Epsom College 11+ plus entry guide

try. Learn how to apply, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

Key information for Epsom College

• Address: Epsom College, College Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 4JQ
• Age range and gender: boys and girls aged 11–18
• Type of school: independent day and boarding
• Number of students: 1,050+
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 11+ open days: open day in October for Year 4 and Year 5, smaller college tours running throughout the academic year
• 11+ selection criteria: ISEB Common Pre-Test and school’s own Engagement Day
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries, in addition to partnerships with Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation and The Royal Medical Foundation, providing financial assistance to doctors and their families
• 11+ scholarships: academic, drama, music and sport

About Epsom College

Epsom College was founded in 1855. It is a prestigious co-educational independent school, offering day and boarding options. The school is located in Surrey and is set on a 72-acre campus. Originally set up to educate orphans of doctors, it now offers education for over 1,000 students. The school combines academic excellence with lots of extracurricular opportunities.

Epsom College was awarded Independent School of the Year 2022-23 and School of the Year for Student Wellbeing in 2022. It was also placed in the top 1% of schools nationally by the Department for Education. The school is known for its strong pastoral care and well-rounded approach. It supports students through award-winning personal development programmes and encourages a wide range of sports and activities.

The school states that ‘the lifeblood of Epsom is conversation’. Epsom College prepares students for the future with a balanced and supportive education.

Dates for your diary

• Registration closes: October in Year 6
• ISEB Common Pre-Test deadline: December in Year 6
• Engagement Day: January in Year 6 (this does not include tests but involves activities that take the place of an interview)
• Offers of places: February in Year 6

Epsom College 11+ entrance exam

All children applying for 11+ entry to Epsom 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.

Based on the results of the ISEB Common Pre-Test, successful applicants are invited to Epsom College’s Engagement Day. This session does not include exams or tests but involves activities that take the place of an interview, allowing the school to learn more about your child.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Epsom College

Epsom 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 Epsom 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.