Exam format not yet verified. We have not confirmed this school's exam board or paper format from an official source. Where this guide describes the test, treat it as a working assumption and check the school's admissions page before relying on it.
The exam at a glance
For 2028 entry, Claremont School’s Year 7 assessment uses the school’s own process, with a GL-style paper covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. our working assumption for this school, not yet verified with the school, is that the assessment is computer-based and timed, so children need practice reading carefully and working briskly on screen, not only on paper.
Claremont’s admissions information says UK applicants first submit an application, then attend a taster day and complete an assessment in non-exam conditions. The school also says it does not select on academic ability. That matters for preparation: the goal is not to coach a child into a highly pressured exam performance, but to help them feel confident with the question styles, comfortable using a screen, and ready to show steady core skills across all four areas.
In practice, families should expect the process to feel more like a school assessment day than a formal grammar-school style 11+ sitting. Even so, because the paper is timed and covers four subjects, children benefit from structured preparation in Year 5 and the start of Year 6.
- Board / format: school’s own assessment process, using a GL-style paper
- Subjects: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Delivery: computer-based
- Style: timed
- Admissions context: application, taster day, assessment in non-exam conditions
If you want a quick overview of the current format and any future updates, see The Claremont School 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates): /schools/claremont-school.
Registration and key dates
Claremont handles admissions directly through the school rather than through a local authority 11+ testing system. The admissions page asks families to complete an application form, after which the school arranges the next steps.
For UK applicants, the school says the usual process includes:
- Submitting an application form to the admissions team
- Attending a taster day
- Taking an assessment in non-exam conditions
For 2028 entry, we could not verify a published registration opening date, application deadline, assessment date or results date on the pages reviewed. Claremont appears to run an individual admissions process rather than publishing a single county-wide 11+ timetable, so parents should check the school’s admissions page regularly and contact the admissions team early in Year 5 or at the start of Year 6.
The school does clearly advertise opportunities to visit. Claremont’s website states that Open House Week takes place in March, and it also advertises Open Days in May and October. One page reviewed promoted October Open Days from 2 to 7 October. These events are useful if your child is applying for Year 7 in 2028, because they give you time to see the senior school before the main admissions activity later in Year 6.
So, the safest planning approach is:
- Spring of Year 5: attend Open House Week if possible
- Summer of Year 5: ask admissions when Year 7 applications for 2028 entry will open
- Early autumn of Year 6: complete the application promptly and book any assessment or taster arrangements
- Throughout: sign up for updates so you do not miss a school-specific date
For updates, parents can use Free email alerts for this school's key dates: /school-alerts?school=claremont-school.
Who can apply: catchment and admissions
Claremont School is an independent co-educational school for ages 2 to 18. There is no catchment policy mentioned on the admissions pages reviewed, which means families are not applying under a local authority distance-based grammar allocation system.
The school’s admissions page presents entry as a school-led process rather than a ranked 11+ competition. Most importantly, Claremont says it does not select on academic ability. For parents, that changes the tone of preparation. Your child still needs to be ready for a timed assessment and should revise all four tested subjects, but there is less reason to treat the process like a narrow pass-or-fail exam.
We could verify the school’s published day fees for 2026/27 for the relevant year groups:
| Year group | Day fee per term |
| Years 7 and 8 | £6,584 |
| Year 9 | £8,547 |
| Years 10 to 13 | £8,855 |
We could not verify from the pages reviewed a published number of Year 7 places, a published acceptance rate, or any cut-off score. If you need those details, it is best to ask the admissions team directly, as independent schools often discuss availability and suitability case by case.
A month-by-month preparation plan
Because Claremont uses a timed, computer-based assessment across four subjects, a calm and steady build-up works best. For most children, 2 to 3 hours a week in the early stages, rising to 3 to 4 hours a week nearer the assessment, is realistic. Short, regular sessions usually work better than long weekend blocks.
March to May in Year 5
Start gently. Focus on core Maths and English from school, and introduce light Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning practice once or twice a week. Use this phase to spot any gaps in number fluency, reading comprehension or vocabulary. If possible, visit an open event so your child starts to picture the school positively.
- Suggested time: 2 hours a week
- Main goal: build foundations
- Best activities: arithmetic fluency, reading daily, vocabulary notebook, untimed reasoning practice
June to July in Year 5
Now begin more structured preparation across all four subjects. Keep sessions short and varied. Because the assessment is taken on screen, start mixing in digital practice where possible, especially for timed navigation, reading from a screen and keeping focus without writing everything down.
- Suggested time: 2 to 3 hours a week
- Main goal: learn the question styles
- Best activities: one short task from each subject each week, plus one mixed quiz
Summer holiday before Year 6
This is the most useful time for many families. Aim for consistency rather than intensity. Two or three short sessions a week are enough for most children. By the end of the summer, your child should have seen the main question types in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- Suggested time: 2 to 3 hours a week
- Main goal: confidence and familiarity
- Best activities: short mixed papers, screen-based tasks, reading, mental arithmetic, vocabulary review
September in Year 6
Move into timed work more seriously. Children should now practise sustaining concentration over longer sections and checking answers quickly. If the school confirms an autumn assessment date, work back from that date and keep the final fortnight focused and calm.
- Suggested time: 3 to 4 hours a week
- Main goal: timing and stamina
- Best activities: timed sections, review of mistakes, one full mixed paper every week or two
Final 2 to 3 weeks before the assessment
Do not overload your child. Keep practice purposeful: one or two timed sessions each week, quick error review, and plenty of sleep and ordinary family routines. If your child is prone to nerves, practise logging in, reading instructions on screen and moving from one question to the next without panic.
- Suggested time: about 3 hours a week
- Main goal: stay steady
- Best activities: light timed practice, confidence-building review, no late cramming
Subject by subject: what to practise
Maths
For a GL-style computer-based paper, focus on secure Key Stage 2 skills first: number operations, place value, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio basics, measures and straightforward problem solving. Children also need to work accurately under time pressure, so mental arithmetic matters. Practise reading a question once, deciding the method quickly and moving on if stuck rather than freezing.
Good preparation includes short arithmetic drills, mixed word problems and timed sets where your child learns to estimate and sense-check answers.
English
English preparation should cover both comprehension and SPaG-style accuracy, alongside vocabulary development. In GL-style work, children often need to infer meaning, track detail carefully, choose precise words and spot errors in grammar or punctuation. Because the assessment is on screen, it helps to practise reading passages digitally as well as in books.
Useful habits include daily reading, discussing new words, summarising short passages, and editing short sentences for punctuation and grammar.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning usually tests how well a child handles language patterns. That can include letter codes, word relationships, vocabulary-based logic, sequences and clues built around words. Many children improve simply because they become familiar with the recurring task types.
Practise little and often. Teach one question type at a time, then mix them together. Keep a running list of new vocabulary, because strong word knowledge helps in many Verbal Reasoning tasks.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning focuses on visual patterns and relationships rather than extended reading. Children may need to spot rotation, reflection, symmetry, shape changes, sequences or combinations of visual rules. The key is learning how to scan systematically instead of guessing.
Use short pattern drills and encourage your child to explain aloud what is changing from one image to the next. That verbal explanation often helps them see the rule more clearly and improves speed over time.
Practice papers and mock exams
Practice papers are most useful when they are used diagnostically, not just as a score-chasing exercise. After each paper, spend longer reviewing than marking. Ask:
- Which question types slowed my child down?
- Were the mistakes caused by knowledge gaps, rushing or misunderstanding instructions?
- Did screen-based work feel harder than paper practice?
For Claremont, keep practice balanced across all four subjects, because the assessment covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Start with untimed or lightly timed work so your child learns method, then move to timed sections, and only later to full mixed papers.
Mocks can help if your child needs experience of working to a clock and staying calm in a more formal setting. They are not essential for every child, but they can be useful in the final stretch if nerves are likely to be an issue.
Use these resources as part of your preparation:
- Free Claremont School practice papers (one per tested subject, with answers): /schools/claremont-school-mock-tests
- The Claremont School 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates): /schools/claremont-school
- Free email alerts for this school's key dates: /school-alerts?school=claremont-school
A simple pattern works well:
- Learn one topic or question type
- Practise a short set
- Review mistakes carefully
- Repeat the same type a few days later
- Only then add time pressure
On the day
Because Claremont describes the assessment as taking place in non-exam conditions, the atmosphere may feel more relaxed than many parents expect. Even so, children still benefit from practical preparation.
- Make the day before quiet and ordinary.
- Check travel plans early so there is no rushed start.
- Aim for a normal breakfast your child knows suits them.
- Remind your child that some questions will feel easy and some will not; that is normal.
- If they get stuck, they should move on and come back if time allows.
- Encourage calm screen habits: read the whole question, look carefully at options, and avoid clicking too quickly.
The most helpful message is simple: this is a chance to show how they think and learn, not a test of perfection. For many children, nerves ease when adults keep the language matter-of-fact and warm.
After the exam: results, allocation and appeals
Because Claremont is an independent school, the process after assessment is different from state grammar-school allocation. There is no local authority National Offer Day ranking process for places at the school itself. Instead, families usually hear directly from the school after the admissions steps are complete.
We could not verify a published results date or a formal appeals timetable on the sources reviewed. If your child is assessed for Year 7 entry in 2027 for a September 2028 start, ask the admissions team when they expect to communicate decisions and what the next steps are for accepting a place.
In general, after an independent school assessment, families may be asked to:
- wait for the school’s decision
- confirm acceptance by a stated deadline
- pay a deposit or complete joining paperwork
If a place is not offered, the sensible next step is to ask politely whether there is a waiting list, whether further assessment is possible, and whether the school can explain the position. Any school-specific review or complaint route should be checked directly with Claremont.
What has changed recently
From the sources reviewed, we found no clearly published announcement of a recent change to Claremont’s Year 7 assessment board, catchment rules or admissions structure in the last two years. The admissions information currently reviewed continues to describe an application, taster day and assessment in non-exam conditions, with the school stating that it does not select on academic ability.
The main practical update visible on the school website is the promotion of visitor events, including Open House Week in March and Open Days in May and October.
Frequently asked questions
Does Claremont School use the standard grammar school 11+?
No. For 2028 entry, our working assumption, not yet verified with the school, is that Claremont uses the school’s own process, with a GL-style paper covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Is the Claremont School assessment computer-based?
Yes. the information in our directory (not yet verified with the school) says the assessment is computer-based and timed, so screen practice is important.
Does Claremont School have a catchment area?
No catchment policy is mentioned on the admissions pages reviewed. It is an independent school, so entry is handled directly by the school rather than through a local authority catchment system.
Does Claremont select children purely by academic ability?
The school’s admissions page says it does not select on academic ability. Children still complete an assessment, but the process is presented more broadly than a simple pass-or-fail academic filter.
When should my child start preparing for Claremont Year 7 entry?
For most children, a light start in spring or summer of Year 5 is sensible, with more timed practice from the summer holiday into September of Year 6.
Are there official Claremont 11+ practice papers?
Use school-specific preparation materials that match the information we hold (not yet verified with the school), and keep practice balanced across all four tested subjects. ElevenReady’s free Claremont practice papers are a useful starting point.
Sources
- Claremont School Admissions – How to Apply: UK applicants submit an application, join a taster day and take an assessment in non-exam conditions; the school states it does not select on academic ability; admissions are handled directly by the school.
- Claremont School website: Claremont describes itself as a school in East Sussex with a learning journey from 2 to 18; the site advertises Open House Week in March and Open Days in May and October; the site promoted October Open Days from 2 to 7 October.
Preparing for other schools in East Sussex
- Battle Abbey School · practice papers
- How to prepare for the Bede's Senior School 11+ · practice papers
- Buckswood School · practice papers
- Darvell School · practice papers
- Eastbourne College · practice papers
- Greenfields School · practice papers
Written by ElevenReady from the school's published information and reviewed by a person before publishing. Last reviewed 4 October 2026. Exam arrangements change. Check the school's admissions page for the current year.