Cranbrook School 13 Plus (13+) Year 9 Entrance Exam Information

Introduction

 

The Kent-based Cranbrook School, formerly known as Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, is a high-performing co-educational grammar. It boasts a number of purpose-built facilities and a long and impressive list of notable alumni, including a distinguished astronaut and a renowned neurosurgeon. [1]

 

Cranbrook offers a comprehensive curriculum aimed at equipping pupils with the knowledge they need to succeed in the world beyond school. Subjects on offer range from MFL and geography to mathematics and science, supporting a balanced provision that encourages both independent and critical thought. 

 

The extra-curricular programme is just as relevant, featuring CCF, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, book clubs, numerous sporting activities, dance classes and a wealth of other opportunities for non-academic development. Every year, Cranbrook organises international trips, offering students the opportunity to explore and deepen their understanding of diverse cultures and traditions in line with the school’s commitment to fostering global citizenship. [2]

 

Cranbrook’s exceptional focus on pastoral care is evident in the many ways it prioritises the well-being of every student. The underlying philosophy that a healthy, happy and safe environment willnurture both academic success and the overall progress of students is achieved through a robust support system, comprising dedicated pastoral staff and personalised care strategies. [3]

 

As part of its ethos, Cranbrook is committed to inclusivity, striving to transcend any barriers of race, gender, disability or age. Character education is at the heart of the school’s offering, not just acknowledging but also celebrating students’ efforts to engage in social interactions with compassion and respect while maturing into grounded, knowledgeable and open-minded individuals. 

 

Cranbrook School 13 Plus, Year 9 Entry Exam Information

 

Address: Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD

County: Kent

Admissions info: registrar@cranbrook.kent.sch.uk or 01580 711804

School type: Co-ed day and boarding grammar school

13+ Registration deadline: October of Year 8

13+ Exam date: November of Year 8

 

Open Events for Cranbrook School 13 Plus, Year 9 Entry

 

Cranbrook School hosts a number of Open Events, typically in the Autumn term. Attending these will provide you and your child with the opportunity to explore the campus and meet staff members. Bookings are made through this page. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

 

 

Cranbrook School 13 Plus, Year 9 Admissions

 

Applications for Year 9 places open in September and close in October of the year preceding entry. Online forms can be accessed through the school’s admissions page.  

 

Entry depends on performance in a formal, paper-based exam held in November. All candidates who take the test will be informed of their results later in the same month. Offers are made in December for boarding candidates and in March for day candidates.

 

Cranbrook School 13 Plus, Year 9 Scholarships and Bursaries

 

Three Entrance Scholarships are offered on the basis of outstanding results in the 13+ entrance examination and one scholarship paper, which can be Mathematics, English, Science, French/Spanish, Geography/History, or Latin.

 

Six Academic Scholarships are available to those candidates who perform well in the entrance examination and one of the above scholarship papers. A small monetary reward is offered to all scholarship students.

 

Additionally, the school offers two Music Scholarships. These cover a year’s worth of lessons in the relevant instrument or voice. Candidates should be able to perform at a minimum of Grade V level. Please note that music scholars are expected to contribute to the school’s extra-curricular music programme during their time at Cranbrook School.

 

Cranbrook School 13 Plus (13+) Year 9 Exam Format

 

The Cranbrook School 13 Plus examination consists of the following assessments:

 

• English (45 minutes)
• Mathematics (45 minutes)
• Non-Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes)

 

The English paper examines writing skills in two key areas: descriptive fiction and persuasive non-fiction. 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 paper will include questions on numbers, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics.

 

The Non-Verbal Reasoning paper tests students’ skills in recognising patterns and relationships among shapes, as well as sequences of shapes. Some of the questions involve matching specific features of a shape with corresponding letters.

 

Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Cranbrook School 13+ entrance examinations.

 

How to Prepare for the Cranbrook School 13 Plus, Year 9 Entrance Exam

 

Our 13+ mock tests serve as a vital tool for preparing for challenging entrance exams. By familiarising your child with the question types and structure of the actual exam, you can help build their confidence.

 

Apart from this, our 13+ practice papers aim to train your child to answer questions in a time-efficient and effective manner. They provide an excellent opportunity for your child to experience working under timed conditions, helping them become accustomed to promptly answering questions while maintaining accuracy.

 

Our practice tests are designed to be age-appropriate yet challenging, aligning well with the requirements of a competitive 13+ exam. Our recommendations to help your child prepare for the Cranbrook School 13 plus entrance examination can be found below.

 

Cranbrook School 13 Plus, Year 9 Entrance Exam Practice Papers

 

English 

 

We highly recommend the following packs to successfully prepare your child for the Cranbrook School 13 Plus English paper with their focus on writing skills:

 

13+ English Pack 1 (Writing sections only)

 

13+ English Pack 2 (Writing sections only)

 

13+ English: Rewrite & Improve

 

Mathematics  

 

We highly recommend the use of the following papers to help develop your child’s arithmetic and problem-solving skills within the examination context of the Cranbrook School 13 Plus maths test:

 

13+ Mathematics Pack 1

 

Non-Verbal Reasoning

 

The following 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning resources are appropriate for 13+ candidates applying for Year 9 entry to Cranbrook. They cover all the key NVR skills your child needs to know in the lead-up to the actual exam:

 

Full Practice Tests

 

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 1

 

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 2

 

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 3

 

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Pack 4

 

Masterclasses

 

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended 11+ resources for the Cranbrook School Non-Verbal Reasoning exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Bundle 

 

 

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 were included in Cranbrook School 13+ past papers. The information provided about Cranbrook School 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.