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West Berkshire independent school 11+ entry
West Berkshire's independent boarding and day schools — Bradfield College, Downe House School and Pangbourne College — each run their own 11+ entrance process. This is distinct from Reading's state grammar 11+ (Reading School and Kendrick School), which uses a super-selective GL Assessment-style test — see our separate Reading & Berkshire guide for that route.
Berkshire independent schools 11+ at a glance
3 verified West Berkshire independent schools take 11+ entrants: Bradfield College, Downe House School, Pangbourne College.
Downe House uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test; Bradfield and Pangbourne run own bespoke assessments.
Where confirmed, testing has taken place in November of Year 6.
This is separate from Reading School and Kendrick School's state grammar route, which is super-selective and GL Assessment-style.
Exam boards, formats and test dates can change year to year, and schools sometimes move between consortia. Always confirm the current arrangements directly with the school or admissions authority before relying on any single source, including this page.
Schools with 11+ entry
Bradfield College — own entrance assessment, November
Downe House School — ISEB Common Pre-Test, November
Pangbourne College — own entrance assessment, November
Boarding vs day entry
All three schools offer boarding as well as day places, which can affect the admissions timeline and assessment day itself (some boarding schools combine the entrance test with a taster/stay visit). Ask each admissions office directly whether you're applying for a day or boarding place, since the process can differ.
How to prepare effectively
Start with the fundamentals rather than exam tricks: a child who reads widely and has a solid grip on KS2 maths will out-perform one who has only drilled past papers. Build in short, regular sessions (15–25 minutes, most days) rather than long weekend cram sessions — consistency beats intensity for children this age.
Mix the four areas: maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning each need separate practice — strength in one doesn't transfer to another.
Time it properly: once the basics are solid, practise under exam conditions so pace and exam-day nerves stop being a surprise.
Review every mistake: the value in a practice question is in the five minutes after getting it wrong, not the getting it wrong.
Protect downtime: children preparing for a selective exam still need rest, hobbies and unstructured time — burnout in Year 5 shows up as underperformance in Year 6.
Try real Berkshire independent schools 11+ practice questions
Pulled straight from PipPrep's own question bank — not invented for this page.
Question 1
What is 40% of 320?
Answer: 128. 40% of 320 = 40/100 × 320 = 128.
Question 2
Which word is closest in meaning to "crucial"?
Answer: vital. Crucial means of great importance, ie vital.
Question 3
Using A=1, B=2, C=3... what is the value of URN?
Answer: 53. U=21 + R=18 + N=14 = 53.
Question 4
What comes next?
10, 39, 68, 97, 126, ?
Answer: 155. Add 29 each time. 126 + 29 = 155.
Practice every day, the easy way
PipPrep adapts to your child's target school with 100,000+ questions across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Free to start, no card needed.
Is this the same as the Reading School / Kendrick 11+?
No. Reading School and Kendrick School are state grammar schools using a super-selective GL Assessment-style test — see our separate Reading & Berkshire guide. This page covers independent, fee-paying schools further west in the county.
Do all three schools use the same test?
No. Downe House uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test; Bradfield College and Pangbourne College each set their own bespoke assessment.
When is the test sat?
Where confirmed, November of Year 6, ahead of September Year 7 entry — but confirm the exact date with each school, and note boarding schools sometimes combine assessment with a visit day.