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11+ Tiffin Stage One Test Information

Exam Information 6 min read
Table of contents
  1. What is the Tiffin 11+ Stage One Test?
  2. Practice tests for 2026 11+ Tiffin Stage One exams
  3. Dates and application information 2026
  4. Useful links
  5. The Tiffin Stage One Test format
  6. Tiffin Stage One Test top tips for your child
  7. How to prepare for the 2026 11+ Tiffin Stage One exam

What is the Tiffin 11+ Stage One Test?

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The Stage One Tiffin School 11+ test is the first of two exams which children must sit to gain entry into the Tiffin School or the Tiffin Girls’ School in Year 7. Both schools are located in Kingston upon Thames and have a reputation for outstanding academic results.

To gain a place at the Tiffin School or the Tiffin Girls’ School, children must first pass the Stage One test. This test is multiple-choice and consists of two papers: maths and English. If they pass the Stage One test, they will be invited to sit the stage 2 test, which is standard format, so requires written answers.

The Tiffin schools are highly competitive, and their entrance tests reflect this. The maths and English skills and topics covered are similar to those in other 11+ exams, but the Tiffin Stage One test has a higher level of difficulty than many other exams. Read on to find out all you need to know about applying to Tiffin and preparing for this challenging exam.

Practice tests for 2026 11+ Tiffin Stage One exams

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Dates and application information 2026

The Stage One test is sat by Year 6 students in September. Registration opens earlier in the year, so make sure you check the school websites for key dates.

Application process:

  • Register for the Stage One Test by completing a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) via the Tiffin School website (links below)
  • Sit the Stage One Test
  • Receive invitation to Stage Two Test if successful in Stage One
  • Apply for your preferred schools by completing your Local Authority application form
  • Sit the Stage Two Test (if successful in the Stage One Test)

Dates for 2027 entry

Registration for Stage One Test opens: June 2026
Registration for Stage One Test closes: early September 2026
Stage One test date for Tiffin School and Tiffin Girls’ School: October 2026
Local Authority form application deadline: end of October 2026
Stage Two test date: November 2026
National offer day: early March 2027

Useful links

Tiffin School:

Website

Year 7 Admissions page, where you can find the SIF

Tiffin Girls’ School:

Website

Year 7 Admissions page, where you can find the SIF

The Tiffin Stage One Test format

Tiffin School works in partnership with Quest Assessments to set its entrance tests, and Quest now writes the Stage One papers. The school says a bespoke test is created with Quest each year and that it changes annually, so timings and question types can vary from year to year. Tiffin Girls’ School has not announced any change to who writes its papers.

The Stage One test is in multiple-choice format. Pupils mark their answers on a separate answer sheet which is then marked by a computer.

The test is made up of two papers: maths and English. Each paper lasts about 50 minutes.

Mathematics

The test covers key aspects of the KS2 maths National Curriculum.

A rough guide to topics covered:

  • Arithmetic – operations, number properties, BIDMAS
  • Algebra, simple linear equations
  • Fractions, decimals and percentages
  • Measurements – unit conversions, area and volume
  • Graphs – Venn diagrams, line graphs, pie charts, pictograms
  • Statistics – mean, median, mode, range
  • Geometry – 2D shapes, angles, coordinates
  • Word questions

English

This test is divided into sections testing spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and comprehension.

For the comprehension exercises, children will be given passages to read then questions to answer based on the passage. These questions will test your child’s understanding of the passage, ability to make inferences, understanding of a writer’s style and tone, knowledge of literary devices, vocabulary knowledge and grammar.

The Tiffin test usually places lots of emphasis on vocabulary. It often contains questions which require children to have very advanced vocabulary knowledge and to have the ability to work out the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the context in which they are used.

IMPORTANT: The Tiffin test does not contain separate non-verbal reasoning and verbal reasoning papers or sections, like many other 11+ tests. However, non-verbal reasoning and verbal reasoning style questions can sometimes appear in the maths and English tests, so it is essential that your child practises these skills as well. Take a look in our shop for specialised verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning practice papers.

Tiffin Stage One Test top tips for your child

  • For maths, make sure you are familiar and confident with the KS2 Maths syllabus, as this is what the questions will be based on.
    – This is especially important for the Tiffin test, since this is a very challenging exam. You will need to apply your knowledge of KS2 Maths to unfamiliar situations.
  • For English, spend as much time reading as possible for the exam. This will help you get used to reading and understanding texts quickly, build up your vocabulary, and give you practice at working out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
  • Listen and read to any instructions carefully. Make sure you do not turn over any pages or start new sections before being told to do so.
  • Read the questions carefully! Just because the questions are multiple choice, it doesn’t mean they are easy.
    In the comprehension section, there is often more than one option which looks as though it could be correct – be careful not to fall for red herrings.
  • Pay attention to the time!
    – Read and listen to any instructions about timings carefully.
    – Move on if you are stuck. This is a challenging and time-pressured test, so it is important not to spend too long on one question. You should aim to answer every question, but don’t worry if you have to guess a couple.
  • Don’t leave any blanks! It is always worth filling in an answer even if you are unsure or have to make a guess.

How to prepare for the 2026 11+ Tiffin Stage One exam

The most useful way to prepare is to do practice papers to develop your English and maths skills and familiarise yourself with the style of the exam.

For expert practice papers updated to reflect the latest version of the Tiffin Stage One test, have a look at our resource recommendations below:

Stage One

Key Recommendations

Also available as smaller bundles:

Further Recommendations

Stage Two

Key Recommendations

Also available as smaller bundles:

Further Recommendations

Both Stages

Targeted Skills

Stage One

Key Recommendations

Also available as smaller bundles:

Further Recommendations

Stage Two

Key Recommendations

Also available as smaller bundles:

Further Recommendations

Both Stages

Targeted Skills

Mock Exams

To find out more about Examberry’s in-person Tiffin mock exams, please click here.

  • Mocks run from May to October.
  • At each session we will replicate real exam conditions as far as possible so that your child gets the best preparation before sitting exams for Tiffin.
  • Students are permitted to take the exam paper home with them after the mocks and parents are provided with comprehensive feedback, ranking and exam answers a few days after the exam.
  • All our papers are written by our in-house Oxbridge writing team.
  • Video explanations are provided for all maths questions to ensure your child fully understands each question.

Tuition

To find out more about Examberry’s in-person and online tuition courses for Tiffin 11+ preparation, please click here.

Creative Writing Tuition

Find out more about Examberry’s online creative writing tuition course for 11+ preparation: please click here.

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