Exam date: Friday 28 November 2025 — City of London School (CLS) 11+ entrance assessment for Year 7 (First Form) entry in September 2026.
This guide is based on the latest information from the official City of London School 11+ admissions page . Always double-check details on the school website before making decisions.
Who this article is for: Parents and students preparing for the City of London School 11+ Entrance Assessment 2025, especially those revising in the final few weeks before 28 November 2025.
Written by: Ms. Anika Patel, 11+ Preparation Teacher (Swikblog Research Team)
Quick Facts: City of London School 11+ (2026 Entry)
- School: City of London School (independent day school for boys, Queen Victoria Street, London)
- Entry point: 11+ (Year 7, called First Form at CLS)
- Exam date: Friday 28 November 2025
- Format: Online assessment (105 minutes) + creative writing task (30 minutes) on the same day
- Total time in school: Around 2.5 hours including short breaks
- Next step after the exam: Interviews and group activity in January 2026 for shortlisted candidates
Exam Format Overview – What Happens on 28 November 2025?
All candidates who have registered by the school’s deadline will sit two parts of the entrance assessment on Friday 28 November 2025 at City of London School:
- Part 1: Online assessment (105 minutes) — computer-based, with a mix of adaptive and non-adaptive sections.
- Part 2: Creative writing (30 minutes) — handwritten story based on an image and prompt.
Most questions in the online assessment are multiple choice, with a few short one-word or one-number answers. Pupils work on a school device under exam conditions with invigilation.
Part 1 – Online Assessment (105 Minutes): Sections & Timings
The online assessment is broken into six timed components:
| Section | Time | What is assessed? |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 minutes | Arithmetic and mathematical reasoning based on the National Curriculum — including word problems, multi-step questions and some chart/diagram interpretation. |
| English | 30 minutes | Reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar; pupils read a passage and answer questions that test understanding and language skills. |
| Non-verbal Reasoning (NVR) | 10 minutes | Spatial and visual reasoning — patterns, sequences, shapes and how they change. |
| Verbal Reasoning (VR) | 10 minutes | Using vocabulary, spotting relationships between words and making logical deductions. |
| Puzzles & Problem Solving | 15 minutes | Multi-step logical problems that require clear thinking and careful working out. |
| Creative Comprehension | 20 minutes | Analysing and combining information from several sources set in a particular context, then drawing conclusions from it. |
Adaptive vs non-adaptive: Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning are adaptive (questions adjust in difficulty depending on answers), while English, Puzzles & Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension are non-adaptive, so everyone sees the same questions in those sections.
Pupils will see a simple on-screen timer for each section, so practising with a clock at home can make the real assessment feel more familiar.
Part 2 – Creative Writing (30 Minutes)
In the second part of the assessment, candidates write a short story based on a prompt and an image. The piece is usually handwritten and must be written in clear paragraphs.
Markers typically look for:
- Creativity: An interesting, imaginative narrative with a clear sense of place and character.
- Vocabulary: Varied, precise words used for effect (but not memorised “show-off” phrases forced into the story).
- Accuracy: Secure spelling, punctuation and grammar so ideas are easy to follow.
The school itself advises that over-prepared phrases and memorised paragraphs are usually very obvious to exam markers and are not helpful. Instead, they encourage wide reading and genuine practice in descriptive, structured writing.
Key Topics to Revise in the Final Weeks
The City of London School 11+ assessment is built on the National Curriculum for this age group, so most of what your child needs is already being taught at school. In the last few weeks, the focus should be on consolidation, not brand-new content.
1. Mathematics
- Confident written and mental methods for the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
- Word problems involving money, time, fractions and percentages.
- Interpreting tables, charts and simple graphs.
- Working systematically through multi-step problems, showing clear working.
2. English (Online Assessment)
- Reading an unseen passage carefully and identifying key details, tone and main ideas.
- Answering literal and inferential questions (“Why do you think…?”).
- Spotting errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
- Understanding vocabulary in context (“What does this word most nearly mean here?”).
3. Verbal & Non-verbal Reasoning
- Practising standard VR question types (synonyms, antonyms, code sequences, letter/word patterns).
- Practising NVR patterns (rotations, reflections, odd-one-out, completing sequences).
- Focusing on accuracy first, speed second; careless errors cost marks.
4. Puzzles & Problem Solving
- Logic puzzles where information has to be combined carefully.
- Questions that require a plan: drawing diagrams, tables or lists.
- Multi-step problems where children must avoid rushing to the first answer they see.
5. Creative Comprehension & Creative Writing
- Reading two or more short pieces of information and comparing them.
- Drawing conclusions and justifying them using evidence from the text.
- Writing short descriptive pieces focusing on senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste).
- Planning a story quickly using a simple structure: beginning, problem, development, resolution.
Last-Minute 10–14 Day Revision Plan
Here is a simple structure you can adapt at home in the run-up to 28 November 2025:
- Daily (30–40 minutes): One short mixed practice session (Maths + English + Reasoning).
- Every other day: 10–15 minutes of timed reasoning practice (VR or NVR).
- Twice a week: One short creative writing task (15–20 minutes), focusing on description and paragraphs.
- Once a week: A “mini mock” — e.g. 45–60 minutes of mixed questions done under time.
- Final 2–3 days: Light review only, early nights, and confidence-building rather than heavy new material.
Tip: If your child is already attending tutoring or using online 11+ platforms, keep practice targeted — short, focused sessions are better than long, exhausting marathons.
Exam-Day Checklist for Parents & Students
On the morning of the assessment, you want calm, predictable routines. Use this simple checklist:
For Students
- Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing.
- Light, balanced breakfast (avoid too much sugar).
- Know where the toilets and exam rooms are once in school.
- Simple breathing technique for nerves (e.g. inhale for 4, exhale for 4).
- Reminder: one question at a time, don’t panic if a section feels hard.
For Parents
- Allow plenty of time to travel into the City so you are not rushed.
- Bring any required paperwork the school has asked for.
- Offer calm reassurance rather than last-minute testing.
- Have a quiet plan for after the exam (“We’ll get a hot chocolate and relax.”).
What Happens After 28 November 2025?
Once the online assessment and creative writing have been marked, City of London School reviews results alongside a confidential report from your child’s current school. Strong candidates are then invited to:
- Interviews and a group activity in January 2026 at CLS.
- Possible home visits for those being considered for transformational bursaries.
- Offers are typically sent out in February, with an acceptance deadline in March.
The school emphasises that there is no special coaching required for the interview. They simply want to get to know your child as a person, understand their interests, and see how they think and respond to questions.
How to Use Official Resources Safely
Because the exam format is bespoke to City of London School, the most reliable source of information is always the official CLS 11+ admissions page .
For extra practice, you can combine this with high-quality 11+ resources (sample papers, online platforms and reputable tuition providers), but always treat third-party content as practice only, not an exact replica of the real test.
For broader exam-preparation ideas, you can also browse Swikblog’s education and exam preparation articles and adapt the tips to your child’s needs.
