Magdalen College School (MCS) 11 Plus (11+) Entrance Exam Information 2026

Introduction

Magdalen College School (MCS) is an independent day school in Oxford. Dating back to 1480, it is the first boys’ school to be named Independent School of the Year by The Sunday Times twice. The most recent ISI report for MCS characterises the school as a place rich in opportunities, where pupils’ consistently perform exceptionally well. [1]

Academic life at the Senior School has a distinctive quality, challenging pupils to do their best through relatively short yet engaging and vigorous lessons. The curriculum encompasses mathematics, science, humanities, languages and DT, among others, allowing boys to develop a love of learning and creativity of thought while pursuing a plethora of academic and non-academic goals.

MCS is known for its varied selection of clubs and societies which complement the broad enrichment programme, aimed at maximising the scope of pupils’ interests and talents. After classes, boys get to engage in a range of activities, including CCF, creative writing, Diplomacy Club, fencing, Geoguessr Club and photography, and thus learn how to balance the challenging in-class teaching provision with learning through play and collaboration. [2]

The school generously provides a broad programme of trips, which has featured India, Italy, Slovenia and the US as destinations. Through this programme, pupils develop cultural sensibility alongside a profound sense of adventure, both inspiring strong academic outcomes and a wealth of social skills. Day trips typically include museums and theaters, allowing boys to boost their capacity for aesthetic agency in parallel with their appreciation of the arts. [3]

The MCS ethos is rooted in efforts to provide strong intellectual and moral education, placing tolerance and respect at the centre of its philosophy. As a result, pupils access the next stage of their lives with an awareness of their civic responsibility, embracing challenges and facing tribulations with open minds and positive attitudes. 

Open Events for Magdalen College School (MCS) 11 Plus (11+) Entry

Before applying for a place at MCS, you are advised to attend one of the school’s Open Events, which take place throughout the year. Typically commencing with a presentation from the Head, the events include a guided tour of campus and its facilities, as well as meetings with staff. Booking of spots is made through this page. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

Magdalen College School (MCS) 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

In order for your son to be considered for 11+ entry, you must register him with the school. This is done through an online portal, available on the school’s website. The completed registration form, together with a payment of a £100 registration fee, must be received by the school by the end of October in the year preceding entry.

The entrance examinations take place in January. On the basis of performance in these, candidates for entry will be invited back to the school to attend an interview, lasting around 30 minutes. 

Offers of places are sent out in February, and their acceptance includes a payment of a £1,000 deposit.

Magdalen College School (MCS) 11 Plus (11+) Scholarships and Bursaries

At 11+, the school awards Academic Scholarships and Exhibitions; All-Rounder Awards and Governors’ Presentation Awards. Scholarships are valued at £300 per annum, while exhibitions are worth £200 per annum. All-Rounder Awards are equally valued as scholarships, while the Governors’ Presentation Award carries a £500 reduction in the first year of fees.

All awards available to 11+ candidates are offered on the basis of performance in the entrance exam, hence no separate application is required. 

Bursaries are available to pupils from families who cannot afford to pay the school fees due to financial circumstances. They are typically valued at 10–100% of fees and take into consideration your income, assets, liabilities and lifestyle. 

Free place holders will be offered means-tested support for trips, uniform and school lunches. If you wish to apply for a bursary, you should indicate your interest in the registration form. You will then be sent a link to the Bursary Application Form which should be submitted by the deadline in November. More details are available here.

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

One of the best ways to prepare for a competitive entrance exam is to use our practice tests. Getting to know the types of questions and the format of the actual exam will help boost your child’s confidence.

Aside from becoming familiarised with the exam format, our practice tests will ensure that your child responds to the questions in an efficient and effective manner. 

They also provide an excellent opportunity for your child to practise working under time pressure. While doing the tests under timed conditions, children can get used to answering questions quickly, with a close attention to detail.

Our 11+ practice tests are thoroughly researched and up to date. They are designed to reflect the demands of a competitive entrance exam and are successfully used by hundreds of thousands of students every year.

Magdalen College School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Magdalen College School 11+ test.

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the MCS 11+ 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 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Papers

Online Practice Tests

To prepare for the highly competitive Magdalen College School 11+ Online Test, we would highly recommend using the following resources:

11+ Magdalen College School Practice Test 1

11+ Magdalen College School Practice Test 2

11+ Magdalen College School Practice Test 3

11+ Magdalen College School Practice Test 4

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Magdalen College School 11+ Online Test at a large discount. These are available on our other site, Pretest Plus. Click the button below to learn more:

11+ MCS Practice Tests 1-4 Bundle

Online Skill Practice

The following Skill Practice exercises focus on one module that will come up in the Magdalen College School 11+ Online Test, allowing you to target the specific exam sections that your child finds challenging.

11+ Magdalen College School Creative Comprehension Pack 1

11+ Magdalen College School Creative Comprehension Pack 2

11+ Magdalen College School Mathematics

11+ Magdalen College School Puzzles & Problem Solving Pack 1

11+ Magdalen College School Puzzles & Problem Solving Pack 2

Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.

Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Magdalen College School (MCS) 11+ past papers. The information provided about Magdalen College School (MCS) is 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 article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Magdalen College School (MCS).

Other entry points for Magdalen College School:

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

Click here to learn about Year 4 entry via the 8 Plus (8+) Exam

Click here to learn about Year 9 entry via the 13 Plus (13+) Exam