How to prepare for the Exeter School 11+ exam

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 Year 7 entry at Exeter School, the entrance assessment is the school’s own process. For 2028 entry, our working assumption, not yet verified with the school, is that families should prepare for a GL-style paper covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The school describes Year 7 entry as academically selective, with decisions also informed by interview and a reference from the child’s current school.

The school’s admissions guidance says Year 7 applicants sit assessments in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. It also explains that candidates are invited to an interview with a senior member of staff, and that a report is requested from the child’s current school. For parents, that means preparation needs to be broader than simply doing papers: steady written English, secure arithmetic and problem solving, and calm interview readiness all matter.

Delivery is listed by ElevenReady as mixed. In practice, parents should expect a structured assessment process rather than a single one-size-fits-all paper session. The school’s recent guidance for Year 7 entry has allowed children to sit assessments either on a group testing day in January or at a pre-arranged sitting with the Admissions office, so it is sensible to be ready for either a standard group session or an individually arranged assessment slot.

What does the day itself usually look like? Exeter School’s published guidance does not set out a minute-by-minute timetable on the public page, and it does not publish section timings there. In practical terms, families should expect:

a check-in with admissions staff;
assessments across the four tested areas;
an interview at some point in the process;
the school requesting or considering a report from the current school.

Because the school does not publicly give detailed section timings on the page reviewed, the most sensible preparation is balanced practice across all four subjects, with standard timed work building gradually through Year 5 and into Year 6.

Registration and key dates

Exeter School runs its own admissions process. The starting point for families is the school’s admissions and entrance-assessment guidance, and the school also uses an online registration form for joining the admissions process.

For the current public guidance reviewed for Year 7 entry, the school states that assessments may be sat either on a group testing day in January or at a pre-arranged sitting with the Admissions office. The same page says offers are made after the child has completed the assessment process, interview and reference stage. However, on the pages reviewed, the school does not publish a full set of confirmed 2028-entry dates yet, and we did not find a publicly stated registration deadline for 2028 entry.

So for families aiming for September 2028 entry, the safe wording is:

registration details should be checked directly with Exeter School;
the assessment period has recently included January group testing or an arranged sitting with admissions;
if 2028 dates are not yet live, parents should expect the school to publish them on its admissions pages and should sign up for alerts.

Documents are not listed in full on the public assessment page we reviewed, but because the school says decisions also rely on an interview and a report from the child’s current school, parents should be ready for the school to request basic pupil details and school information as part of registration.

Useful next steps:

Read The Exeter School 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).
Sign up for Free email alerts for this school's key dates.
Check Exeter School’s own admissions page regularly for the 2028 registration window and assessment arrangements.

The school also advertised a Whole School Open Day on 26 September 2026, which is useful as evidence that open events form part of the admissions journey, though families for 2028 entry should check the school website for the next published event dates.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

Exeter School is an independent co-educational school, and ElevenReady’s directory (not yet verified with the school) says there is no catchment area for Year 7 entry. That is an important difference from grammar-school admissions: there is no local authority catchment rule to satisfy on the information currently verified.

The school’s own admissions guidance describes Exeter School as academically selective. For Year 7 entry, selection is based on the child’s entrance assessments, an interview and a reference from the current school. The school also explains that children move through its own junior and senior sections, with pupils joining Exeter Junior School from Year 3 and Exeter Senior School from Year 7.

We did not find a publicly confirmed number of Year 7 places on the admissions pages reviewed, and we did not find a published figure for competition, application numbers or a score threshold. Exeter School does not appear to publish a pass mark or qualifying score on the pages reviewed. Parents should therefore avoid unofficial claims online about cut-offs or “safe” scores and instead focus on broad readiness across all four assessed subjects.

In practical terms, admissions to independent schools like Exeter School tend to work differently from local-authority allocations. A family normally:

registers with the school;
attends an open event if helpful;
books or is invited to an assessment sitting;
the child completes the entrance assessments;
the child attends interview;
the school seeks a reference from the current school;
the school decides whether to offer a place.

If Exeter School is your first-choice independent option, it is worth keeping your preparation broad and your paperwork organised, because interview readiness and school reference are part of the process alongside test performance.

A month-by-month preparation plan

For a child starting Year 7 in September 2028, preparation is best approached steadily through Year 5 and the first part of Year 6. Exeter School’s assessment mix rewards all-round strength more than cramming one topic. The plan below assumes the assessment point is in the autumn or January of Year 6, reflecting the school’s recent published arrangements.

January to March of Year 5

Keep it light and consistent: around 1 to 1.5 hours a week in short sessions is enough for most children at this stage.

Read widely every week: fiction, non-fiction and short articles.
Secure arithmetic facts: tables, number bonds, fractions basics.
Introduce verbal-reasoning vocabulary gently.
Start simple non-verbal pattern work once a week.

The aim is not speed yet. It is confidence, familiarity and identifying weaker areas early.

April to June of Year 5

Increase to around 1.5 to 2 hours a week.

Add one focused Maths session on multi-step problems.
Add one English session split between comprehension and accurate writing.
Build a small vocabulary notebook for synonyms, antonyms and unfamiliar words.
Practise non-verbal reasoning by talking through why an answer fits the pattern.

By the end of this term, your child should have seen every subject type, even if only in short untimed exercises.

Summer holiday before Year 6

A sensible target is 2 to 3 hours a week, spread across several days.

Keep reading daily.
Do short mixed-topic Maths practice.
Begin short timed bursts: for example, 10-minute reasoning sets.
Try one longer mixed paper every couple of weeks without making the holiday feel like school.

This is a good time to build stamina gently. If your child finds timing stressful, start with part-sections rather than full papers.

September of Year 6

Move to 3 hours a week if your child is coping well.

Use one session for Maths.
Use one for English.
Use one mixed session for verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Begin regular timed practice, followed by careful review.

Review matters more than volume. Ask: was the mistake caused by knowledge, misunderstanding the instruction, or rushing?

October of Year 6

Keep to around 3 to 4 hours a week, usually the peak for most families.

Do full timed sections rather than only untimed work.
Practise switching between subjects calmly.
For English, work on concise comprehension answers and accurate spelling and punctuation.
For interview preparation, have relaxed conversations about school life, hobbies, books and interests.

If Exeter School publishes your child’s exact assessment arrangement later than this, adjust the pace accordingly rather than forcing too much too soon.

November to December of Year 6

Maintain rather than intensify: about 2.5 to 3.5 hours a week.

Focus on weak spots revealed by timed work.
Reduce brand-new content.
Keep one paper or set timed each week.
Practise interview manners: listening carefully, answering naturally, and speaking in full sentences.

This stage should feel settled and steady, not frantic.

January of Year 6, if sitting then

In the final one to two weeks:

cut back slightly on workload;
prioritise sleep and routine;
do brief warm-up tasks rather than heavy last-minute papers;
keep confidence up with familiar question types.

The most realistic children do well because they are calm, accurate and used to timed work, not because they have done endless papers.

Subject by subject: what to practise

Maths

For Exeter School, prepare for standard 11+ style Maths across number, arithmetic accuracy and problem solving. A child should be comfortable with place value, the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio basics, measures, simple geometry and word problems. Because the school’s process is academically selective, it is wise to build not just fluency but also the habit of setting out working clearly.

Practise mental arithmetic alongside written methods.
Use short timed drills for accuracy.
Work on multi-step word problems where children must decide which operation to use.
Review mistakes by topic, not just by score.

English

English preparation should cover both reading and written expression. On independent-school entrance assessments, children often need to read carefully, retrieve evidence, explain meaning and write accurately under time pressure. Because Exeter School also interviews candidates, spoken confidence and thoughtful reading habits support the whole process.

Practise comprehension using fiction and non-fiction passages.
Build vocabulary from regular reading.
Work on concise written answers that actually match the question.
Revise punctuation, spelling, sentence control and paragraphing.
Include short creative or descriptive writing tasks with a clear beginning, middle and end.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning rewards both vocabulary and method. Children need to recognise common task types quickly, follow instructions exactly and manage time well. The best approach is repeated exposure to the standard question formats, with careful correction afterwards.

Strengthen synonyms, antonyms and word relationships.
Practise letter and code patterns methodically.
Teach your child to mark key information in the instruction before answering.
Use short timed sets to build pace without panic.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-verbal reasoning is often the least familiar area for children, so steady practice helps. The aim is to recognise patterns in shapes, rotations, reflections, sequences, codes and spatial changes. Children improve most when they learn to describe what is changing from one box to the next, rather than relying on guesswork.

Practise shape sequences and odd-one-out tasks.
Work on rotation and reflection explicitly.
Use simple language such as “turn”, “flip”, “add”, “remove” and “shade”.
Encourage systematic checking of all answer options before choosing.

Across all four subjects, Exeter School preparation should stay balanced. It is not a school where over-focusing on just Maths and English is likely to be enough.

Practice papers and mock exams

Practice papers are useful when they are used for diagnosis, not just for score-chasing. For Exeter School, choose materials that reflect a broad 11+ standard across Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Start with untimed work so your child learns the method. Then move to timed sections. Finally, use occasional mixed papers to build stamina and confidence in switching between subjects.

Good practice-paper habits:

do papers at a table, in silence, with a visible clock;
mark them straight away;
log every mistake by type;
redo only the questions that were wrong or guessed;
repeat weak areas a few days later.

Mocks can be helpful if your child needs experience of working in an unfamiliar room or coping with nerves. They are less useful if they simply add pressure without review. One or two well-timed mock experiences are usually enough for most children.

Use these ElevenReady resources:

A simple rule works well: one paper can teach more than three rushed papers if your child reviews it properly.

On the day

Keep the morning calm and ordinary. Aim for enough time, a familiar breakfast and no last-minute teaching. Children usually do better when the message is, “Show what you know,” rather than, “This is your one chance.”

Check the school’s instructions the night before.
Leave early so a small delay does not become a big worry.
Pack any requested items the evening before.
Dress as instructed by the school, if guidance has been given.
Remind your child to listen carefully to each instruction before starting.

During the assessment, the most helpful habits are simple:

read the question fully;
keep an eye on time without panicking;
move on if stuck and return later if allowed;
check work at the end if time remains.

For the interview element, encourage your child to be polite, to answer in full sentences and to say honestly if they do not understand a question. Interviewers are usually trying to get a sense of the child, not catch them out.

After the assessment, avoid a detailed post-mortem in the car. A snack, a bit of praise for effort and a change of subject are usually better.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

Because Exeter School is an independent school, the process after assessment is different from state-school national offer procedures. The school’s admissions guidance indicates that offers follow the full selection process, which includes the assessments, interview and reference from the child’s current school.

On the public pages reviewed, we did not find a published 2028 results date, nor a formal public timetable for when Year 7 decisions are issued. We also did not find a published appeal framework in the way local-authority schools usually provide for statutory admissions appeals. In practice, if your child is not offered a place, the sensible next step is to contact the school politely to ask whether a waiting list operates and whether any further review route is available under the school’s admissions arrangements.

If you are also applying to state schools, keep those deadlines entirely separate in your planning. Independent-school offers and acceptance deadlines often run on their own timetable, so it is important to read any offer letter carefully and respond by the stated date.

If the school publishes a results or offer timeline for 2028 entry later on, use that rather than assumptions from previous years.

What has changed recently

The clearest recent point from Exeter School’s own published guidance is that for September 2027 entry, Year 7 assessments may be sat either on a group testing day in January or at a pre-arranged sitting with the Admissions office. That is useful for 2028 families because it suggests flexibility in how the assessment can be taken, although parents should still wait for the school’s 2028 confirmation.

Exeter School also advertised a Whole School Open Day on 26 September 2026 on its website. That is not an exam-format change, but it does show that the school continues to use open events as part of its admissions cycle.

We did not find a publicly announced recent change to the exam board, catchment rules or number of places on the sources reviewed. For 2028 entry, ElevenReady’s directory (not yet verified with the school) is our current record for the exam format: the school’s own paper, in a GL-style format across Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Frequently asked questions

Does Exeter School have a catchment area for Year 7 entry?

No. the information in our directory (not yet verified with the school) for this guide is that Exeter School has no catchment area for Year 7 admissions.

What subjects should my child prepare for?

Prepare for Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Exeter School also uses interview and a reference from the current school as part of selection.

Is the Exeter School 11+ a GL Assessment test?

For 2028 entry, the working assumption for this guide, not yet verified with the school, is the school’s own paper in a GL-style format across the four tested subjects. Parents should prepare using standard 11+ methods across all four areas.

When is the Exeter School Year 7 assessment held?

The school’s recent published guidance for 2027 entry says assessments may be sat on a group testing day in January or at a pre-arranged sitting with the Admissions office. Check the school’s admissions page for the confirmed 2028 arrangements.

Does Exeter School publish a pass mark?

We did not find a published pass mark, score threshold or cut-off on the sources reviewed. It is best to ignore unofficial figures and check the school’s admissions page for any updates.

How much should a Year 5 child study each week?

For most children, 1 to 2 hours a week in early Year 5, rising gradually to around 3 hours a week in Year 6, is realistic. Consistency and review are more useful than cramming.

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Sources

Exeter School – Entrance assessments guidance: Exeter School describes itself as academically selective; Year 7 entry involves assessments in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning; candidates are invited to interview with a senior member of staff; the school requests a report from the current school; for September 2027
Exeter School – Admissions: Exeter School uses its own admissions process and provides an online registration route for applicants.
Exeter School – Home page: Exeter School advertised a Whole School Open Day on 26 September 2026.

Preparing for other schools in Devon

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.