Quick and detailed information for the 11+ exams in 2023-2024 of Abingdon School provided for 11+ and 13+ Parents reference.
Abingdon School 11 Plus Exam Information
- Address: Abingdon School, Park Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1DE
- Abingdon Website: click here for more information
- Admissions Contact:
- Telephone: 01235 521563
- Email: [email protected]
- School Type: Boys
- Total Number of Students in School: 970 pupils aged 11–18, of whom 134 are boarders
- Number of Places Available for Year 7 Entry: Parents need to check the latest updated information on the school website.
- Abingdon Open Days:
- Open Day: 30 September 2023
- Take a virtual tour: Click Here
- Opening Date of Application: May 2023
- Closing Date for Applications:
- Closing Date for First year (11+) Application: By 1 October 2023
- Exam Provider: Abingdon School
- Ofsted Report: ISI Report | Abingdon School, London
Abingdon School 11+ Exam Dates
- Receive details of entrance examinations: Early October 2023
- First Year 2024 Taster Morning – book online: 4 November 2023
- Bursary application deadline: 10 November 2023
- First Year 2024 Taster Morning – book online: 11 November 2023
- Discover Abingdon open morning: 22 November 2023
- Discover Abingdon open morning: 29 November 2023
- Entrance Examinations at Abingdon – 9.15 am – 3.00 pm approximately: 13 January 2024
- Interviews: w/c 22 January 2024
- Results letters sent out: Early February 2024
- Acceptances to be received with acceptance fee: 1 March 2024
Abingdon School 11+ Exam Styles
- Candidates sit an entrance test in early January with papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. These papers are designed to be appropriate for candidates from primary schools as well as independent schools.
- English:
- There are two English papers. The first paper (45 mins) tests boys’ reading skills by asking them to respond to two prose passages via multiple-choice questions. This paper also tests grammar, spelling, proofreading, punctuation and word manipulation (e.g. recalling words with particular letter formations and turning noun forms into verbs).
- The second paper asks for a piece of descriptive writing (30 minutes) based on a choice of pictures. Candidates will be given an additional 10 minutes for thinking and planning before they can begin writing their piece. The most important thing about this element of the exams is that boys remember to show their skills in crafting their language to have a strong and vivid effect on the reader. Part of ‘crafting’ involves accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Experience also tells the school that overly short pieces are self-limiting, in that the candidates won’t have given themselves the opportunity to show what they can do. As a very rough guide, they might expect to be producing between 300 and 400 words in 30 minutes.
- Mathematics: The mathematics paper (50 mins) contains questions on topics such as fractions, decimals, averages, percentages, coordinates, sequences, perimeters, areas, nets, currency and ratios. Metric units will be used throughout and calculators are not allowed.
- Reasoning: The reasoning test covers the typical areas of verbal, numerical and pattern skills.
Access 11+ Past Papers with Detailed Mark Schemes and Answers.
Abingdon School 13+ Exam Dates
- Receive details of entrance exams: May 2023
- Bursary application deadline: Friday 29 September 2023
- Entrance exams (9.00 am – 1.00 pm approx.): Saturday 14 October 2023
- Interviews: w/c 6 November 2023
- Offers made: Late November 2023
- Acceptances to be received, with acceptance fee: 31 December 2023
- Sports Scholarship: 1 February 2024
- Art, Design and Technology, Drama and Music Scholarships: January/February 2024
- Academic Scholarships: w/c 26 Feb 2024
Abingdon School 13+ Entrance Exams
Candidates sit the entrance exams in late October of Year 7 (UK national curriculum year group) with papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. Details of the arrangements are sent to the parents of all registered candidates in the previous May (or on registration for those registering later than this).
The papers are designed to be appropriate for anyone in a school which follows/considers the UK National Curriculum. There are two English papers. The first paper (40 minutes) tests candidates’ comprehension skills by asking them to respond to two prose passages via multiple choice questions. Other elements of this paper test spelling, punctuation and other vocabulary skills (e.g. recalling words with particular letter formations or turning noun forms into verbs).
The second paper asks for a piece of descriptive writing (25 minutes) based on a choice of pictures. Candidates will be given an additional 5 minutes for thinking and planning before they can begin writing their piece. The most important thing about this element of the exams is that they remember to show their skills in crafting their language to have a strong and vivid effect on the reader. Part of ‘crafting’ involves accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Experience also tells us that overly short pieces are self-limiting, in that the candidates won’t have given themselves the opportunity to show what they can do. As a very rough guide, they might expect to be producing between 200 and 350 words in 25 minutes.
Candidates whose first language is not English are also required to take an additional English Grammar test.
The mathematics paper (40 mins) contains questions on such topics as fractions, decimals, averages, percentages, coordinates, sequences, perimeters, areas, nets, currency and ratios. Metric units will be used throughout and calculators are not allowed.
The reasoning test (approximately 25 minutes) covers the typical areas of verbal, numerical and perceptual skills.
Candidates are not required to wear school uniform. Snacks are provided.
- Interviews:
- Candidates are selected for interview following the written papers alongside a confidential report from their current school. The interview is a friendly affair, providing the School with an opportunity to assess a candidate’s personality and interests outside the classroom. The majority of interviews are conducted in person at Abingdon School, though we will conduct some interviews using video conferencing platforms (such as Zoom), particularly for overseas candidates. Candidates may like to bring something with them, such as an object of interest or an example of their work, to provide talking points.
School Catchment Area Criteria: Parents need to check the latest updated information on the school website.
Abingdon School Fees: For the academic year 2023-24, the fees are below.
For information about receiving financial help towards paying fees please take a look at the bursaries page. Bursaries of up to 100% of fees are available.
| PER TERM | PER ANNUM | |
| Day Fee | £7,825 | £23,475 |
| Weekly Boarding Fee | £13,030 | £39,090 |
| Full Boarding Fee | £15,960 | £47,880 |
| Registration Fee for UK residents (non-refundable) | £150 | |
| Registration Fee for non-UK residents (non-refundable) | £250 | |
| See the list of additional charges. | ||
