NEW: 11+ Maths Skills packs are out now
Basket
Blog

Merchant Taylors’ School (MTS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Guide

Exam Information 4 min read
Table of contents
  1. About Merchant Taylors’ School
  2. Key admissions information for 2027 entry into Merchant Taylors’ School at 11 Plus (11+)
  3. Admissions information for 2027 entry to Merchant Taylors’ at 11 Plus (11+)
  4. How can I register my child for the 11 Plus (11+) exam at Merchant Taylors’?
  5. What is the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam format for Merchant Taylors’?
  6. How to prepare your child for the 11 Plus (11+) Merchant Taylors' School exam

About Merchant Taylors’ School

Merchant Taylors’ (MTS) is an independent day school for boys aged 11 to 18, located in a picturesque 280-acre campus just 30 minutes from central London. With a long history dating back to 1561, Merchant Taylors’ has a reputation as one of the best schools in England, known for providing an all-round education of the highest quality. [1]

In 2022, MTS achieved some impressive results with 95% of A Level results receiving grades A*-B and 92.8% of all GCSE results achieving grades 9-7. [2]

With deliberately small class sizes specifically designed to stimulate discussion, Merchant Taylors’ is amongst the best academic schools in the country. In 2022, 95% of all A-Level grades were A*-B and 98% of all GCSE grades were 9-6. Pupils are actively encouraged to think independently and engage in lively debates. [3]

MTS offers a wide range of clubs and societies to enable its pupils to develop a strong conscience and take an interest in the welfare of others. There are multiple charitable activities which students can get involved in, as well as a large range of extracurricular activities, such as choir, astrophysics, chess, robotics, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award, music, and drama clubs. [4]

Key admissions information for 2027 entry into Merchant Taylors’ School at 11 Plus (11+)

  • School type: independent school for boys
  • Registration deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026
  • Exam date: Saturday 28 November 2026 (access arrangements and reserve day: Monday 30 November 2026)
  • Bursary and scholarship deadline: end of September 2026
  • Interview date: January to February 2027
  • Offer letters sent: Friday 12 February 2027 (acceptance deadline 3 March 2027)
  • Contact details: 01923 845514, [email protected], www.mtsn.org.uk
  •  

Admissions information for 2027 entry to Merchant Taylors’ at 11 Plus (11+)

Merchant Taylors’ strongly recommended that prospective students and their parents attend one of their Open Mornings if they are applying to a place in Year 7. Please check the school’s website for details about when the next event will be. 

This will give you and your child the opportunity to familiarise yourselves with the facilities, meet the staff and ensure MTS is the right choice for you and your child. 

Entrance exams are held in November of Year 6 and consist of three 45-minute written papers – English, Maths and the MTS General Paper – plus a short online assessment of a 20-minute Maths test and a 10-minute Verbal Reasoning test. 

Successful candidates will then be invited for a one-to-one interview with a member of staff at the school in late January/early February. You will be notified of the outcome of this interview in mid-February. 

How can I register my child for the 11 Plus (11+) exam at Merchant Taylors’?

To register your child for the entrance exams at Merchant Taylors’, you will need to complete the school’s registration form and pay a £100 registration fee. You will also need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate and passport.

If you wish to apply for a bursary or scholarship (available in art, design, engineering & technology, drama, music, and sport) you must first be registered with the school and then complete the relevant Subject Scholarship or Bursary Application Forms by the end of September 2026. 

Once you have completed the registration process, the school will contact you in November 2026 to confirm your child’s participation in the exams and provide further details. They will also ask you for a reference from your child’s current school.

Further details on the admissions and registration process at MTS can be found on the school’s website.

What is the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam format for Merchant Taylors’?

The entrance exams for Merchant Taylors’ are taken in November when your child is in Year 6 and consist of three written papers, each lasting 45 minutes: 

  • English: (45 minutes) The first half is a reading comprehension & the second half is a creative writing task
  • Maths: (45 minutes) These questions are in line with the Key Stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum
  • MTS General Paper: (45 minutes) This will assess your son’s range of skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative expression. The General Paper is unique to Merchant Taylors’ and no specimen papers are published 

Alongside the written papers, candidates also sit a short online assessment: a 20-minute Maths test and a 10-minute Verbal Reasoning test. 

Candidates who successfully pass the entrance exams will then be invited for a one-to-one interview with a member of staff at the school in late January/early February. 

The interview will last approximately 25 minutes and assess your son in four main areas: communication, reasoning, intellectual curiosity, and extra-curricular commitment.

How to prepare your child for the 11 Plus (11+) Merchant Taylors' School exam

The most useful way to prepare for Merchant Taylors’ School’s 11+ entrance exam is to use practice tests to familiarise your child with the exam content and format.

These tests can help your child to build their confidence and improve their performance in the exam.

For Merchant Taylors’ School 11+ preparation, we recommend the following packs: 

Merchant Taylors' School 11+ Practice Tests

Key Recommendations

Further Recommendations

Targeted Skills

Key Recommendations

Further Recommendations

Targeted Skills

Mock Exams

Find out more about Examberry’s in-person independent schools mock exams: please click here.

Tuition

Find out more about Examberry’s in-person and online tuition courses for Merchant Taylors’ School 11+ preparation: please click here.

Creative Writing Course

Find out more about Examberry’s in-person creative writing tuition courses for 11+ preparation: please click here.

Free GL Assessment style Maths paper cover

Free GL Assessment style Maths paper

Get a full free Maths paper, written in the GL style by our in-house team, with answers included. We'll email it straight to you.

We'll also send occasional 11+ preparation tips. Unsubscribe whenever you like.

More to explore

Exam Information

Junior King’s School, Canterbury Year 3 (7+) Entry Guide

4 min read

 Exam Information

Woodbridge School Year 3 (7+) Entry Guide

3 min read

 Exam Information

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Guide

3 min read

Not sure which papers match your child's school?

Find your school's papers
0
    Your Basket
    Your basket is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping