Merchant Taylors' School 11+ guide

Considering Merchant Taylors' School 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 Merchant Taylors' School

• Address: Merchant Taylors' School, Sandy Lodge, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2HT
• Age range and gender: boys aged 11–18
• Type of school: independent day
• Number of students: 1,100
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 11+ open days: September
• 11+ selection criteria: entrance exam, interview and school reference
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
• 11+ scholarships: academic, art, drama, design, engineering & technology, music, and sport

Merchant Taylors’ School (MTS) is a well-known boys’ school on the edge of northwest London. It was founded in 1561 by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The school has a long history and has been teaching boys for more than 450 years. In 1933, it moved to its current site, which has 285 acres of space and modern buildings for learning, sports, and activities.

MTS is known for its strong academic standards. Boys work hard and achieve excellent exam results. Many go on to top universities in the UK and around the world, including Oxford, Cambridge, and leading US colleges. The school also focuses on building good character. Pupils are encouraged to be confident, kind, and ready to make a positive difference in society.

There is also plenty to do outside the classroom. Students can take part in many activities such as sports, music, drama, and clubs. These opportunities help boys discover their interests and develop new skills. The school also values community service, and many pupils get involved in charity work.

By blending its long-standing traditions with modern teaching, Merchant Taylors’ School is seen as a leader in British education.

Dates for your diary

• Registration closes: end of October in Year 6
• Entrance exam: November–December in Year 6
• Interviews: January in Year 6
• Offers of places: mid-February in Year 6
• Acceptance deadline: early March in Year 6

Merchant Taylors' School 11+ entrance exam

Boys applying for 11+ entry to Merchant Taylors’ School take an entrance exam in the autumn term of Year 6. This is either in late November or early December. Your son will be allocated an exam date depending on his home postcode.

The Merchant Taylors’ School entrance exam consists of three written papers and a short online test.

The children who achieve the highest scores in the entrance exams are invited back to the school for an interview in January. This is with a member of the admissions team or a senior member of teaching staff.

The interview is an opportunity for your child to talk about their goals, interests, hobbies, and areas of interest at school. For more top tips and a free interview preparation resource, take a look at our guide to senior school interviews.

What's on the Merchant Taylors' School 11+ written papers?

Children applying to 11+ entry for Merchant Taylors' School sit three written papers.

• English: the English paper consists of two parts: reading comprehension and creative writing. Your child should spend around 30 minutes on each section.
• Maths: this tests the key skills taught in Key Stage 2 maths.
• General paper: this paper is unique to Merchant Taylors’ School. It’s designed to test a range of skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity.

What's on the Merchant Taylors' School online test?

The online assessment is provided by Quest Admissions. It consists of a 20-minute maths test and a 10-minute verbal reasoning test. A free familiarisation test is available.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Merchant Taylors' School

Merchant Taylors' School 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 Merchant Taylors' School as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get tailored mock tests that match the Merchant Taylors' School written and online 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.