Highgate School 11+ Test & Preparation Guide
Highgate School’s 11+ entrance information highlights English and Mathematics entrance preparation, with the admissions policy also identifying Non-Verbal Reasoning as part of the written entry tests.
The safest preparation route is therefore English, Maths and NVR first, with advanced comprehension, SPAG and problem-solving work to stretch stronger candidates.
Confirmed 11+ Assessment Route
| Assessment area | What parents should prepare for |
|---|---|
| English | English entrance paper reflecting KS2 National Curriculum skills, supported by official sample papers. |
| Mathematics | Mathematics entrance paper, with official sample material and emphasis on problem solving rather than a narrow syllabus. |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | The school’s admissions policy identifies NVR as part of the written entry tests, so spatial and visual reasoning should be prepared. |
How Scholars Tutorial Covers the Required Preparation
The most useful preparation plan is to match Scholars Tutorial practice directly to the published assessment areas, rather than using a generic grammar-school 11+ plan.
| Required skill | Scholars Tutorial online categories | Printed paper support | Preparation emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| English comprehension and accuracy | 11+ English, 11+ SPAG, 11+ Advanced English, 11+ Advanced VOCAB | 11+ English Practice Papers, 11+ SPAG Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced English Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced VOCAB Practice Papers | Build close reading, inference, vocabulary, grammar and written accuracy. |
| Mathematics | 11+ Maths, 11+ Maths : Word Problems, 11+ Advanced Maths | 11+ Maths Practice Papers, 11+ Maths : Word Problems Practice Papers, 11+ Advanced Maths Practice Papers | Prioritise problem solving, explanation, arithmetic confidence and non-routine questions. |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | 11+ NVR, 11+ GL CEM ISEB FSCE | 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Papers, 11+ Mixed Practice Papers | Prepare for visual reasoning, sequences, rotations, analogies and pattern recognition. |
Suggested Scholars Tutorial Preparation Route
1. Use official sample-paper style alongside Scholars Tutorial
Begin with 11+ English and 11+ Maths, then use sample-style timed practice to identify gaps.
2. Increase problem-solving depth
Use 11+ Maths : Word Problems and 11+ Advanced Maths so the pupil is not limited to routine KS2 questions.
3. Add NVR practice
Use 11+ NVR consistently enough for the child to recognise common spatial and pattern rules quickly.
4. Strengthen English precision
Use 11+ SPAG, 11+ Advanced English and 11+ Advanced VOCAB to raise comprehension quality and accuracy.
What Not to Over-Prepare
FAQ
Should NVR be included?
Yes. Highgate’s admissions policy identifies Non-Verbal Reasoning in the written entry tests, so 11+ NVR should be part of the plan.
Should pupils use Advanced Maths?
Yes for stretch preparation. The Maths paper is not just about memorising a syllabus; stronger pupils should practise multi-step and non-routine questions.
How to Use This Guide
Use this page as a preparation guide, then check the school’s latest official admissions page before applying. Independent schools can change assessment providers, paper lengths, shortlist rules and interview arrangements. This guide deliberately avoids fixed calendar dates and wider admissions-policy detail so that parents can focus on the test preparation that matters.