Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Exam 2024, Year 7 Entry – Key Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Sevenoaks School is a selective co-ed independent school in Sevenoaks, Kent. Founded in 1432, it is the second oldest non-denominational school and among the most expensive ones in the UK. Its alumni list is impressive, featuring numerous academics, scientists, diplomats, activists, businessmen and authors. [1]
Sevenoaks’ strong academic and non-academic outcomes are mostly due to the varied curriculum, which covers everything from languages, Classics and science to arts, humanities and the Critical Thinking course. Core Critical Thinking lessons are interactive in nature, allowing children to question both ancient and modern arguments and better shape their understanding of the world and different belief systems through debates and open discussions.
Pastorally, the school focuses on the needs and concerns of the individual, thus providing personalised care so that each student on campus feels valued and supported. As a result, the learning environment is warm and friendly, allowing friendships, grounded in open-mindedness and trust, to thrive on all levels. [2]
The school’s enrichment programme further enhances the Sevenoaks’ experience, providing children with a firm foundation for all-round growth. Aimed at satisfying a variety of expectations, the co-curricular programme encompasses numerous clubs and activities, including Astronomy Club, chess, MUN, debating, Eco Committee and Feminist Society. [3]
The overarching programme of trips at home and abroad aims to instil in pupils a love of diversity and exploration, featuring exchanges, outdoor pursuits and expeditions. Destinations have included Morocco, Iceland and First World War battlefields, enriching this aspect of the educational journey to the maximum of its capacity. [4]
Sevenoaks prides itself for being a cosmopolitan institution with a forward-thinking ethos that promotes a global outlook among students. Its extensive campus, occupying 100 acres of land, is home to a vibrant community of clever children, who invest active efforts in sustaining the illustrious image the school has meticulously cultivated for nearly 600 years.
Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024
Address: Sevenoaks, TN13 1HU
County: Kent
Admissions info: regist@sevenoaksschool.org or 01732 467703
School type: Independent co-ed day and boarding school
Open day: In the Summer and Autumn terms
11+ Exam date: January 2024
11+ Exam type / Board: School’s own
Pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Open Events for Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Entry
Before applying for a place, parents and children are advised to attend one of the school’s Open Mornings, which are held in September and June. The events typically consist of guided tours of campus and meetings with current pupils and staff members. The June Open Morning is the larger event and attendance should be booked in advance. Please follow this link to learn more. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
For admission into Year 7 at Sevenoaks, an application should be made by 1st September of the year prior to entry using this online application form. The registration fee, which is non-refundable, is £175 (for day pupils).
References will be requested from your child’s school in the Autumn term of Year 6. The entrance exams and group interviews will take place in January and the results will be made known in February.
If your child receives an offer of a place, you should accept it with a payment of a £2,000 deposit by the deadline in early March.
Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Sevenoaks School offers Academic and Music Scholarships, worth a £1,000 reduction on the first year’s fees.
Academic awards are offered to top-performing candidates in the entrance test and group interview. Application forms can be accessed through this page.
Music scholars will be awarded free instrumental tuition on one or two instruments. Exceptionally talented applicants may be included in the school’s Emerging talent programme. Members of the National Youth Orchestra or a similar specialist music program will be considered eligible.
To diversify the school community on the grounds of pupils’ backgrounds, Sevenoaks offers means-tested bursaries to children from low-income families who perform well in the entrance examinations. Their value can be at up to 100% of fees.
Free places are typically offered to children whose parents’ annual gross income is £40,000 or less. Smaller bursaries can be awarded to families with a gross annual income of £100,000 or less. The means-testing process will include a home visit. Please click here to learn more.
Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Sevenoaks entrance exam consists of three tests: English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning.
English (1 hour)
- No dictionaries allowed.
- Section A (35 minutes): comprehension
- Section B (25 minutes): creative writing / composition
- All answers must be written in full sentences, paying attention to both spelling and punctuation.
Maths (1 hour)
- No calculators allowed.
- The paper is a general test in mathematics and problem solving. A list of topics covered can be downloaded from the school’s website. It covers a fairly wide range of topics that most 10-year olds should have come across, including:
- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, fractions and decimals
- directed numbers
- number sequences
- simple percentages
- ratio
- problem solving with fractions and integers
- balance equations
- angle properties
- areas
- volumes of prisms
- symmetry
- averages and range
- distance
- Candidates should show all their working. They may be awarded marks for correct working even if their final answer is incorrect, and an unsupported correct answer may not receive full marks.
Verbal Reasoning (1 hour)
- Questions will be similar to those featured on GL Assessment (NFER) Verbal Reasoning papers.
In addition, there is a 40-minute group interview. During the interviews, candidates are given tasks to complete in small groups of five or six. They will be observed by two members of staff, who are looking for candidates who are good team-players and are willing to contribute ideas and listen to others.
How to Prepare for the Sevenoaks 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.
Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the Sevenoaks School 11+ test.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Sevenoaks 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!
Sevenoaks School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Papers
NOTE: The following English and Mathematics practice tests are in standard format, which means that students need to write in their own answers rather than choose from a list of multiple-choice options. This matches the 11+ Exam format used by the school.
English
To prepare for the Sevenoaks School 11+ English paper, we would recommend using the following practice papers, which will help to improve comprehension, spelling and vocabulary:
Comprehension
11+ Complete Comprehension Guide
Writing
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Sevenoaks School 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Sevenoaks English Bundle - Save 30%
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
To prepare for the Sevenoaks School 11+ Mathematics paper, we would recommend using the following practice papers:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Mathematics section of the Sevenoaks School 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Sevenoaks Maths Bundle - Save 30%
Verbal Reasoning
Practice Tests
The following practice papers will provide useful preparation for the Sevenoaks 11+ Verbal Reasoning paper:
Skill Specific Practice
The following topic specific packs will help your child prepare for the various question types that could come up in the Sevenoaks School 11+ Verbal Reasoning exam:
Masterclasses
11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the Sevenoaks School 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ Sevenoaks Verbal Reasoning Bundle - Save 30%
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.
Interviews
This interview guide covers all the key concepts your child needs to be aware of for the 11+ Interview:
11+ Interviews – The Complete Guide
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Sevenoaks School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Sevenoaks 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 Sevenoaks School:
Click here to learn about Year 9 entry via the 13 Plus (13+) Exam
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