of a £500 deposit. The induction morning for new Year 3 pupils is held in June.
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Bursaries and Scholarships
Scholarships and bursaries are not available in the Junior School.
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Format
The Magdalen College School 7+ entrance exam consists of the following assessments:
- English
- Mathematics
The English tests consist of spelling, creative writing and three comprehension exercises. Comprehension excerpts could be from factual or fictional sources. Each section in the English test is between 15 and 20 minutes long.
The maths test is the longest and lasts 45 minutes. It tests arithmetic skills, as well as knowledge of other mathematical concepts, including times tables, and the ability to apply these concepts to solve problems.
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Observation Lessons and Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be called back for observation lessons and a short interview. The lessons are conducted in small groups, last for two hours, and take place either in the morning (9–11am) or afternoon (1–3pm).
Attention is paid to each boy’s social skills, enthusiasm, self-discipline and ability to concentrate. During the course of the lesson, boys will leave the group to meet the Head of Junior School for a short interview.
The 7+ interview takes the format of a relaxed chat and lasts around 10 minutes. It is designed to look into the interests and enthusiasm of each candidate for entry and measure his compatibility with the MCS ethos.
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 70%+ consistently in our 7+ practice tests should be on track to pass the MCS Junior School 7+ assessment.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Magdalen College 7 plus exam.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
Magdalen College School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Practice Papers
If you are at the very beginning of your 7+ journey, you may wish to start with our range of 6+ resources. These cover the core Maths and English skills your child needs to develop but at a slightly easier level.
Our 6+ range will help your child develop confidence and a strong foundation before they progress further with the 7+ material listed below.
English
We highly recommend the following practice papers to help your child prepare for the Magdalen College School 7+ English exam. They cover everything your child needs to know about comprehension and writing:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension Skills
7+ English: Comprehension Pack 1
7+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
Comprehension Guide
This guide covers all the key comprehension question types in a clear, step-by-step manner so that both you and your child know exactly what to expect on exam day.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Comprehension
Writing Skills
Writing Guide
Starting from the foundational basics, this guide works its way through all the key skills your child needs to develop to become an excellent writer within the framework of what’s expected at the 7+ level.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Writing
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
Mathematics
The following 7+ packs will help your child develop the key skills needed to do well in the mathematics section of the Magdalen College School entrance exam:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
Each of the following skill practice 7+ mathematics packs focuses on just one specific topic, covering all the possible variations your child may face on exam day:
7+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
7+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
7+ Mathematics: Addition & Subtraction
7+ Mathematics: Multiplication & Division
7+ Mathematics: Number & Place Value
Mathematics Guide
This guide covers the full 7+ maths syllabus step-by-step, teaching your child everything they need to know in a fun and interactive manner.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Mathematics
Listening
Magdalen College School is keen to find students who can listen to instructions, process information and respond accurately. This pack will help develop these key skills:
MCS 7+ Bundle – Save 30%!
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended practice resources for the Magdalen College School 7+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
7+ Magdalen College School Bundle
Get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250. Use the code eppdiscount at checkout.
Destination Schools at 11+ : All boys take the competitive entrance exam for the Senior School and enjoy an outstanding record of success in this. It is expected that most boys will move on to the Senior School.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Magdalen College School (MCS) 7+ past papers. The information provided about Magdalen College School (MCS) was 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 post.
Other entry points for Magdalen College School:
Click here to learn about Year 4 entry via the 8 Plus (8+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 7 entry via the 11 Plus (11+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 9 entry via the 13 Plus (13+) Exam
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