Introduction
School Name: King’s College
Description:Boys; Day School
Acceptance Ages: 11+ and 13+
Overview
King’s College School is an independent day school for boys aged 7-18 and girls aged 16-18. Founded in 1829 by royal charter, it is a school of over 1,300 pupils.
Children entering at 11+ (Year 7) will join the Lower School, which is part of the Senior School.
Years 7 and 8 are part of the Senior School and utilize all the school’s outstanding facilities for sport, drama, music, science and activities. As boys move through the school, they will be the beneficiaries of the new music school, an additional sports hall, and a new swimming pool. Having been taught by senior school staff since 11, boys in year 8 will not take a transition exam to move up into Year 9 (13+), where they are joined by both prep school and King’s College Junior School boys.
Admissions Process for King’s College Lower School Eleven Plus (11+) for Year 7 entry
Boys will sit entrance tests in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning in January of the year of entry. Applicants who perform well in the test will then be invited to interviews shortly afterwards and will be offered places for entry in September.
Open Days
A series of open events will be held in June, September and October. Please click for key dates.
Registration
Applicants will need to be registered for the entrance examinations by November, (see the school’s website for the updated deadline) when they are in Year 6 at their current school. Registration is online and take note of its deadline.
Entrance Exams
English comprises:
- Comprehension paper is for 35 minutes
- Grammar paper is for 10 minutes
- Essay paper is for 30 minutes, choice of 4 questions
Maths comprises:
- Section A & B is for 50 minutes
Verbal Reasoning
Sample papers for Mathematics and English papers can be accessed on the school site but none for verbal reasoning papers, suggestions on how to prepare for this are available instead.
10+ Deferred Entry
There are approximately four places available for 10+ deferred entry to Year 7 for boys of exceptional ability, currently at primary schools, although the number of places offered will depend on the calibre of candidates.
The assessment for 10+ deferred entry is through written tests in English, maths and reasoning and will be held in January of Year 5.
Take a look at this article which has more information about the 10+ entry route.
King’s College School, Wimbledon 13 Plus (13+) Pretest Exam Information
Address: Southside, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 4TT
County: Greater London
Admissions info: admissions@kcs.org.uk or 020 8255 5352
School Type: Independent day school for boys (co-educational in the sixth form)
Number of Students: 850 (in the Senior School)
Open day: September
13+ Pretest Exam Date:: January of Year 6
13+ Pretest Exam Type / Board: School’s own
Open Events for King’s College School, Wimbledon 13 plus (13+) Pretest Entry
KCS’s Whole School Open Morning offers visitors an exciting opportunity to see the school via a pupil-led tour, hear a speech from the Headmaster, take part in subject-based activities and meet staff members. Booking is not necessary for this event.
For 13+ entry, aspiring parents may visit the school on certain Monday afternoons. You will have the chance to ask the Headmaster, the Head of Middle School and a fourth form boy questions about the school and what it has to offer. Booking is essential for these forum visits and it is done via Admissions.
King’s College School, Wimbledon 13 Plus (13+) Pretest Admissions
Registration can be done online on the school’s website for the entrance examinations should be made early in November, when your child is in Year 6 at their current school.
A confidential reference from the applicant’s current school will be requested upon the registration process and its deadline.
The entrance examination (pre-test) will be in January during Year 6 of the applicant.
Approximately ten days after the pretest you will be informed on whether or not your son will be invited for an interview. Most interviews last for 20 minutes and cover a range of topics.
Following the interview, you will receive one of the three possible responses:
- A conditional offer of a place
- An offer of a place on a waiting list
- No offer
Offers are sent out in February. Acceptance of an offer requires a deposit of £2000, which you will be expected to pay at the beginning of March.
If an applicant holds a conditional offer and should be indicated on the application form, he may take the King’s scholarship examinations in May of Year 8.
You can also take the Common Entrance route. For more information about CE, please refer to the school’s website.
Up to 15 Exhibits and academic scholarships are given annually at KCS.
The number will vary according to the quality of the applicants that are under 14 years of age on 1st September of the year of examinations, and already hold a conditional offer of a place for Year 9 entry in the following September. Also, the school awards scholarships and exhibitions in Art, Drama, Music and Sport to boys with a conditional offer of a place.
Major scholarships are worth £400 per annum and scholarships are worth £200 per annum.Subject awards are available in English, Mathematics, Science, French, Classics, Geography and History. They are honorary and may be awarded only if your child secured a place through the scholarship route. For more information, please visit the school’s website.
King’s College School, Wimbledon 13 Plus (13+) Pretest Exam Format
The King’s College School 13+ Pretest entrance assessment consists of the following papers:
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal Reasoning
The English paper evaluates comprehension and writing skills, including inference, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation.
The maths examination evaluates your son’s problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills.
The Verbal Reasoning paper evaluates the applicant’s logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary. Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the King’s College School 13+ entrance examinations.
