Oxfordshire independent school 11+ entrance exams

Oxford's well-known independent schools — Abingdon, Headington, Magdalen College School, Oxford High and St Edward's among them — each run their own 11+ entry process for Year 7 entry, separate from any state-sector grammar test (Oxfordshire does not have selective state grammar schools). Formats and timings vary by school.

Competition for places at these schools is strong, so early contact with each admissions office to confirm the current process is worth doing well ahead of Year 6.

Oxfordshire independent schools 11+ at a glance

Our database has 6 verified Oxfordshire independent schools with 11+ entry: Abingdon, Bloxham, Headington, Magdalen College School, Oxford High and St Edward's.
Oxfordshire has no state-sector grammar 11+ — every school on this list is fee-paying with its own admissions process.
Where a test month is confirmed, entry has been in the autumn term (November), ahead of the following September's Year 7 intake.
Assessments typically combine English, maths and reasoning, plus in many cases an interview and/or report from the child's current school.
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 in Oxfordshire

Abingdon School — own entrance assessment
Bloxham School — own entrance assessment, November
Headington School — own entrance assessment
Magdalen College School — own entrance assessment
Oxford High School — own entrance assessment
St Edward's School Oxford — own entrance assessment, November

What Oxfordshire 11+ assessments typically involve

Independent school entrance at 11+ in Oxfordshire generally combines a written assessment (English and maths, sometimes verbal/non-verbal reasoning) with an interview and a reference from the child's primary or prep school. Some schools set their own bespoke papers; others increasingly use the ISEB Common Pre-Test as part of the process — ask each school directly which applies.

Because there's no shared county format, don't rely on generic "Oxfordshire 11+" past papers — go to the specific school's admissions page for sample materials where available.

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 Oxfordshire independent schools 11+ practice questions

Pulled straight from PipPrep's own question bank — not invented for this page.

Question 1

A car travels 240 miles in 4 hours. What is its average speed?

Answer: 60 mph. Speed = 240 ÷ 4 = 60 mph.

Question 2

'The wind whispered through the trees.' What literary device is used?

Answer: personification. Personification gives human qualities to non-human things. 'Whispered' is something the wind (not human) does.

Question 3

ANCHOR is to BOAT as ROOT is to:

Answer: tree. An anchor stabilises a boat. Roots stabilise and nourish a tree.

Question 4

Painter is to Brush as Surgeon is to ___?

Answer: Scalpel. A painter uses a brush as their primary tool; a surgeon uses a scalpel.

Practice every day, the easy way

PipPrep adapts to your child's target school with 80,000+ questions across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Free to start, no card needed.

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Not sure where they actually stand? Take the free 11+ readiness check - 10 questions matched to your exam board, and a scored report on their weak topics. No account needed.

Frequently asked questions

Are there state grammar schools in Oxfordshire?

No, Oxfordshire's state secondary schools are comprehensive, not selective. The 11+ in this county applies only to independent (fee-paying) school entry.

Do all Oxfordshire independent schools use the same exam?

No. Each school runs its own admissions process. Some use bespoke own papers, others incorporate the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Confirm the format with each school you're applying to.

When is the Oxfordshire independent 11+ typically sat?

Where confirmed in our data, assessments have run in November of Year 6, for September Year 7 entry the following year — but always check the specific school's current admissions calendar.

Is an interview part of the process?

Commonly yes. Independent school admissions at this level typically combine written assessment with an interview and a school reference, not a single exam score alone.