Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Entrance Exam Information 2026

Introduction

Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in the suburb of Clifton, Bristol. Founded in 1862, it had a notable reputation in its early years for emphasising science rather than classics in its curriculum.

In Year 7, pupils study English, mathematics, science, computing, MFL, Mandarin, history, geography, classics, art, design & technology, music, religious education, physical education, games and PSHE.

The co-curricular programme covers a range of activities, from rugby, netball and hockey, to music, drama and dance, helping pupils make the most of their school days.

The school’s spectacular countryside setting offers an ideal learning environment for students and access to an all-round education at the highest standards. Sporting facilities include a gym, an indoor heated swimming pool, a 3G football pitch, an olympic standard 4G hockey pitch and seven on-campus tennis courts, enabling Cliftonians to try something new each day and flourish in physical health and confidence.

Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

Address: Guthrie Road Clifton BS8 3EZ

County: Bristol

Admissions info: prepadmissions@cliftoncollege.com or +44 117 405 8688

School type: Independent co-ed day and boarding school

Open day: May, September

11+ Exam date: On Taster Day

11+ Exam type / Board: CAT4

Open Events for Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Entry

Open Days offer families the opportunity to meet staff and pupils and learn more about the pastoral care and educational opportunities on offer. You can book your spot via the online form available on the school’s website.

A personal visit can also be arranged. It includes a whole school tour, led by the admissions team, and the opportunity to meet with key staff members such as the Head. Booking is made via the school’s website. You can view the College’s exact location on the map below:

Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

After visiting the school, you will be asked to submit a recent school report. The College will then arrange a taster day for your child, during which they will be assessed using an online test. There will also be an interview. 

The admissions process includes registration for places and a payment of a £150 fee. Around this time, a confidential current-school reference will be requested. 

Please note that, if an offer is made, you will be asked to pay a £1,250 acceptance deposit. This payment will secure your child’s place at the College.

Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships for entry into Year 7 are available in the areas of Academic ability, Music and Sports. Academic and Music Scholarships are valid until the end of Year 13, subject to satisfactory academic performance. All Scholarships, with the exception of The Polacks Scholarship for Jewish pupils, are awarded on the basis of separate assessments. 

Bursaries are means-tested awards, made at the school’s discretion. They can, in exceptional circumstances, cover up to 100% of the fees. The school also offers a HM Forces Bursary and sibling discounts. For more information, please visit the school’s website.

Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format

The Clifton College 11+ entrance examination consists of:

• CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test)

The CAT4 test aims to assess developed abilities via modules testing Verbal, Non-Verbal, Spatial and Quantitative Reasoning.

Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Clifton College 11+ entrance examinations.

How to Prepare for the Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Exam

We recommend that students follow a structured approach towards preparation for the 11+ entrance exam. Such an approach includes practice tests, which consist of thoroughly researched and up to date questions that reflect a competitive 11+ examination format.

By covering all the key skills and the range of question types your child will encounter in the actual test, our practice tests will help them get used to answering questions quickly and effectively. More importantly, they will help identify any weaker areas that require additional work and attention. In this way, our practice tests will assist in boosting your child’s confidence. 

Every year, hundreds of thousands of students make use of our practice tests in order to gain an advantage over peers ahead of competitive and highly selective entrance exams. Our recommendations to help your child prepare for the Clifton College 11 plus entrance examination can be found below.

Clifton College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Papers

Online CAT4 Practice

The following Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT) online practice tests are highly recommended for successful preparation for the Clifton College 11+ CAT test. They help familiarise students with the various modules and question types that will come up in the CAT4 Level C, which is taken for Year 7 (11+) entry.

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 1 

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 2

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 3

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 4

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 5

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 6

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 7

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 8

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 9

CAT4 – Level C – Practice Test 10

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CAT4 Level C Practice Tests Bundle 1-10 - Save 30%

✅ Alternatively, you can choose a bundle of five of our recommended full practice tests for the Clifton College CAT4 Exam, and still save 25%. Select the relevant bundle below to learn more:

CAT4 Level C Practice Tests Bundle 1-5 - Save 25%

CAT4 Level C Practice Tests Bundle 6-10 - Save 25%

Non-Verbal Reasoning

CAT4 – Level C – Figure Matrices

CAT4 – Level C – Figure Classification

Verbal Reasoning

CAT4 – Level C – Verbal Classification

CAT4 – Level C – Verbal Analogies

Quantitative Reasoning

CAT4 – Level C – Number Analogies

CAT4 – Level C – Number Series

Spatial Reasoning

CAT4 – Level C – Figure Analysis

CAT4 – Level C – Figure Recognition

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended skill practice resources for the Clifton College CAT4 exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

The following video courses cover everything your child needs to know to do well in the Clifton College CAT4 exam:

CAT4 Quantitative Reasoning Course

CAT4 Non-Verbal Reasoning Course

CAT4 Spatial Reasoning Course

CAT4 Verbal Reasoning Course

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended video courses for the Clifton College CAT4 exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

Don’t forget to use the code ppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £80 and 20% off orders over £200 if you don’t buy a bundle.

The information provided about Clifton College was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of possible future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.

Please note that Pretest Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publishers of the CAT4 or any other test publisher and Clifton College.

Other entry points for Clifton College:

Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam