City of London School: 11 plus entry guide

About City of London School

City of London School is a prestigious independent day school for boys aged 10 to 18. Nestled by the River Thames in the heart of London, the school combines rich tradition with a forward-thinking approach. Founded in 1834, it offers a blend of academic excellence, co-curricular opportunities, and a supportive community that encourages students to thrive.

Academically, the school challenges its pupils with a broad curriculum designed to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and resilience. From science to the arts, it offers subjects that prepare students for top universities and the world beyond. Small class sizes and passionate teachers ensure personalised support, allowing each boy to reach his full potential.

The school’s location, near iconic landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern, provides unique opportunities for learning and enrichment. Boys often engage in trips, projects, and events that tie directly to the vibrant city around them.

Beyond academics, the school promotes character-building through extensive extracurricular activities, including music, drama, sports, and debating. It emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and global citizenship. The school values inclusivity, offering bursaries to talented boys from diverse backgrounds.

City of London School 11+ admissions process

City of London School welcomes boys at 11+ entry from schools across London. To begin your child’s application, you will need to submit the registration form before the deadline in November in Year 6. Registration costs £160 and is non-refundable.

City of London School is a selective school and is looking for high-ability children. The admissions process has three parts. In addition to these assessments, your child’s current headteacher will be asked to provide a confidential report.

Part 1: Assessments

Registered children are invited to the school for an assessment day in late November or early December in Year 6. This consists of two parts: an online assessment and a creative writing task (detailed below).

The online assessment lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes:

• Maths: 20 minutes. Questions are based on the national curriculum, and assess skills such as arithmetic and mathematical reasoning.

• English: 30 minutes. Questions are based on the national curriculum, and assess skills such as reading and analysing a text, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

• Non-verbal reasoning: 10 minutes. This includes problem-solving and spatial and visual reasoning.

• Verbal reasoning: 10 minutes. This involves using vocabulary and making deductions to solve problems.

• Puzzles and problem-solving: 15 minutes. This section involves multi-step problem-solving and using logical reasoning.

• Creative comprehension: 20 minutes. This involves analysing and synthesising information from multiple sources on a bespoke context.

The maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning sections are adaptive. This means that the questions will get more difficult – or easier – depending on how your child is answering. Your child will not be able to skip questions or go back and change their answers.

The English, puzzles and problem-solving, and creative comprehension sections are non-adaptive. All children will see the same questions, although some children might move through the questions quicker than others. Your child will be able to go backwards and forward between the questions and change their answers during the test.

Have a go at a familiarisation test for City of London School.

Part 2: Creative writing

The creative writing paper is taken on the same day as the online assessment. Your child will be asked to write a piece of original writing, such as a short story, in response to a prompt. They will be tested on skills including creativity, vocabulary, and accuracy.

Children who read widely and regularly are usually well-prepared for creative writing tasks. Writing creatively at home, such as describing sensory details and character behaviour, will also help them improve their skills.

Part 3: Interviews

Shortlisted children are invited back to City of London School for an interview in January in Year 6.

The interview will last around 15–20 minutes. This is an opportunity for your child to find out more about the school, and for the school to get to know your child beyond their test results.

For top tips and advice, take a look at our guide to senior school interviews.

Offers

The City of London School admissions team will carefully consider parts of the process – plus your child’s school reference – when deciding which children to offer places to.

You will receive your child’s results in mid-February. If your child is offered a place, you will have until early March to accept.

Our top tips to prepare for 11+ entry to City of London School

Feeling overwhelmed about where to begin with your child’s exam prep? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Check out our top tips to start their journey to exam success with confidence and ease!

Small steps to big success

Building a solid foundation is essential for entrance exam success. Before tackling practice tests, it’s important for your child to feel confident in the school-taught content they’ll be tested on.

Here’s the good news: learning in bite-sized chunks is scientifically proven to work! Child psychologists recommend 20–30 minute study sessions for 10–11-year-olds. This “little and often” approach helps the brain absorb and retain new information more effectively.

With Atom Home, creating a study routine is effortless. Enter your target schools, and we’ll build a personalised learning plan aligned with their entrance exam requirements. Know exactly what to focus on each week – and give your child the tools to shine.

Unlock a love of reading

Did you know that entrance exams often assess a child’s ability to analyse and interpret text? Regular reading isn’t just fun – it’s a secret weapon for exam prep!

Encourage your child to explore books across different genres and authors. This variety helps them understand diverse styles, tones, and purposes while boosting their vocabulary and critical thinking. Even 10 minutes a day can spark creativity and sharpen analytical skills.

Need ideas? Browse our Key Stage 2 reading list for inspiration and take the guesswork out of picking the perfect book.

Fuel curiosity and confidence

Selective schools value children who are curious and engaged with the world. Supporting your child’s broader learning is a great way to nurture their intellectual curiosity and develop lifelong skills. Talk about current events using age-appropriate journalism or plan outings to libraries, museums, and galleries. These experiences can broaden their horizons and build an authentic love for learning.

Perfect their practice

When your child is ready to put their knowledge to the test, mock exams can make all the difference. These practice runs teach time management, problem-solving, and exam-day strategies while identifying areas for improvement.

With Atom Home, you’ll get targeted mock tests tailored to your chosen schools. You’ll get your child’s results instantly, including their standardised age score and a breakdown of which topics to practise next. Help your child step into their exam day prepared, confident, and ready to excel.

Celebrate every milestone

Big wins start with small steps! Celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how small – keeps motivation high. A growth mindset is key: praise their effort and resilience, not just their achievements.

Mistakes are opportunities to learn, and challenges are stepping stones to success. With regular encouragement and the right tools, your child will build confidence and thrive.

Atom Home tracks every milestone so you can focus on what matters most—cheering them on every step of the way.