Magdalen College School (MCS) 8 Plus (8+) Exam – Key Details 2024
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Founded in 1480, Magdalen College School (MCS) is an independent day school in Oxford. Primarily a boys’ school, it welcomes girls in the Sixth Form from age 16. Its alumni list is long and varied and features many notable personalities, including a Nobel Prize winner and a Professor at Harvard University. [1]
In the Junior School, the curriculum is designed to foster a lasting love of learning. Lessons are enjoyable and engaging, underpinning a supportive environment where students can explore their talents, interests and skills. The curriculum is balanced and targeted, providing the cohort with a strong foundation in essential disciplines, including languages, technology and science.
In addition to the broad academic provision, the school offers a wide range of clubs that allow children to work collaboratively and think creatively. Chess, natural history, word games, Lego, debating and coding are just some of the programme’s most popular features, allowing pupils to acquire valuable leadership experiences and positively contribute to the school’s vibrant community. [2]
Magdalen College School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Cowley Place, Oxford, OX4 1DZ
County: Oxfordshire
Admissions info: registrar@mcsoxford.org or 01865 242191
School type: Independent day school for boys
Open days: Each term
8+ Exam date: January of Year 3
Pass mark: Aim for 70%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Magdalen College School 8 Plus (8+) Open Events
Junior School Open Mornings are held throughout the year and provide families with a great opportunity to learn details about the educational philosophy. The events begin with a presentation by the Master and the Head of the Junior School, followed by a tour of the extensive facilities and a chat with the Registrar’s team over coffee. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
Magdalen College School 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
To apply for an 8+ place at MCS on behalf of your child, you should complete a registration form, which can be found on the school’s website, and return it to the school together with a non-refundable fee of £100.
The entrance assessments are held in January of the calendar year of entry. Most applicants will be invited back to the school to attend an interview and be informally assessed. Your son will be asked to bring an object or picture that he will discuss during the interview.
As part of the admissions process, current-school references will also be reviewed. Results are communicated in February. If an offer is made, you will be asked to secure your son’s place at MCS with a payment of a £500 deposit. The induction morning is held in June.
Magdalen College School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Magdalen College Junior School 8+ entrance examination consist of the following papers:
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal Reasoning
The English test consists of spelling, descriptive writing and comprehension exercises.
The Maths exam assesses problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including your child’s knowledge of times tables.
The Verbal Reasoning test is designed to assess logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary.
Magdalen College School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 70%+ consistently in our 8+ practice tests should be on track to pass the MCS 8+ assessment.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Magdalen College 8 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 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Magdalen College School 8+ English assessment. They will help improve your child’s comprehension and writing skills:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension Skills
8+ English: Comprehension Pack 1
8+ 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 Guide to 8+ 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 8+ level.
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 Magdalen College School 8+ maths test:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
Verbal Reasoning
The following packs will significantly boost your child’s Verbal Reasoning (VR) abilities ahead of the Magdalen College School 8+ entrance test:
8+ Reasoning Pack 1 (VR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 2 (VR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 3 (VR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 4 (VR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 5 (VR sections only)
Listening
The following pack is ideal for developing listening skills ahead of the Magdalen College 8 Plus entrance exam, helping your child learn how to follow instructions carefully:
MCS 8+ Bundle – Save 35%!
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended practice resources for the Magdalen College School (MCS) 8+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
8+ MCS 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 Magdalen College School 8+ past papers. The information provided about Magdalen College 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.
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 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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