The 13 plus exams are exams which children partake in to gain entrance into a school at year 9.
There are generally 2 ways to gain entrance at 13 plus. The first method is by taking exams in Year 6: This falls around the same time as 11+ exams, and it is really a chance to give students deferred entry at year 9. The tests can include online ISEB, written maths and English, non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, school report, interview and group activity. If children pass the assessment, they are offered a space for the school, this is usually a conditional offer of children passing the Common Entrance or similar exams in year 8.
The second method is by children sitting exams in year 8. Most schools ask children to sit Maths, English and Science exams; however, there are some schools who may assess other subjects such as non-verbal reasoning and verbal reasoning. Schools are also likely to interview the children and take a headmaster’s report into account. If children are successful, they will gain an offer to attend the school at the start of year 9.
Finally, most schools offer ‘occasional places’ which simply means candidates are put on a waiting list, and if an open place does by chance arise, they will be asked to participate in the entrance exam procedures.
We understand how confusing and time-consuming researching for the entrance exams may be. Planning ahead is critical for success in the 13 plus exams as some schools only offer pre-tests at year 6 for 13 plus entry- this means deciding at year 7 to prepare for the 13 plus exams could mean half of your options are no longer available. This is why we have created an easy to read 13 plus schools list below, with important details you may need to consider when preparing to apply to the schools of your choice.
Please note, most schools offer occasional places and it may be worth contacting the schools of your choice and adding your child’s name on their waiting list.
If you need any assistance with preparing your child for the 13 plus exams, we would be happy to assist you. Please contact us by email at info@11pluslondon.co.uk or by telephone 0203 488 1278.
Please check the information on the websites of the schools as there may be amendments and adjustments which have not been reflected in the table below.
| BOROUGH | SCHOOL NAME | GENDER | Spaces available | DEFERRED ENTRANCE FOR YEAR 6 | ENTRANCE FOR YEAR 8 | BURSARIES/SCHOLARSHIPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey | Reed's School | Boys | Registration deadline: October Stage 1: ISEB online test in English, maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning Stage 2: Common Entrance tests, English, Maths Science, with a score of 60% + | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic and non-academic scholarships available |
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| Surrey | Caterham School | Mixed | 40-50 | Registration deadline: November Stage One: ISEB online test in English, maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning (November/December) Stage Two: interview (November) Stage Three: Written tests in maths and English, group activity/problem solving tasks (January) | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic and non-academic scholarships available |
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| Croydon | Royal Russell School | Mixed | - | English and maths assessment, interview | - | |
| Croydon | Trinity School | Boys | Registration deadline: October STAGE ONE: ISEB online assessment STAGE TWO: Interview (January to February) | Registration deadline: October STAGE ONE: English comprehension and essay – 1 hour Mathematics – 1 hour Verbal reasoning – 1 hour (December) STAGE TWO: Interviews (January) | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic and non-academic scholarships available |
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| Croydon | Whitgift | Boys | Registration deadline: November STAGE ONE: English, Maths, Critical thinking skills (January) STAGE TWO: interview (January) | Registration deadline: October STAGE ONE: English, Maths, Science (November STAGE TWO: interview (November) | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic and non-academic scholarships available - up to 50% |
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| Southwark | Dulwich College | Boys | 60 places available Registration deadline: September STAGE ONE: written English, maths and reasoning (December) STAGE TWO: Interview and report from the headteacher (January) | 30 places available Registration deadline: September STAGE ONE: written English, maths and reasoning (January) STAGE TWO: Interview and headteacher report (January) | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% available All boys who sit the entrance examinations are automatically considered for an academic scholarship; Scholarships are not means-tested. Scholarships range in value from 10% to one third of tuition fees. Art - one place awarded up to 10% Sport - 10% -33.3% awarded Music Scholarships - up to 33.3% of the tuition fee |
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| Kingston | Kingston Grammar School | Boys | 10 | Stage 1: English and Maths (January) Stage 2: Interview (February) | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% available | |
| City of London | City of London School | Boys | 25 places available Registration deadline: October STAGE ONE- ISEB Common Pre-test & headteacher's report : November STAGE TWO: written assessments in Maths and English: December STAGE THREE - Written non verbal and verbal reasoning tests: December STAGE FOUR -Interviews : January | Music, Academic, sports Scholarships are worth £250. Bursary - means tested and up to 100% available |
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| Wandsworth | Thames Christian School | Mixed | Verbal Reasoning, Maths, English, head-teacher's reference, interview of student and parent (November 2024) | Scholarships, worth up to 20% of fees in academic, arts, music, performing arts, sports Bursary - means tested and up to 100% |
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| Wandsworth | Ibstock Place School | Mixed | subject to availability for 12+, 13+ & 14+) | Registration deadline: October Interview and English and maths test (January) | Music, sports, arts, drama scholarships available Bursary - means tested and up to 100% available |
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| Ealing | St Benedict's School (catholic) | Mixed | Subject to availability | Registration deadline: November STAGE ONE - Maths, English, Verbal and Non verbal STAGE TWO - Interview (January) | Busary - means tested Academic, Sports, Music and Art Scholarship available |
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| Merton | King's College | Boys | Registration deadline: late October STAGE ONE: English, maths and verbal reasoning tests: December STAGE TWO: Interviews: January CONDITIONAL OFFER GRANTED STAGE THREE: Y8 pass of 65% in both the core subjects (English, Mathematics (level 3), Science and French) and the total (additionally History, Geography, Latin (level 3), and RS or school report | Bursary - means tested up to 100% | ||
| Lewisham | Sydenham High School | Girls | Subject to availability | N/a | ||
| Lewisham | St Dunstan's College | Mixed | English, Mathematics and Reasoning tests, interview | Exams - January Interview - January | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic, drama, music, sports, Scholarships - up to 25% per year |
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| Greenwich | Blackheath High School | Girls | subject to availability/occasional places | Registration deadline: March STAGE ONE - Exams in maths, English, Vr and NVR (March) STAGE TWO - Interview (March) | Scholarship - up to 30% available Bursary - means tested up to 100% |
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| Richmond upon Thames | Harrodian | Mixed | 12-15 | Registration deadline: TBC STAGE ONE: ISEB Common Pre-Test: Online Maths, English, Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning, interview STAGE TWO: satisfactory headmaster's report and interview (TBC) | Registration deadline: October STAGE ONE: assessments (November) STAGE TWO: Interview (November) | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% Scholarships available |
| Southwark | James Allen Girls' School | Girls | subject to availability/occasional places | cat4 reasoning online tests, maths and english papers, interview (January) | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% Scholarships available |
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| Barnet | North London Grammar School | Mixed | CAT4 test: maths, english, reasoning ( March) | N/a | ||
| Kensington and Chelsea | Kensington Park School | Mixed | 24 | Maths, English, Non verbal reasoning assessments, Interview (November) | Academic, arts, sports, drama scholarships available | |
| Westminster | Westminster School | Boys | STAGE ONE -ISEB online common pre test in Maths, English, reasoning : (October to November) STAGE TWO: English and maths written tests (January) STAGE THREE: interview and school reference (February) | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic, drama, music, sports, Scholarships |
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| Westminster | Portland Place School | Girls | Stage 1: Interview Stage 2: Mathematics and English, Science tests | Stage 1: November Stage 2: January | ||
| Westminster | Wetherby Senior | Boys | Registration deadline- October STAGE ONE - online bespoke test in maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning STAGE TWO - Interview (February ) | STAGE ONE - online bespoke test in maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning (June) STAGE TWO - Interview | Scholarships for art, drama, music, academics are available Bursary - means tested and up to 100% |
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| Middlesex | Harrow School | Boys | 160 | Registration deadline: May Year 6 STAGE ONE: ISEB pre test in maths, reasoning, English STAGE TWO: Interview, computerised maths/Enlgish test, group interview | ||
| Lambeth | Streatham & Clapham High School | Girls | English, Maths, Science and tbc | Bursary - means tested up to 100% Academic, drama, music, sports, Scholarships |
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| Richmond | Hamptons | Boys | Registration deadline: November STAGE ONE: written English, reasoning, maths tests (December) STAGE TWO: Interview (January ) | NOTE: this is for YEAR 7 ENTRY: Registration deadline: October STAGE ONE: written maths, English and reasoning tests (January ) STAGE TWO: Interview (January ) | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% Academic, Art, Chess, Music, Performing Arts and Sport Scholarships - 5% and 25% of tuition fees |
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| Richmond | St Paul's School | Boys | 17 October 2025 | Registration deadline: January – October STAGE ONE- ISEB online pre-test, headteacher report in October or November of Year 6: between 1 October November STAGE TWO - English and maths written test: January STAGE THREE - Interview: January – January and February | Scholarships for art, drama, music, academics are available Bursary - means tested and up to 100% |
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| Epsom | Epsom College | Mixed | Registration deadline: November Year 6 tests: Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes - GL), Non-Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes - GL), Creative Writing (30 minutes), Mathematics (30 minutes), school interview, school reports Year 8 tests: papers in Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning. | Subject to availability of places, children may be able to sit the Epsom College 13+ entrance examination. These take place in the autumn of Year 8. Children must complete maths, English and verbal reasoning. | Scholarships are awarded for excellence in academic study, Drama, Music or Sport. These will take place in February and March | |
| Wandsworth | Thomas's Putney | Mixed | 22 | Registration deadline: November Online test in verbal, maths, English and non-verbal, interview and group activity, headteacher's report from current school | Occasional places may be available | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% |
| Windsor | Eton College | Boys | 120 | Registration deadline: September STAGE ONE- ISEB online pre-test, headteacher report in October or November of Year 6: STAGE TWO - individual interview and an online predictive test of academic ability and potential on a computer | ||
| Surrey | Charterhouse | Mixed | Registration deadline: September STAGE ONE- ISEB online pre-test, headteacher report in Spring Term STAGE TWO - individual interview, creative writing test, written comprehension test, group interview | Assessment taken in Year 7! Registration deadline: September STAGE ONE- ISEB online pre-test, headteacher report in Spring Term STAGE TWO - individual interview, creative writing test, written comprehension test, group interview | Bursary - means tested and up to 100% Scholarships available: Sport, Music, Dance, Drama, Art & Design, Design Engineering and Academic |