11+ Entrance Assessment FAQs

The majority of the assessment is online, compatible with any modern device (e.g. computer, laptop or tablet). Computers will be provided by Dauntsey’s, on the assessment day. It will cover the following subject components:

Written

● Creative writing exercise - 30 minutes

Online

● English comprehension and SPaG exercise - 20 minutes

● Maths - 30 minutes

● Verbal Reasoning - 10 minutes

● Puzzles and Problem Solving - 15 minutes

The assessment will be 105 minutes long altogether (1 hour 45 minutes) - see the previous section for a breakdown. During the online assessment, candidates will see a clock on their screen that will count down in minutes showing them how long they have left for each section. It will be visible but not so large as to distract them from their work. Breaks will be given between tasks.

For the online assessment, the majority of questions will be multiple choice with some questions requiring a student to type one word or number.

Adaptive (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning): this means questions will get harder or easier as a child moves through the assessment to ensure they are the right level for each individual. Students won’t be able to skip or go back and change their answers to questions; therefore it is important that the children check their answers before moving onto the next question. Adaptive assessment is a tried and tested method that yields reliable results.

Non-Adaptive (Puzzles and Problem Solving): this means all candidates will see exactly the same questions, have the ability to move backwards and forwards, and be able to change their answers. Students will be permitted blank scrap paper and pencil in all subjects for any working out.

Candidates may be granted extra time (and/or access arrangements) based on the findings of an EP report already submitted to Dauntsey’s (more information to follow in November). Additional time will automatically be added to the timer visible on their screen for each section of their assessment.

We recommend viewing the short familiarisation exercise to get a feel for the online format of the assessment: https://app.atomlearning.com/taster/dauntseys

A sample of the written paper can be found here.

Written Paper - Creative Writing exercise

Candidates will be asked to write a short creative piece, linked to the photograph that they will be shown. They will be given a choice of writing a story or a description. Their answers will be assessed on the quality of expression and imagination, as well as fluency and technical accuracy.

Maths and English Online Assessment

The Maths and English sections are adaptive. Content is based on the KS2 National Curriculum, but with opportunities to appropriately stretch and challenge through the style and depth of the questions asked. The 11+ assessments will be based on the National Curriculum up to the end of Year 5. This is to ensure that all content has been covered.

The English component will consist of a comprehension analysis section and SPaG section (spelling, punctuation and grammar). Your child will see a piece of text and be asked to answer questions about it. Candidates should not be thrown by vocabulary they do not know as one of the things we are assessing is the ability to infer meaning from context.

Verbal reasoning assesses your child's ability to reason and solve problems with written information. This section is adaptive and will cover:

● Advanced vocabulary and use of language

● Pattern spotting and making connections in order to identify rules

● Thinking critically and using logic to make high-level deductions

Puzzles and Problem Solving: this tests your child's ability to use words and numbers to solve multi-step problems. They will be provided with interactive resources to aid them during their problem-solving. This section is non-adaptive.

Your child could sit the assessments in their current school, and we will ask for a contact at the school with whom we will liaise to set this up.

We recommend that all candidates look at the familiarisation exercise provided. Beyond that, our assessments will test knowledge based on the National Curriculum and candidates will need to know how to read an extended comprehension passage to answer questions on it. These are all skills that your child will be developing in school, so they will not need any special tuition or intensive practice. Instead, they are encouraged to read widely.

The new assessment is not only designed to be fun but crucially will measure children's genuine intellectual curiosity, passion and enjoyment for learning. The new assessment aims to go beyond testing cognitive ability by seeking to discover a child’s potential in creative thinking, analysis, and problem-solving. We believe this is a fair and holistic assessment process that engages a wide range of learners.