Eltham College 11 Plus (11+) Exam Guide

About Eltham College

Eltham College is an independent day school in Mottingham, south east London. Year 7 is its main senior entry point, alongside 7+, 8+ and 16+.

All prospective candidates are encouraged to visit before registering. An offer is also subject to satisfactory references from the candidate’s current school.

Key information for 2027 entry to Eltham College at 11 Plus (11+)

• School type: independent day school
• Assessment: written papers in maths and English, a computer-adaptive verbal and non-verbal reasoning assessment, and a one-to-one interview
• Whole school open day: Saturday 19 September 2026
• Registration deadline: Monday 9 November 2026 at 4pm
• Registration fee: £234, including VAT
• Entrance exams: Tuesday 5 January or Wednesday 6 January 2027
• Scholarship assessments in music, sport, drama, chess and art: Thursday 21 January to Friday 29 January 2027
• Offer day: Friday 12 February 2027
• Acceptance deadline: midday on Wednesday 3 March 2027
• Contact details: eltham-college.org.uk

Admissions information for 2027 entry to Eltham College at 11 Plus (11+)

Candidates sit the entrance exam on one of the two January dates, not both. The school assigns the date, and if it clashes with another school’s exam you must email the admissions team by the registration deadline of 4pm on Monday 9 November 2026 to choose between them.

Eltham is explicit that requests after that deadline may not be accommodated and that no additional examination days will be offered. With most London independents examining in the same week, mapping your clashes before November is the practical task.

Scholarship assessments in music, sport, drama, chess and art run separately in late January, after the academic exam. On accepting a place, parents pay a deposit and sign the school’s standard terms.

How can I register my child for the 11 Plus (11+) exams at Eltham College?

1. Visit the school first if you can. Eltham encourages it, and the whole school open day is Saturday 19 September 2026.
2. Register online for Year 7 2027 entry by 4pm on Monday 9 November 2026, paying the £234 registration fee including VAT.
3. If you have a date clash with another school, email admissions before that same deadline to pick between 5 and 6 January.
4. Sit the entrance exam on Tuesday 5 or Wednesday 6 January 2027.
5. Attend a scholarship assessment between 21 and 29 January 2027 if you are applying for one.
6. Offers are made on Friday 12 February 2027 and must be accepted by midday on Wednesday 3 March 2027.

What is the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam format for Eltham College?

External Year 7 candidates sit three things on the assessment day, plus an interview:

• A written maths paper.
• A written English paper.
• A computer-adaptive verbal and non-verbal reasoning assessment.
• A one-to-one interview with a senior member of teaching staff.

The mix matters for preparation. The maths and English papers are handwritten, so working and presentation count, while the reasoning assessment is adaptive and computer-marked, so it gets harder as your child answers correctly and there is no benefit in dwelling on a single question. Eltham publishes sample papers on its admissions pages.

Eltham College 11 Plus (11+) top tips for your child

• Practise handwritten maths and English alongside on-screen reasoning. The assessment day uses both formats and they reward different habits.
• Download the school’s own sample papers before buying anything else.
• Map your January exam clashes before the November registration deadline, since that is the only window to choose your date.
• Prepare for a real one-to-one interview, unlike schools that use group activities instead.
• Work to time on adaptive reasoning practice. Adaptive tests reward steady accuracy across a wide range rather than depth in one topic.

How to prepare your child for the 11 Plus (11+) Eltham College exam

Preparation has two halves: written Key Stage 2 maths and English worked to time and marked for method, and adaptive multiple-choice reasoning practice covering both verbal and non-verbal question types. An early January exam means the autumn of Year 6 is the working window.

For Eltham College 11+ preparation, we recommend the following packs: