Registration for Abingdon Preparatory School 11+ closes in 24 days, on 30 October 2026. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| School type | Independent day school, boys, age 4 to 13 (preparatory school of the Abingdon Foundation) |
|---|---|
| Location | Frilford, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire |
| Entry points | Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Years 4 to 6 (as places allow), and Year 7 (11+), the school's main entry point, assessed jointly with Abingdon Senior School's First Year |
| Assessment | Joint Abingdon Foundation entrance assessment shared with Abingdon Senior School's First Year: computer-based English, maths and verbal/non-verbal reasoning, a handwritten descriptive writing paper, an interview for almost all candidates, and a reference from the child's current head |
| Test provider | School's own entrance papers set jointly with Abingdon Senior School (not GL Assessment, CEM or ISEB); computer-based English, maths and reasoning plus a handwritten descriptive writing paper |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £7,905 per term for Year 7 and Year 8 (2026/27); fees rise through the school, from £5,185 per term in Reception to £7,825 per term in Years 5 and 6 |
| Registration deadline | 30 October 2026 (registration for the January 2027 entrance assessments, Year 7/11+ entry) |
| Assessment date | 9 January 2027 (entrance assessments, Year 7/11+ entry); interviews week commencing 25 January 2027; results letters early February 2027; acceptance deadline 1 March 2027 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Abingdon Preparatory School at 11+ means sitting the Year 7 assessment that the Prep runs jointly with Abingdon Senior School's First Year admissions, since both belong to the same Abingdon Foundation. Candidates sit computer-based English, maths and reasoning papers alongside a handwritten descriptive writing paper in January of Year 6, and almost all are then interviewed before offers are confirmed.
Places at Year 7 are academically selective and go to boys judged likely to thrive on the course that follows, with a reference from the child's current head forming part of the picture alongside the written papers and interview. Families register in advance through the school's online system, and free or subsidised places are available for those who qualify on both merit and financial need.
How entry to Year 7 works
Boys can join the Prep at several points from Reception onwards, but Year 7 is treated as the school's dedicated 11+ entry point. New candidates for Year 7 go through the same assessment process used for entry to Abingdon Senior School's First Year, since the Prep and the senior school sit within one Foundation and do not run separate admissions rounds for this age group.
Once a boy has secured his Year 7 place and moved through Year 8, progression to the senior school's Third Year (Year 9) does not require a further entrance examination, which the school notes is a requirement only for candidates joining from other schools; offers instead depend on maintaining a satisfactory standard of achievement and behaviour.
How the 11+ assessment works
Assessments take place in January of Year 6 and combine computer-based and handwritten elements. The English paper is multiple choice on screen, covering comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar, alongside a handwritten descriptive writing task based on a choice of pictures. Maths covers National Curriculum topics together with more complex problem-solving puzzles, and reasoning includes both verbal and non-verbal questions, again delivered on computer.
Almost all candidates are interviewed, usually in person at the school on the assessment day, with video conferencing used for some international applicants; interviews focus on a candidate's interests and enjoyment of learning, without further testing. The school also asks for a confidential reference from the candidate's current headteacher, covering character, academic strengths and interests. Candidates unable to travel to the UK may sit assessments at an authorised overseas invigilation centre.
Registration and the admissions process, step by step
Families register online through the school's MyAbingdon system, creating an account or logging in if already registered, and pay a non-refundable registration fee. Registered candidates are then invited to sit the entrance assessment on a Saturday in January of Year 6, sitting the computer-based papers and the handwritten descriptive writing paper together.
Most candidates are interviewed shortly afterwards, and the school requests a reference from the child's current head as part of the same process. Results letters follow a few weeks after the assessment, and families are given a deadline by which to confirm acceptance and pay an acceptance fee to secure the place.
Scholarships and bursaries for Year 7 entry
Academic Awards are made automatically to boys who perform exceptionally well across the entrance assessments and interview, with no separate application needed since all candidates who attend the assessments are considered. These awards run for the two years of Lower School, after which award holders and non-award holders alike may apply for an academic scholarship at 13+.
Music Awards follow a different route: registered Year 7 candidates are invited to express interest in October of Year 6, and applicants are guided to play two instruments and have reached grade 5 to 6 standard in at least one, with an audition and interview exploring musicianship and potential with the Director of Music. An informal pre-audition is available beforehand.
Free and subsidised places, covering up to 100% of day fees, are awarded through a means-tested assessment of family income, assets and liabilities carried out by an external assessor. Priority goes to those who perform best in the entrance process, those likely to gain most from an Abingdon education, and local UK families, and awards are reviewed annually subject to good progress and behaviour.
Fees and what they cover
Fees are billed termly and are fully inclusive of lunch and most classroom, musical and sporting resources; individual music lessons, trips and minibus transport are charged separately. A non-refundable registration fee applies when registering, higher for families resident outside the UK, and an acceptance fee is payable to secure an offered place.
Optional insurance covers pupil absence and private medical costs, while personal accident cover applies automatically to all pupils; personal effects are not covered by the school's own insurance.
How to prepare for the assessment
Because the papers mix on-screen multiple choice with a handwritten task, it usually helps for a child to practise both formats: timed reasoning and maths questions delivered on a computer, and a handwritten descriptive writing piece produced under time pressure, since stamina and legibility matter as much as ideas.
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning tend to reward familiarity with question types over raw memorisation, so regular, varied practice is often more useful than last-minute cramming. Since the interview explores interests outside the classroom, it helps for a child to be able to talk naturally about what they enjoy and why, in a calm and unhurried way, without rehearsing fixed answers.
Related guides
Preparing for the Abingdon Preparatory School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
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Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the 11+ assessment at Abingdon Preparatory School involve?
- Candidates sit a combination of computer-based and handwritten papers: multiple-choice English covering comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar; verbal and non-verbal reasoning; maths aligned to the National Curriculum with problem-solving puzzles; and a handwritten descriptive writing paper based on a choice of pictures. Almost all candidates are also interviewed.
- Is there an interview for Year 7 (11+) entry?
- Yes. The school treats the interview as an important part of the process and almost all candidates are seen, usually in person, though video conferencing is used for some international applicants. Interviews explore a candidate's interests outside the classroom and what they enjoy about learning, without testing further academic content.
- Does Abingdon Preparatory School offer bursaries for Year 7 entry?
- Yes. Free and subsidised places can cover up to 100% of day fees, funded through a means-tested assessment of family income, assets and liabilities carried out by an external assessor. Priority goes to candidates who perform best in the entrance process, those likely to gain most from the education, and local UK families; around 7% of the roll receives financial help.
- When does registration close for Year 7 (11+) entry?
- Registration closes in the autumn before entry, with entrance assessments held in January of Year 6; the school publishes the exact registration deadline and assessment date on its admissions pages each cycle, alongside interview and results timings.
- Do boys who join in Year 7 need to sit another exam to move up to the senior school?
- The school states that progression from the Prep to Abingdon Senior School does not require a separate entrance examination, unlike applicants from other schools; offers depend on maintaining a satisfactory standard of achievement and behaviour, without sitting a further test.
- Is Abingdon Preparatory School for boys only?
- Yes, it is an independent day school for boys aged 4 to 13, based at Josca's House, Frilford, near Abingdon, and is the preparatory school of the Abingdon Foundation, feeding into Abingdon Senior School.
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