Reigate Grammar School 11+ entry guide

Reigate Grammar School 11+ entrance exam

Most RGS pupils enter at age 11 (Year 7). They come from a mixture of local primary and prep schools. There are about 160 places in Year 7.

All children who are registered for 11+ entry to Reigate Grammar School take an entrance exam in January in Year 6. Reigate Grammar School sets its own 11+ assessment (known as the RGS assessment). There are three papers: maths, English and reasoning. Everyone who sits the exam is automatically considered for an academic scholarship.

Maths

The RGS maths paper is 45 minutes long. It's not a multiple choice exam – the questions require free responses. Calculators are not allowed. Children are encouraged to show their working out in the space provided.

The questions aim to test your child's understanding of the concepts rather than their recall of the rules. Children are not expected to be able to answer every question. Questions are based on topics your child will have learned in Key Stage 2 maths at school:

• Number: arithmetic, fractions, decimals, factors, multiples and indices, percentages, money, measure

• Algebra

• Shape and space: perimeter and area, volume, angles

• Handling data

English

The English paper lasts 60 minutes and is scored out 50. It contains a reading comprehension task (30 minutes, 25 marks) and a creative writing task (30 minutes, 25 marks).

In the reading task, your child will need to read a passage of text and answer questions to show their ability to understand and analyse what they have read. Some of the questions are multiple choice and others require free answers.

In the writing task, your child will be asked to write a piece of narrative or descriptive writing in response to a stimulus – such as continuing a story from a passage. It’s recommended that your child spends 5 minutes planning before starting to write.

Marks will be awarded for:

• Detailed comprehension

• Clarity, fluency and accuracy of writing

• Imaginative and linguistic flair

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

Reasoning

The final paper tests verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Some of the questions are multiple choice and others require free answers.

• Verbal reasoning: this involves reasoning with written information, such as letters and words. Questions look at how words are created and used, and the relationship between words.

• Non-verbal reasoning tests reasoning with abstract figures, such as shapes and pictures. Your child will be assessed on their ability to find relationships between shapes and sequences of shapes. They might need to spot common features from one set of shapes and apply them to a new shape.

Children who are successful in the RGS assessment are invited to an interview day in late January. They will be interviewed by a member of staff and will be asked to talk about their hobbies and interests. Children will also have a group interview with the headteacher.

Learn top tips and get a downloadable resource to help your child prepare in our guide to independent school interviews.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Reigate Grammar School

RGS is a very popular selective school in Surrey, 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 Reigate Grammar School as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get tailored mock tests for RGS 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.