Hampton School 11+ entry guide

Hampton School 11+ entrance exam

All children who are registered for 11+ entry to Hampton School take an entrance exam in November in Year 6.

Hampton School sets its own 11+ assessment. There are three papers: English, words and reasoning and maths.

English

The English paper lasts 40 minutes and has sections in reading comprehension and creative writing.

In the creative writing section, your child will need to write an original piece of descriptive writing based on an image. Marks will be awarded for:

• Using language skills (grammar, punctuation and vocabulary) to engage the reader

• The ability to create convincing dialogue

• Use of controlled sentences of varying length and pattern

• Overall coherence and relevance to the image

Reading a wide range of fiction is a great way to prepare for this exam.

Words and reasoning

The words and reasoning paper lasts 40 minutes. This paper tests your child’s ability to extract information from different factual materials (e.g. maps or timetables) and a passage of text. This style of assessment suits children who read non-fiction texts for pleasure (e.g. science and history).

This paper also includes verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning questions. Your child will be assessed on their understanding of the meaning of words and their ability to solve visual and verbal puzzles. Some questions are in multiple-choice format.

Maths

The maths paper lasts 45 minutes. Questions are based on topics your child will have learned in Key Stage 2 maths at school, but they might involve two or three different stages. Your child will need to know how to apply the knowledge they have learned to solve mathematical problems.

The admissions team at Hampton School will look at your child’s assessment results in conjunction with a supporting reference from your child’s current headteacher. Shortlisted children will then receive an invitation in mid-December to come back for an interview in January.

Interviews at Hampton School are designed to get to know your child beyond their test results. Your child will have two interviews (both with teachers) for around 30 minutes in total. They will be looking to see how well your child ‘fits’ with the school’s ethos and values. Learn top tips and get a downloadable resource to help your child prepare in our guide to independent school interviews.

You will find out if your child has been offered a place at Hampton School in mid-February in Year 6. Places must be confirmed by early March.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Hampton School

Hampton School is a very popular selective school in southwest London, so 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 Hampton School as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get tailored mock tests for Hampton School 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.