Manchester Grammar School (MGS) 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details

Introduction

 

Basic information: Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK. Established in 1515, it occupies extensive facilities and has educated many notable authors, cryptographers, mathematicians and journalists. [1]

 

Curriculum: The academic provision in the Junior School aims to spark creativity, both in the areas of learning and problem-solving. As such, it balances a rich range of disciplines, including science, mathematics, PSHE and computing, allowing children to obtain a strong understanding of their syllabus and perform accordingly.

 

Co-curricular: After classes, boys benefit from a comprehensive co-curricular provision, underpinned by a number of club activities such as gardening, orchestra, fencing and water polo. These and many other opportunities on offer allow pupils to develop at a fast pace, enriching the quality of their interactions in parallel with the skills they acquire. [2]

 

ISI Inspection report: According to their most recent ISI report, MGS features exceptional standards of education, ensuring that children develop, both personally and academically, into resilient and articulate individuals. The community is characterised as inclusive and respectful of differences, governed by experienced and friendly staff who successfully implement the constructive strategy of the school’s leadership. [3]

 

Manchester Grammar is noted for the superb quality of its provision, producing agile thinkers and lifelong learners. As such, the school has enabled many students to evade the confines of their socio-economic circumstances; thrive at the country’s top universities; and profusely engage in matters of relevance to their intermittent and wider communities.  

 

Manchester Grammar School (MGS) 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information

 

Address: Old Hall Lane, Manchester, M13 0XT

County: Greater Manchester

Admissions info: admissions@mgs.org or 0161 224 7201 ext 234

School type: Independent day school for boys

Open events: September, November, May

8+ Exam date: September to January of Year 3

 

Open Events for Manchester Grammar School (MGS) 8 Plus (8+) Entry

 

MGS welcomes visitors during Open Events, but personal visits can also be arranged. Open Events allow prospective families to familiarise themselves with the school’s ethos and extensive offering through presentations, informal meetings and guided tours of facilities. For more details, please reach out to the Admissions Team. 

 

Manchester Grammar School (MGS) 8 Plus (8+) Admissions

  

The deadline for applications for entry into the Junior School is in late November of the year preceding entry. Forms can be accessed through this page and should be submitted with a payment of a £40 fee.

 

The period for assessments commences in September and concludes in January. Results are made known in late January, and the acceptance deadline is set in February. Please note that acceptance of a place includes a payment of a deposit.

 

Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries

 

Scholarships are not available to 8+ applicants. However, thanks to the school’s generous bursary scheme, you can apply for a bursary award.

 

The level of financial assistance will depend on the total gross income of your household. Hence, families who earn more than £54,000 annually will not be considered eligible, and those who earn less than £30,000 will receive full fee remission. 

 

As bursaries are reviewed annually, you will be asked to submit relevant documentation and re-apply for the award every year. Please note that its value may vary, depending on changes in your financial circumstances. 

 

Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format

 

The Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:

 

• English 
• Mathematics
• Reasoning

 

The English exam examines writing skills, including punctuation and spelling. Marks will be awarded for good use of imagination, creativity, form, purpose, organisation, cohesion and sentence structure.

 

The Maths exam assesses problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills. The assessment is taken following a Maths lesson, evaluating your child’s potential rather than just their knowledge.

 

He will also be asked to manipulate numbers, solve puzzles and work with texts, which to a great extent corresponds with a traditional Reasoning exam.

 

Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus entrance examination.

 

How to Prepare for the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Assessment 

 

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. Whilst doing the tests under timed conditions, children can get used to answering questions quickly, with a close attention to detail.

 

The majority of our 8+ resources are accompanied by detailed step-by-step video tutorials for every question. These are available for free with all purchases. It’s like having a world-class tutor explain each question to your child at no extra cost!

  

Our practice tests are used successfully every year by tens of thousands of students targeting schools with a competitive entrance exam. They are age-appropriate, reflecting the demands of the actual exam.

 

Our recommendations to help your child prepare for the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.

 

Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers

 

Recommendations for each section of the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus exam can be found below:

 

English

 

We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus English assessment. They will help improve your child’s writing skills:

  

8+ English: Writing

8+ English: Rewrite & Improve

8+ English: Spelling

8+ English: Punctuation

8+ English: Dictation

 

The Complete Guide to 8+ 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

 

We highly recommend the use of the following packs to help develop your child’s arithmetic and problem-solving skills within the examination context of the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus maths test:

 

Full Practice Tests

 

8+ Mathematics Pack 1

8+ Mathematics Pack 2

8+ Mathematics Pack 3

8+ Mathematics Pack 4

8+ Mathematics Pack 5

 

Targeted Skill Development

 

8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic

8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving

 

Reasoning 

 

The following packs will significantly boost your child’s Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning abilities ahead of the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus exam:

 

8+ Reasoning Pack 1

8+ Reasoning Pack 2 

8+ Reasoning Pack 3

8+ Reasoning Pack 4 

8+ Reasoning Pack 5 

 

Listening

 

The following pack is ideal for developing listening skills ahead of the Manchester Grammar School 8 Plus entrance exam, helping your child learn how to follow instructions carefully:

 

8+ Listening Pack 1

 

 

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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Manchester Grammar School 8+ past papers. The information provided about Manchester Grammar School 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 Manchester Grammar School.

 

Other entry points for Manchester Grammar School:

 

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

Click here to learn about Year 7 entry via the 11 Plus (11+) Exam