How to prepare for Oxford International College Brighton 11+

The exam at a glance

Oxford International College Brighton is an independent school for students aged 13 to 18, so families looking ahead to Year 7 should know first that the school does not admit pupils at 11+. Its published programmes begin from pre-GCSE and GCSE entry points rather than a Year 7 intake.

For families considering future entry, the school’s admissions information says the process includes an entrance test and an interview. ElevenReady’s verified information for this school confirms that, for the relevant entry route, the test uses the school’s own papers and assesses Maths and English only. Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not part of the assessed subjects in our verified school data.

The school’s admissions page also explains that it reviews an applicant’s most recent school reports and, where appropriate, asks for a UKiset report. That means the assessment process is broader than just a written paper: families should expect academic testing alongside a review of prior school performance and a conversation with the school.

In practical terms, the day is likely to be a mixed process rather than a single large 11+ sitting. Parents should expect some combination of written assessment, document review and interview arrangements, because that is how the school describes admissions generally. The school does not publish a standardised 11+ style timetable for Year 7 entry, and because it is a 13–18 school, families should check directly with admissions before planning around an autumn Year 6 test date.

Registration and key dates

The most important point here is that Oxford International College Brighton does not run a local-authority 11+ registration process. Applications are handled directly by the school through its admissions route.

The school’s admissions page says it accepts applications all year round, that programmes start in September, and that the admissions process typically takes no more than two weeks from enquiry to offer. That rolling process is very different from a grammar school timetable with one registration deadline and one test day.

To apply, the school asks families to complete its application process and provide supporting information. Across the admissions and application pages, the school says it may require:

recent school reports
a personal statement
copies of relevant documents requested during application
for some applicants, a UKiset report
payment of the registration fee

The school publishes a registration fee of £415 and an acceptance deposit of £11,050. For 2026–27, it also publishes Year 11 day and boarding fees on its fees page. Because this is a 13–18 school, those figures are useful for understanding the admissions model, but they are not evidence of a Year 7 entry route.

If you are researching this school alongside others, keep an eye on the school’s own admissions page rather than waiting for a council portal to open. For a quick overview of the school’s published admissions details, see The Oxford International College, Brighton 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates). You can also sign up for Free email alerts for this school's key dates.

Because no fixed Year 7 / 11+ deadline or exam date is published on the school’s admissions pages we reviewed, families should contact the admissions team directly for the current timetable for the relevant entry point.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

This is an independent school, so there is no catchment area in the grammar-school sense. ElevenReady’s verified school data states that the school says it is open to students of all backgrounds and nationalities, and the admissions pages describe both day and boarding options.

The key admissions point, though, is age range. Oxford International College Brighton describes itself as a school for ages 13 to 18. Its published academic pathways are pre-GCSE, one-year GCSE, two-year GCSE and A-level programmes. In other words, it is not set up as a conventional 11+ destination for children entering Year 7.

The school’s published admissions process is selective and holistic. It says decisions are based on factors including:

performance in the entrance assessment
the interview
school reports and prior attainment
where requested, UKiset

The school pages we reviewed do not publish a pass mark, standardised score threshold, ranking list or number of places for a Year 7 intake. Parents should therefore avoid any unofficial claims about cut-offs or required scores and rely on direct information from the school.

For boarding families, the admissions and fees pages show that the school offers boarding as well as day places, which may matter when comparing it with other independent senior schools in the South East.

A month-by-month preparation plan

Because Oxford International College Brighton is a 13–18 school with rolling admissions, preparation should be built around secure Maths and English skills rather than around a single high-pressure 11+ date. If your child is younger and you are thinking well ahead, use the plan below as a gentle academic roadmap rather than a school-specific Year 6 countdown.

12 months before application

Set up a calm routine of 2 to 3 hours a week across Maths and English.
Focus on fluency: arithmetic, fractions, problem solving, comprehension and clear writing.
Read widely at home: fiction, non-fiction and quality journalism for children.

9 months before application

Increase to 3 to 4 hours a week if your child is coping well.
Start short timed tasks: a 15-minute comprehension, a 20-minute maths section, a paragraph plan for writing.
Notice patterns in mistakes. Are they conceptual, careless, or due to rushing?

6 months before application

Move into more formal preparation for independent-school assessments.
Practise writing under time limits: descriptive writing, discursive paragraphs and precise comprehension answers.
In Maths, make sure your child can explain methods aloud rather than only getting answers.

4 months before application

Work at 4 hours a week split into short, regular sessions.
Begin mixed papers that switch between easier and harder questions.
Add interview-style discussion: books read, favourite subjects, interests and why the school appeals.

2 to 3 months before application

Start timed papers properly, usually one timed Maths paper and one timed English task each week.
Review every paper slowly afterwards. Corrections matter more than volume.
Ask your child to redraft one piece of writing a week to improve vocabulary, structure and accuracy.

Final month

Keep work steady but not excessive: around 3 to 4 hours weekly is enough for most children.
Prioritise confidence, sleep and consistency.
Do one or two realistic practice runs, but avoid cramming.

If your child is not yet near the school’s published age of entry, the best use of time is broad preparation: strong reading habits, tidy mathematical thinking and mature written English. Those foundations transfer well to other independent senior schools too.

Subject by subject: what to practise

Maths

ElevenReady’s verified information for this school says Maths is one of the assessed subjects, and because there are only two tested areas, depth matters. Practise arithmetic fluency, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, algebraic thinking, number problems, geometry basics, measures and multi-step word problems.

Good preparation means more than answer-getting. Your child should be able to:

choose an efficient method
set out working clearly
spot when an answer is unreasonable
manage time across easier and harder questions

Use short daily arithmetic, then two or three longer reasoning sets each week. When reviewing mistakes, ask: did the child misunderstand the maths, misread the question, or lose marks through presentation?

English

English is the other verified assessed subject. For independent-school entrance, that usually means a blend of reading comprehension and writing, even where the school does not publish a specimen paper.

For comprehension, practise:

retrieval from a passage
inference and deduction
explaining word choice and tone
supporting answers with evidence from the text

For writing, practise:

clear paragraphing
accurate punctuation and spelling
varied sentence structure
descriptive precision rather than over-written vocabulary
planning before writing

A useful routine is one comprehension and one writing task each week. Encourage your child to read their work aloud at the end: this often catches awkward phrasing, missing words and punctuation slips.

Because Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not part of ElevenReady’s verified format for this school, they do not need to be the centre of your preparation here.

Practice papers and mock exams

Practice papers are most useful when they are used sparingly and reviewed carefully. For a two-subject assessment, quality matters far more than sheer quantity.

A sensible approach is:

build skills first in Maths and English
introduce timed work gradually
mark thoroughly and keep an error log
redo weak questions a few days later
save a small number of full papers for the final stretch

For school-specific practice, use Free Oxford International College, Brighton practice papers (one per tested subject, with answers).

You may also find these useful while tracking admissions information:

If your child is aiming at independent schools more broadly, an occasional mock can help with stamina and nerves. Choose mocks that emphasise Maths and English rather than reasoning-heavy grammar formats, and do not overdo them. One good mock followed by careful feedback is usually more valuable than several rushed ones.

On the day

If your child is invited to assessment, keep the day simple and calm.

Confirm the time, location and any documents needed the day before.
Pack water, stationery if requested, and anything the school has specifically asked for.
Aim to arrive early enough not to feel rushed.
Give your child one clear message: read carefully, show working in Maths, and check writing for sense and accuracy.

Because the school’s admissions process may also involve interview and document review, prepare your child for polite conversation as well as written work. They do not need rehearsed speeches. It is enough to speak naturally about their interests, reading, strengths and current school experience.

On the morning, avoid last-minute teaching. A normal breakfast, a calm journey and steady reassurance are more useful than one more worksheet.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

At this school, the process is not the same as state-school national offer day or grammar-school allocation. Oxford International College Brighton says it handles admissions directly and that the process typically takes no more than two weeks from enquiry to offer. That suggests families may hear relatively quickly after completing the school’s assessment steps.

If a place is offered, parents should read the offer paperwork carefully for any conditions, deadlines and payment requirements. The school publishes an acceptance deposit of £11,050, so it is important to understand the financial commitment before accepting.

The school pages we reviewed do not publish a formal appeals system equivalent to a maintained-school admissions appeal. If your child is unsuccessful, the practical next step is to ask the admissions team politely whether feedback is available and whether a later application point may be possible.

Because the school accepts applications year round, families should also ask whether there are alternative entry points better matched to the child’s age and prior study.

What has changed recently

From the official pages reviewed, we did not find a published announcement in the last two years of a change to a Year 7 or 11+ entry process, because the school presents itself as a 13–18 independent school with rolling admissions rather than a conventional 11+ provider. The most useful current published points are that applications are accepted all year round, programmes start in September, and the admissions process is described as taking no more than two weeks from enquiry to offer.

Frequently asked questions

Does Oxford International College Brighton have an 11+ for Year 7 entry?

The school’s published information describes Oxford International College Brighton as a 13–18 school, so it is not a standard Year 7 11+ destination. Check directly with admissions if you are asking about any exceptional younger entry route.

What subjects should my child prepare for?

ElevenReady’s verified information for this school says the assessment focuses on Maths and English. Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not the priority here.

Is there a catchment area?

No. This is an independent school and the published information does not describe a catchment area.

How do families apply?

Applications are made directly to the school rather than through a local authority 11+ portal. The school says it accepts applications all year round.

How quickly do decisions come?

The school says its admissions process typically takes no more than two weeks from enquiry to offer. Timing can still vary, so confirm the current process with admissions.

Are boarding places available?

Yes. The school’s admissions and fees information show both day and boarding options.

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Sources

Oxford International College Brighton – Entry Requirements: School age range 13–18; admissions handled by the school; applications accepted all year round; programmes start in September; admissions process typically takes no more than two weeks from enquiry to offer; admissions include entrance test, interview, school reports and where appropriate UKiset; sc
Oxford International College Brighton – Home: School describes itself as an independent school in Brighton for students aged 13–18.

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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.