What are the Admission Requirements for Sevenoaks School?

To apply for Sevenoaks School at 11+, your child must be aged 11 on 1 September of the year they join, and you must register online by 21 September, one year before entry. Admission is then by an autumn pre-test in Year 6 (usually the ISEB online pre-test), a school reference, and for most candidates an assessment day in early January with English and Maths papers and a 40 minute group discussion. Year 7 places are for day students only, and the school admits around 80 children. 

Thinking about Sevenoaks School 11+ entry? This guide explains the admission requirements for Year 7: who can apply, the tests your child will sit, the key dates, the fees and how to get ready. 

Sevenoaks School 11+ admission requirements

Sevenoaks School is a well known independent school in Kent. Its entry at age 11 is called Year 7 entry. To be considered, a child needs to meet a few simple requirements.

• Be the right age: Your child must be aged 11 on 1 September of the year of entry.

• Register on time: The online application must be in by 21 September, one year before your child would start.

• Take the pre-test: This happens in the autumn of Year 6.

• Have a school reference: Sevenoaks needs a confidential reference from your child's current school.

• Sit the assessment day: Most candidates are invited to Sevenoaks in early January for Maths and English papers and a group discussion.

The school says its process is holistic. That means it looks at more than test scores. It also reads the school report, the reference and what you share about your child's wider interests.

Who can apply? Sevenoaks School Year 7 age and eligibility

Here is who can apply for 11+ entry.

Sevenoaks School 11+ admissions process, step-by- step

The process takes about a year from registration to results. Here it is in seven simple steps.

1. Visit the school

Sevenoaks holds open mornings and group visits. The next Open Morning listed is 19 June 2027. You can also meet the Admissions team after a visit.

2. Register online

Complete the online application form and pay the registration fee. You can register any time up to 21 September, the year before your child joins.

3. Confirm your place in the process

Between July and September, one year before entry, the school asks you to confirm. You share your child's co-curricular interests and any medical or learning support needs. Bursary requests are made at this stage too.

4. School reference

Sevenoaks must receive a confidential reference from your child's current school before it can offer a place.

5. Pre-test in autumn of Year 6

Your child takes the ISEB online pre-test if their school offers it. Other options may apply, as explained below.

6. Assessment day in early January

Most candidates are invited to Sevenoaks for written papers in Maths and English and a 40 minute group discussion.

7. Results and accepting a place

Offers are emailed in mid February. Families who accept confirm by early March and pay a deposit.

Sevenoaks School 11+ entrance exam: Pre-test, English, maths and group discussion

The Sevenoaks 11+ has two stages. Knowing both helps you plan your child's preparation.

Stage one: The autumn pre-test

In the autumn of Year 6, candidates take the ISEB online pre-test if their current school offers it. The school does not hold ISEB tests at Sevenoaks, so children take it at their own school or at another registered ISEB test centre.

If your child's school does not offer the ISEB, but your child has taken the Kent Test or another grammar school test, they may send that score instead, if they prefer. If neither applies, the school asks parents to contact the Registrar to talk about the options. At this stage, the school also looks at the school reference, the school report and the co-curricular information you provided. The school then invites the majority of candidates to stage two.

Stage two: The January assessment day

On the assessment day, candidates sit written papers in English and Maths and take part in a 40 minute group discussion led by Sevenoaks teachers. The school says it aims to make the day friendly and enjoyable.

Sevenoaks School 11+ Key Dates And Deadlines

Dates change each year, so here are both the current year and the next one. The first table shows the official timetable for Year 7 entry in September 2027, which is for children in Year 6 now.

Is your child in Year 5 now? Then you are looking at Year 7 entry in September 2028.

Sevenoaks School 11+ scholarships

Sevenoaks offers scholarships in academics and music at 11+. Academic scholarships are awarded based on performance in the entrance exams and the group discussion, plus the reference from your child's school. Music Scholarship candidates can apply at the confirmation stage, and the assessments take place in January of Year 6. The school also lists scholarships for art, drama and sport, so check its scholarships page for details on each one.

Missed the deadline? Waiting list and reserve list

Two different lists can matter, so let us keep them clear.

• Missed the registration deadline: The school says you can email the Registrar with your child's most recent school report and a few sentences about their interests. Your child's details are held on a waiting list for late testing if a place becomes available. Please do not fill in the online form until the school tells you to.

• Reserve list after testing: Some candidates are placed on the Reserve List. This means they did well and would be good Sevenoaks students. Places may become available in early March, after grammar school places are announced. The school treats reserved candidates as a pool, not a ranked list.

If your child is in Year 6 now, Year 7 2027 applications have closed, so the Registrar is the right person to email about your options.

How to prepare for the Sevenoaks School 11+ exam

The best preparation is steady, kind and clear. Here are six simple ideas.

1. Read widely and talk about books

The English paper tests reading and writing. Daily reading builds vocabulary, and chatting about stories builds clear thinking.

2. Make number skills automatic

Quick, secure times tables and mental maths leave more brain space for harder Maths questions.

3. Use the official past papers

Sevenoaks shares past English and Maths papers. Work through them to see the style and the level.

4. Practise timed work calmly

Short timed sections first, full papers later. Speed grows when confidence grows.

5. Practise talking in groups

The group discussion is about listening, sharing ideas and being kind to others. Family chats and small group clubs help.

6. Prepare for the pre-test too

The autumn pre-test is the first step, so do not save all your practice for January.

This is where our team can help. Our 11 plus tuition builds English and maths skills step by step, and our 11 plus mocks give your child calm practice with timed papers, so the real day feels familiar. In the summer before Year 6, our 11 plus intensive summer course helps children sharpen their skills just before the autumn pre-test.

Families in the West Midlands can also work with our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham to build strong foundations early. Please note that Sevenoaks uses its own entrance process, which is different from the Birmingham grammar school test, so we always match the plan to the school your child is aiming for.

Sevenoaks School 11+ past papers and practice papers

Past papers are one of the best ways to get ready. The school shares past English and Maths papers for Year 7 entry on its website, including papers from recent years, along with a Maths topic list and a sample Maths mark scheme. Start there, because those papers show you the real style of the questions.

Then add extra practice. Our 11+ free practice papers are a friendly place to start, and our 11+ past papers help your child practise in exam style. Use them for English and maths skills, and remember that the school's own papers are the best guide to the Sevenoaks style.

Final thoughts

The Sevenoaks School 11+ admission requirements are clear once you break them down. Your child needs to be the right age, you register by 21 September a year ahead, and your child takes the autumn pre-test, then for most candidates the January assessment day with English, Maths and a group discussion. The school also reads the school reference and report.

With steady practice, the whole thing can feel calm. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we are always here to help.