How to prepare for the Mount Kelly 11+

The exam at a glance

For Year 7 entry, Mount Kelly says there is a more formal admissions process for children joining Years 7 or 8, and that this includes assessments. The school also says that, for Years 7 and 8 entry, assessments are arranged early in the application process and are scheduled at a time to suit the family.

At the time of writing, the school does not appear to publish a detailed public specification for the Year 7 assessment format on its admissions pages. That means parents should avoid assuming a standard grammar-school style test. Mount Kelly sets its own assessment process, and the safest approach is to treat it as a school-led admissions assessment rather than a consortium 11+.

What this means in practice is that your child is likely to need a secure, all-round Year 5 and early Year 6 academic base, confidence working with an unfamiliar adult or assessor, and the ability to show how they think as well as what they know. Because the school has not publicly confirmed the exact paper format, tested subjects or delivery method on the pages reviewed, it is best to check the admissions page directly and ask the school what the current assessment arrangements are for your child’s intended year of entry.

Board: school’s own assessment process
Format: not publicly detailed on the admissions pages reviewed
Subjects: not publicly detailed on the admissions pages reviewed
Timing: arranged individually early in the application process
Delivery: not publicly detailed on the admissions pages reviewed
What the day looks like: likely to be arranged directly with the school rather than sitting on a single national test date

For the latest school-specific details, parents should use the school’s admissions page and keep an eye on updates here too: The Mount Kelly 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).

Registration and key dates

Mount Kelly appears to run its own admissions process rather than using a local-authority 11+ registration system. On the Prep entry page, the school directs families to contact the admissions team to discuss availability and to arrange the next steps. The school’s general admissions process page also explains that families begin by making an enquiry, visiting if possible, and then submitting an application.

For children joining Years 7 or 8, the school says assessments are arranged early in the application process and at a time that suits the family. In other words, there is no published single exam date on the pages reviewed.

The school also invites families to visit and says they are welcome at its annual Discovery Day. The current wording on the page reviewed states: “Saturday 2027 – Further detail to follow soon.” Because the school has not yet published the full date information for 2028 entry on the pages reviewed, it is sensible to enquire early in Year 5 or at the start of Year 6.

Based on the admissions pages reviewed, a practical registration route is:

Make an enquiry with Mount Kelly admissions.
Arrange a visit or attend Discovery Day if that suits your family.
Discuss year-group availability and suitability for Year 7 entry.
Submit the school’s application form when invited.
Arrange the assessment date with the school.

The reviewed pages do not publicly list a Year 7 assessment deadline, registration closing date, or published results date for 2028 entry. If you are applying, check directly with admissions rather than relying on a generic 11+ timetable.

If you want a reminder when the school updates its dates, you can sign up here: Free email alerts for this school’s key dates.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

Mount Kelly is an independent co-educational school, so there is no local-authority grammar catchment system in the way parents may be used to for state selective schools. On the school’s Prep entry page, Mount Kelly says that children joining Years 4 to 8 join the Prep School, and that entry to Years 7 or 8 involves a more formal process including assessments.

From the school pages reviewed, the public admissions focus is on whether there is a suitable place available and whether the child is a good fit for the school. The school encourages parents to contact admissions to discuss availability for the intended year group.

The reviewed sources do not publish a catchment boundary, a ranked oversubscription system, a Year 7 pass mark, or a public cut-off score. They also do not give a published number of Year 7 places on the pages reviewed. If these points matter for your decision, ask the admissions team directly and check the latest policy documents on the school website.

For families comparing options, this is an important difference from many grammar schools: the process is likely to be more individual and school-led, with direct contact between the family and the admissions office throughout.

A month-by-month preparation plan

Because Mount Kelly’s Year 7 assessment is arranged individually rather than on a single widely published test date, the best plan is a steady one. Aim for calm, consistent preparation through Year 5 and into Year 6, building secure core skills first and only introducing formal timed work later.

When	What to do
January to March of Year 5	Keep preparation light. Around 1 to 2 hours a week is enough for most children. Focus on reading fluency, vocabulary, careful comprehension, number facts, written methods and clear presentation. If your child is not yet working confidently at school level, fix those gaps before doing any entrance-style practice.
April to June of Year 5	Increase to 2 to 3 hours a week. Add short reasoning-style tasks only if the school confirms they are relevant. Continue regular reading and mental maths. Start practising how to explain answers aloud, as independent-school assessments sometimes look at how a child thinks, not just final answers.
July to August before Year 6	Keep momentum without turning summer into a slog. About 2 hours a week plus daily reading is usually enough. Do short mixed practice sessions. If you plan to visit the school or make an enquiry early in Year 6, use the summer to make sure your child can work steadily, write neatly and cope with unfamiliar questions without panic.
September of Year 6	Once you have spoken to the school and understand the likely assessment route, make preparation more specific. A realistic target is 3 to 4 hours a week in short bursts. This is the point to begin timed practice, but only in small amounts: perhaps one short section at a time rather than full papers.
October to the assessment	Build familiarity, not pressure. Use one or two timed pieces each week, review mistakes carefully and keep one session focused on confidence: reading, interview conversation, or explaining methods. In the final fortnight, reduce workload slightly so your child goes in fresh.

If your child’s assessment is scheduled earlier or later, simply slide this plan forward or back. The important thing is to prepare in stages: foundations first, then familiarity, then a little timed work.

Subject by subject: what to practise

Because Mount Kelly does not publicly specify the Year 7 tested subjects on the admissions pages reviewed, the safest preparation is broad and sensible rather than overly narrow. Below are the areas most worth strengthening for an independent-school assessment.

English

Practise careful reading, clear written answers and accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Your child should be able to read a passage, find evidence, explain meaning in full sentences and write neatly under light time pressure. Also build vocabulary through daily reading and short discussion of unfamiliar words in context.

Useful habits include summarising paragraphs, spotting the main idea, giving a reason for an opinion and improving clumsy sentences. If there is any written task, schools often reward clear thinking and accuracy more than flashy vocabulary.

Mathematics

Focus on secure arithmetic first: number bonds, tables, place value, the four operations, fractions, decimals and percentages at an age-appropriate level. Then build confidence with multi-step word problems, showing working clearly and checking answers for reasonableness.

Independent-school maths assessments often reveal whether a child can stay calm with an unfamiliar problem. Encourage your child to annotate, estimate first, and explain the method used. A child who thinks carefully and avoids avoidable slips is often in a stronger position than one who rushes.

Reasoning and general problem-solving

The school has not publicly confirmed that formal verbal, non-verbal or other reasoning papers are used, so do not overcommit to one commercial style. Instead, build general problem-solving habits: spotting patterns, comparing information, following multi-step instructions and explaining how an answer was found.

If the admissions team later confirms that a particular type of reasoning is included, you can then practise that question style specifically. Until then, broad thinking skills are the safest use of time.

Interview-style discussion and school readiness

Some independent-school processes include conversation with a member of staff, classroom observation, or an informal discussion during the visit or assessment. The school pages reviewed do not spell this out for Year 7, so this is a preparation area rather than a stated requirement. It is still sensible to help your child answer simple questions about what they enjoy reading, what they like at school, how they approach challenges and why they are interested in Mount Kelly.

Keep this light and natural. The aim is not to script answers but to help your child speak confidently to an adult, listen carefully and respond politely.

Practice papers and mock exams

Where a school does not publish a detailed test specification, practice should be used carefully. The goal is not to cram one guessed format but to build flexibility, accuracy and confidence.

A sensible routine is:

Use short, focused practice first rather than full papers every week.
Mark work straight away and talk through errors while they are fresh.
Sort mistakes into three groups: knowledge gaps, misreads and timing slips.
Redo difficult questions a few days later to make sure the lesson sticks.
Add timed work gradually, only once your child is mostly accurate when working untimed.

If you use mock exams, treat them as a confidence-building rehearsal, not a verdict on your child. One well-timed mock can be useful for stamina and nerves; too many can make children feel that preparation is all pressure and no progress.

ElevenReady resources for this school:

Because the school’s own public pages do not detail the paper format reviewed here, use any third-party practice flexibly and keep checking for official updates from Mount Kelly.

On the day

If the assessment is arranged directly with the school, the day is likely to feel more personal than a large shared exam sitting. That can be a real advantage for many children.

Keep the morning calm. Aim for a normal breakfast, comfortable clothes if no special dress has been requested, and plenty of time to arrive without rushing.
Bring what the school asks for. If admissions has given instructions about pencils, pens or other materials, follow those rather than relying on generic exam advice.
Remind your child what to do if stuck. Read carefully, underline key parts, try the easiest part first, then move on and come back if needed.
Encourage neatness and listening. In a school-run assessment, clear communication and sensible conduct matter as much as raw speed.
Do not over-revise the night before. A short review is fine, but sleep matters more.

Emotionally, the most helpful message is simple: this is an opportunity to show the school how you learn. Your child does not need to be perfect; they need to be settled, polite and willing to try.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

Because Mount Kelly is an independent school, the post-assessment process is different from state grammar allocation. There is no National Offer Day allocation system for the school itself. Instead, families are usually informed directly by the school about the outcome of the application and any offer of a place.

On the pages reviewed, Mount Kelly does not publish a standard Year 7 results release date or a public appeals timetable for this assessment route. If your child is assessed, ask admissions when you should expect to hear back and what the next steps are if a place is offered.

In general, the process after assessment is likely to include some or all of the following:

The school reviews the assessment and wider application.
The family is contacted directly with the outcome.
If a place is offered, there may be an acceptance deadline and deposit process.
If no place is available, the school may explain whether there is any waiting-list option.

If you need a formal complaint or appeal route, check the school’s current admissions and complaints policies on its website, as independent-school procedures differ from local-authority school admission appeals.

What has changed recently

From the official pages reviewed for this guide, the main currently visible point for parents is that the school’s admissions page states the next annual Discovery Day as “Saturday 2027 – Further detail to follow soon”. Beyond that, I did not find a publicly announced recent change to the Year 7 assessment format, board, catchment, places or admissions structure on the reviewed official pages.

If the school publishes new arrangements for 2028 entry, those updates should appear first on its admissions pages, so it is worth checking them regularly.

Frequently asked questions

Does Mount Kelly use a standard 11+ exam board?

For 2028 entry, ElevenReady’s verified information is that Mount Kelly uses the school’s own paper or assessment process. The public admissions pages reviewed do not give a fuller published board specification.

When is the Mount Kelly Year 7 assessment held?

The school says assessments for Years 7 and 8 are arranged early in the application process at a time that suits the family. A single published exam date was not listed on the reviewed admissions pages.

What subjects are in the Mount Kelly 11+?

The school’s public admissions pages reviewed do not specify the tested subjects for Year 7. Parents should check directly with admissions for the current assessment details.

Is there a catchment area for Mount Kelly?

Mount Kelly is an independent school, so it does not operate like a state grammar with a local-authority catchment system. The reviewed pages did not publish a catchment rule for Year 7 entry.

How should my child prepare if the format is unclear?

Build strong English and maths fundamentals, regular reading, careful problem-solving and confidence speaking to adults. Once the school confirms the current assessment arrangements, you can make preparation more specific.

Does Mount Kelly publish pass marks or cut-off scores?

Not on the admissions pages reviewed for this guide. If you want to know how decisions are made, ask the admissions team directly.

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Sources

Mount Kelly – Prep Entry including 11+: Children joining Years 4 to 8 join the Prep School; Years 7 or 8 entry has a more formal process including assessments; assessments for Years 7 and 8 are arranged early in the application process and scheduled at a time to suit the family; Discovery Day wording states 'Saturday 2027 – Further detail
Mount Kelly – Admissions Process: Families begin by making an enquiry, visiting and applying through the school’s own admissions process rather than a local-authority 11+ portal.
Mount Kelly – School website: Mount Kelly is an independent co-educational school in Tavistock, Devon, with Prep, College and Sixth Form sections.

Preparing for other schools in Devon

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.