Bradfield College 13+ guide

Considering Bradfield College for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about 13+ entry. Learn how to apply, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

Key information for Bradfield College

• Address: Bradfield College, Bradfield, Berkshire, RG7 6AU
• Age range and gender: boys and girls aged 13–18
• Type of school: independent day and boarding
• Number of students: 800+
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 13+ open days: Saturday tours throughout the year in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6
• 13+ selection criteria: ISEB Common Pre-Test, admissions interview, housemaster interview, problem solving challenge, reference from head teacher
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
• 13+ scholarships: academic, all rounder, art and design, drama, music and sports

About Bradfield College

Bradfield College is an independent school for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. It's located in Berkshire, amongst 220 acres of rolling countryside, only one hour from London and 40 minutes from Gatwick Airport. Founded in 1850, its headmaster describes the school as 'constantly evolving'.

Individuality is cherished at Bradfield College. It offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, and music. The school's cricket and football teams are especially successful. The grounds include exceptional facilities such as a health centre and a unique Greek Theatre, which is the backdrop for many classical and modern plays.

Bradfield is a friendly school which promotes an 'outstanding education for life' that is ‘fit for the 21st century’. The focus is on academic achievement alongside technological know-how and open-mindedness. The school emphasises the values of kindness, integrity, respect, and inclusivity. These values extend beyond day-to-day school life. Partnerships with community and global projects are encouraged and the school vision is to allow 'pupils to make a positive contribution to their world.'

Dates for your diary

• Registration closes: beginning of January in Year 6
• ISEB Common Pre-Test: November in Year 6
• Admissions assessment and interviews: September–March in Year 6
• Offers of places: first round in March of Year 6, second round (for late applicants) in Year 7 or Year 8
• Bradfield entrance test: Year 8

Bradfield College 13+ entrance exam

Stage 1: ISEB Common Pre-Test

All children applying for 13+ entry to Bradfield College sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test. This is an exam created by the Independent Schools Examination Board which is usually taken in the autumn term of Year 6.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is taken online and consists of multiple choice questions. It is entirely adaptive, which means the questions become more difficult depending on how your child is performing. The questions span four subjects:

• Maths: questions are based on the Year 5 national curriculum – although children in Year 6 may find this section challenging. The questions range from arithmetic to multi-step problem solving.
• English: questions are split into two sections: reading comprehension, and spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Verbal reasoning: your child will be tested on their ability to reason and solve problems with written information, such as letters, words, symbols and numbers.
• Non-verbal reasoning: these questions assess your child’s logic, critical thinking and problem-solving skills using figures and diagrams. They will need to show that they can analyse and manipulate 2D and 3D figures.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test takes around 2 and a half hours to complete. Your child can sit the four subjects together or at separate times. If they are taking all four subjects on the same day, they will be allowed a short break between each section.

Stage 2: Bradfield College admissions assessment

The second stage of the assessment process for Bradfield College takes place at the school in the autumn and spring terms of Year 6. This consists of:

• a 20–30 minute admissions interview. The aim of this is to find out how well your child will fit into Bradfield, what they will contribute to the school's academic life, and their other interests and skills
• a 20–30 minute housemistress/housemaster interview. This is designed to see how well your child would be suited to the boarding environment at the school
• a 60-minute problem-solving challenge. This allows the school to assess children more broadly within a fun and engaging environment. The staff will assess key charateristics such as interpersonal skills, resilience, innovation and reflection.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Bradfield College

Bradfield College is a selective school, and competition for places can be high. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the selection process.

Bitesize learning

It’s important to build a good knowledge base before school entrance exams. Your child should have a good understanding of the content they’ve been taught at school before testing their knowledge with practice tests.

Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

With Atom Home, you don’t need to worry about creating a study schedule. When you enter your target schools, you’ll get a bespoke learning plan tailored to your schools’ entrance exams. Know exactly what your child needs to do each week to confidently pass.

Read widely

Entrance exams test children’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list.

Hone curiosity

Selective schools are often looking for children who are interested in learning. You can help by supporting your child’s broader learning, their intellectual curiosity, and their passion for developing an understanding of the world.

Talk to your child about the world we live in and inspire an interest in current affairs with age-appropriate journalism. It’s also a good idea to make sure they’re benefitting from a rich variety of experiences, such as visiting libraries, museums and galleries.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with their knowledge of the exam topics, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Mock tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and refine exam technique. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning, while highlighting any knowledge gaps they might want to tackle before exam day.

When you set Bradfield College as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get ISEB mock tests as part of their learning plan. Atom’s mock tests mirror the real ISEB – the curriculum, the timings, the controls and even the colours. Know what to expect on exam day.

Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.