Cobham Hall 11+ guide

Considering Cobham Hall for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about 11+ entry. Learn how to apply, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

Key information for Cobham Hall

• Address: Cobham Hall, Brewers Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3BL
• Age range and gender: boys and girls aged 11–18
• Type of school: independent day and boarding
• Number of students: 100+
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 11+ open days: October
• 11+ selection criteria: CAT4 test
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
• 11+ scholarships: e.g. academic, art, music, drama, sport

About Cobham Hall

Cobham Hall is a small independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 11–18 in Kent. The senior school was previously girls-only. However, the school will welcome boys from September 2025.

Cobham Hall is a place ‘where centuries of history meet a curriculum for the future and creativity knows no bounds.’ The grounds contain a mix of traditional and modern facilities.

Academic results are consistently high at Cobham Hall. Study is complemented by the development of life skills. The bespoke 'Perspectives' course helps each pupil face whatever the future brings. Co–curricular activities are wide-ranging and all pupils are encouraged to follow their passions. The school believes that ‘by taking part in everything Cobham Hall has to offer, our students discover more about themselves.’ Meanwhile, outstanding pastoral care ensures all students feel supported and nurtured.

Cobham Hall made the shortlist for the Independent Schools of the Year Award in 2024. Muddy Stilettos also commended the school for its 'Prepared for Life Award'.

Dates for your diary

• Entrance exam: autumn term in Year 6
• Offers of places: spring term in Year 6

Cobham Hall 11+ entrance exam

Children applying for 11+ entry to Cobham Hall take an online cognitive abilities test, known by its abbreviated name CAT4.

The CAT4 is a non-adaptive test taken on a computer. It is designed to measure a child’s natural ability and gives schools a rounded view of their potential. Children applying to selective senior schools commonly sit a Level D CAT4 test, which is aimed at 11 year olds.

The test takes a little over an hour to complete. There are three parts, each with their own individually-timed sections:

• Part 1: non-verbal reasoning (20 minutes). Questions cover figure classification and figure matrices.
• Part 2: verbal and quantitative reasoning (26 minutes). Questions cover verbal classification, verbal analogies and number analogies.
• Part 3: quantitative and spatial reasoning (26 minutes). Questions cover number series, figure analysis and figure recognition.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Cobham Hall

Cobham Hall 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 Cobham Hall as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get CAT4 mock tests as part of their learning plan. 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.