How to prepare for the Ealing Independent College 11+

The exam at a glance

Ealing Independent College is an independent school, so its admissions process is run by the school rather than by a grammar-school consortium or local authority test.

For 2028 entry, the safest way to think about assessment is this: the college sets its own admissions process, and the school’s published admissions information focuses on enquiry, interview, academic records and acceptance. We did not find an official page setting out a separate published 11+ test format for Year 7 entry, nor a page confirming tested subjects, timing or whether any written paper is taken under exam conditions.

That matters for preparation. Instead of assuming a standardised grammar-school style paper, parents should treat Ealing Independent College as a school with an individual admissions assessment process and check the admissions page directly before preparing in a narrow way.

What the day looks like is therefore not fully published. From the school’s admissions pages, families should expect a process centred on:

making an enquiry or visiting the school,
speaking with admissions staff,
providing recent school records or reports,
an interview stage, and
an offer and acceptance stage if the application is successful.

If your child is aiming for Year 7 in September 2028, it is sensible to prepare them for a calm, friendly academic conversation as well as any assessment the school may ask them to sit. Keep checking the school’s admissions page and our school guide here: The Ealing Independent College 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).

Registration and key dates

The school’s published admissions information says that applications are accepted throughout the year. We did not find an official Year 7 page with a fixed registration window, a published deadline for 2028 entry, or a confirmed assessment date.

In practice, that means families should register interest directly with the college rather than waiting for a borough-wide 11+ portal. The admissions journey described by the school is based on making an enquiry, discussing the right course or year group, supplying academic information, and then moving through interview and acceptance.

What to do:

Contact the school early to ask specifically about Year 7 September 2028 entry.
Ask whether the college is running a written assessment, interview only, or a combination for your child’s year group.
Have recent school reports, predicted attainment and any relevant identification documents ready, as independent schools commonly request academic records during admissions.
If possible, visit the school or attend an open event.

Published timing we could verify:

The school website advertised an Open Evening on 23 September 2026 from 5.00pm to 6.30pm.
The admissions pages and enquiry forms indicate that the school is actively discussing upcoming entry points rather than one single annual test day.

Because no official 2028 Year 7 deadline was published on the pages we found, parents should not assume a grammar-school timetable. Instead, set a reminder to contact the college well before the start of Year 6 and sign up for updates here: Free email alerts for this school's key dates.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

Ealing Independent College’s admissions pages do not describe a catchment area or a distance-based priority system. This is typical of many independent schools: entry is based on the school’s own admissions process rather than home address bands.

The school’s published information says it accepts applications throughout the year. That suggests parents should think less in terms of catchment strategy and more in terms of whether the school is the right academic and pastoral fit for their child.

We did not find an official Year 7 admissions page confirming a set number of places for 2028 entry, nor a published oversubscription ranking for Year 7. The school’s admissions content that we could verify is broader and emphasises enquiry, interview and review of academic records.

For families considering an application, the practical questions to ask the admissions team are:

Does the college offer Year 7 entry in the year you need?
Is there a formal assessment for Year 7, and if so, what does it cover?
How many Year 7 places are usually available?
Are offers made on a rolling basis through the year?
What school reports or references are needed?

If fees are part of your planning, the school publishes fees for older year groups and senior programmes, but we did not find a clearly labelled Year 7 fee page in the sources below. For the most up-to-date position, check the school website directly and ask admissions to confirm the fee structure for the relevant year group.

A month-by-month preparation plan

Because Ealing Independent College does not publish a standardised 11+ specification in the sources we found, the best preparation is broad, steady and school-focused rather than based on drilling one exam style. Below is a realistic plan for a child who will apply during Year 6 for September 2028 entry.

January to March in Year 5

Spend 1 to 2 hours a week on core English and maths.
Build fluent reading habits: classic children’s fiction, good-quality non-fiction and regular discussion about vocabulary.
In maths, focus on secure arithmetic, fractions, problem solving and explaining method aloud.
Begin gentle interview preparation by encouraging your child to talk about books, school topics and hobbies in full sentences.

April to June in Year 5

Increase to 2 to 3 hours a week, split across short sessions.
Use comprehension exercises that require retrieval, inference and short written explanation.
Practise writing clear paragraphs with accurate punctuation and spelling.
Keep maths mixed: number, word problems, reasoning and checking answers carefully.
If you are considering several independent schools, start noting which ones use interviews, school reports or their own papers.

Summer holidays before Year 6

Aim for 2 to 4 hours a week, but keep it light and consistent.
Read daily.
Do one or two short pieces of writing each week: description, narrative opening, letter or opinion paragraph.
Keep maths warm with short mixed practice rather than long worksheets.
Contact the college to ask what Year 7 applicants are expected to do.

September in Year 6

Move to 3 to 4 hours a week if an assessment is confirmed.
Start timed work only once your child is reasonably secure in the basics.
Practise neat presentation, careful reading of instructions and finishing within time.
If the school requires an interview, do short practice conversations at home rather than intense grilling.

October to November in Year 6

Keep sessions purposeful and calm.
Use one timed task at a time: a comprehension, a maths set or a short writing task.
Review errors properly: what went wrong, what to do next time, and whether the issue was knowledge, speed or accuracy.
If the college offers rolling admissions, submit documents promptly and stay in touch with admissions.

The final month before any assessment or interview

Do not overwork.
Focus on confidence, routine and sleep.
Revisit school reports, reading notes and key maths methods.
Practise speaking clearly about interests, favourite subjects and why the school appeals to them.

Subject by subject: what to practise

Because we did not find an official published breakdown of tested subjects for Year 7 entry, it is best to prepare the areas most commonly considered in independent-school admissions: English, maths and interview readiness. If the school later confirms a different format, adjust accordingly.

English

Focus on the skills that transfer well to almost any school-set assessment:

reading comprehension, including retrieval and inference,
vocabulary in context,
spelling, punctuation and grammar at upper Key Stage 2 level,
clear written expression, and
planning and checking written work.

Good practice includes reading a passage and discussing tone, character and evidence; writing short but well-structured answers; and producing brief pieces of descriptive or narrative writing with accurate punctuation. Independent schools often value thoughtful, well-organised answers more than trick techniques.

Mathematics

Keep practice broad and secure:

the four operations,
place value and decimals,
fractions, percentages and ratio basics,
multi-step word problems,
mental arithmetic, and
reasoning clearly and setting out method.

Encourage your child to show working neatly and to estimate first when possible. If they make mistakes, sort them into types: rushing, misunderstanding the question, weak number facts or method errors.

Interview and academic discussion

This matters especially where the school’s admissions process explicitly mentions interview.

Practise introducing themselves politely and confidently.
Ask about a recent book, a favourite topic at school, something they found difficult and how they handled it.
Encourage full answers rather than one-word replies.
Keep practice friendly and brief so it feels natural.

A strong interview performance is usually about warmth, clarity and curiosity, not sounding rehearsed.

Practice papers and mock exams

Where a school does not publish a detailed exam specification, practice papers are still useful — but only if you use them carefully.

How to use practice well:

Start with untimed work to build accuracy.
Move to timed practice later, once methods are secure.
Review every paper in detail; correction is where most progress happens.
Mix easier and harder work so confidence stays intact.
Do not assume that one paper style exactly matches the school’s own process.

For school-specific resources, use:

If your child is likely to face an interview as well as written work, add a small amount of spoken practice each week. A mock interview can help if your child is shy, but one or two sessions are usually enough; repeated formal grilling can make children sound stiff.

On the day

If your child is invited for an interview, assessment or admissions meeting, keep the day steady and low-pressure.

Confirm the time, location and any documents the school has requested.
Allow plenty of travel time so you are not rushing.
Bring water and a small snack for afterwards if appropriate.
Dress neatly but comfortably, following any guidance from the school.
Remind your child that they do not need to be perfect; they need to listen carefully, try their best and stay calm.

For written tasks, the most useful reminders are simple:

read the whole question carefully,
underline key instructions if allowed,
show working in maths,
leave time to check, and
move on if stuck, then come back.

For interviews:

make eye contact,
speak clearly,
take a moment to think before answering, and
be honest if they do not know something.

A calm child nearly always performs more naturally than an over-coached one.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

Because Ealing Independent College is an independent school, the process after assessment is not the same as state-school National Offer Day allocation. The school’s admissions pages describe a sequence of acceptance after the admissions steps, rather than a borough-wide ranked allocation system.

We did not find an official published page giving:

a fixed results date for Year 7 entry,
a standard offer-release date, or
a formal independent appeal timetable equivalent to state-school admission appeals.

In practice, families should expect the school to communicate directly if a place is offered, and to set out the next steps for acceptance, deposit or enrolment. If your child is unsuccessful, ask politely whether the school keeps a waiting list and whether re-application is possible at a later point.

If you need certainty on timing, the right step is to ask admissions these exact questions before applying:

When will we hear the outcome?
How long do we have to accept a place?
Is there a waiting list?
Is there any review process if a place is not offered?

For the latest updates, keep an eye on the school site and sign up here: Free email alerts for this school's key dates.

What has changed recently

In the official sources we found, the clearest recent point is that the school’s admissions and event pages are framed around rolling applications and current admissions enquiries rather than a published annual 11+ testing cycle. We also found a published Open Evening on 23 September 2026 from 5.00pm to 6.30pm.

We did not find any official announcement in the last two years confirming a change of exam board, a newly introduced Year 7 test format, a catchment rule, or a published change to the number of Year 7 places.

If the school publishes a more detailed Year 7 admissions page later, parents should follow that in preference to general assumptions about independent-school 11+ entry.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ealing Independent College have a standard 11+ exam?

We did not find an official published Year 7 page setting out a standard 11+ exam format. The school’s admissions information focuses on enquiry, interview, academic records and acceptance, so ask admissions directly what assessment applies for your child’s year group.

Is there a catchment area for Ealing Independent College?

We found no published catchment area or distance-based priority on the school’s admissions pages. Applications appear to be handled directly by the school rather than by address bands.

When is the deadline for 2028 entry?

We did not find a published Year 7 deadline for 2028 entry. The school says it accepts applications throughout the year, so contact admissions early to ask about availability and timing.

What should my child practise if the format is not published?

Focus on strong English, secure maths and interview confidence. Reading comprehension, clear writing, problem solving and calm spoken answers are the most useful transferable skills.

Does Ealing Independent College interview applicants?

The school’s admissions pages refer to interview as part of the admissions process. Ask the school whether this applies to Year 7 entry in your child’s application year.

When do results come out?

We did not find a published results date for Year 7 entry. Independent schools usually communicate directly with families, so ask admissions when decisions are normally issued.

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Sources

Ealing Independent College – Year 9 Admissions: The admissions process is school-run and described in terms of enquiry, interview, academic records and acceptance; applications are accepted throughout the year.
Ealing Independent College website: The school website advertises an Open Evening on 23 September 2026 from 5.00pm to 6.30pm; the site presents the school as an independent college and supports direct contact with the school for admissions.
Ealing Independent College – Admissions: Admissions are handled directly by the school rather than through a local authority 11+ registration system; the admissions content is centred on direct enquiry and school-led application steps.
Ealing Independent College – Book a Visit: The school is actively taking admissions enquiries and visit bookings for upcoming entry years rather than publishing a single annual Year 7 test registration window.

Preparing for other schools in Ealing

Written by ElevenReady from the school's published information and reviewed by a person before publishing. Last reviewed 20 October 2026. Exam arrangements change. Check the school's admissions page for the current year.