Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding school, Year 7 to Sixth Form (ages 11 to 18); Lower School (Years 7-8) is day only |
|---|---|
| Location | Epsom, Surrey |
| Entry points | 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9), 16+ (Sixth Form) |
| Assessment | ISEB Common Pre-Test (English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning) plus a non-assessed Engagement Day; no interview at 11+ |
| Test provider | ISEB (ISEB Common Pre-Test) |
| Day fees (2026-27) | £10,078 per term (Lower School, Years 7-8, day only) |
| Boarding fees (2026-27) | Not applicable at Year 7 entry (Lower School is day only). Senior School (Years 9-13) from later entry points: Weekly Boarding £17,309 per term, Full Boarding £19,544 per term |
| Registration deadline | 31 October, Year 6 (application/registration form deadline) |
| Assessment date | ISEB Common Pre-Test: autumn term, Year 6. Engagement Day: January, Year 6 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Epsom College at 11+ follows a three-stage process: registering a child for a Year 7 place, sitting the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn term of Year 6, and attending a non-assessed Engagement Day where the school gets to know each candidate outside exam conditions. There is no formal interview at this entry point; offers are based on the combination of test scores, the Engagement Day and a reference from the child's current school.
Registration opens well ahead of the test window, and the college recommends visiting while a child is still in Year 5, either at an Open Morning, a College Tour or a private visit. Offers follow in Year 6, with acceptance and a deposit due shortly after.
How entry to Year 7 works
The college admits pupils at three points: 11+ into Year 7, 13+ into Year 9, and 16+ into the Sixth Form. Families considering Year 7 entry are encouraged to visit while their child is in Year 5, either at one of the twice-yearly Saturday Open Mornings, on a weekday College Tour, or through a private visit with senior staff that includes a house tour and a conversation with the Head. The Director of Admissions and the admissions team handle enquiries throughout.
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment centres on the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an online test covering English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, usually sat at the child's own primary or prep school; overseas candidates can sit it through the British Council or another approved centre. Epsom College does not hold a formal interview at this entry point. Instead, candidates attend an Engagement Day, a non-assessed session where children meet peers and teachers in a relaxed setting, with the school stating it looks for pupils whose interests extend beyond the curriculum.
Registering and the admissions timeline
The process runs in three stages, in order: application, assessment and engagement. Registering a child involves submitting the registration form by the published autumn deadline in Year 6, after which the ISEB Common Pre-Test is sat during the autumn term. The Engagement Day follows in the new year, and the school makes offers in February of Year 6, with families asked to accept and pay a deposit to secure the place shortly afterwards.
Scholarships available at 11+
The school awards scholarships at 11+ across four categories: Academic, Drama, Music and Sport. Academic awards are decided on the strength of the entrance test, the Engagement Day and the candidate's school reference, without a separate scholarship exam, since the school is mindful that Year 6 pupils already sit a number of assessments. Performing arts candidates can be offered a scholarship or a smaller exhibition award, while sports scholarships vary according to the strength of the cohort and come with access to a Talented and Gifted coaching programme. Scholars review their progress in writing twice yearly to retain the award.
Bursaries and financial support
The school offers means-tested bursaries to help with fees, supporting a number of pupils annually, more than half of whom receive at least three-quarters of their fees covered. Families interested in applying should read the school's bursary guidance and email the Chief Operating Officer to register before completing an online application through the bursary portal. The school also runs a Royal Medical Foundation scheme offering support to families where a parent is a registered medical professional.
Fees for Year 7 entry
Fees for Year 7 entry are charged termly and cover items such as stationery, books, food and snacks; extras including exam fees, music lessons, private tuition and some trips or activities are billed separately. Because the Lower School (Years 7 and 8) is day only, boarding fees do not apply until pupils move into the Senior School. A non-refundable registration fee applies when a family submits the application, and a deposit is due once a place is accepted, part of which is later credited against the first term's fees. Exact figures are published on the school's fees page.
How to prepare for the ISEB Common Pre-Test
Because the test is taken online and covers English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, familiarising a child with the format and pacing of on-screen questions tends to help more than last-minute cramming. Regular, calm practice with verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions builds the pattern recognition these sections reward, while steady work on age-appropriate English and maths keeps skills current. As the school weighs the Engagement Day and school reference alongside the test score, encouraging a child to talk naturally about their interests outside the classroom matters as much as exam technique.
Related guides
Preparing for the Epsom College 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Epsom College 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.
The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.
Families in Surrey and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Epsom College interview candidates for 11+ entry?
- No. The college does not hold a formal interview at 11+; instead, candidates attend a non-assessed Engagement Day where they meet peers and teachers in a relaxed setting, and the school uses the entrance test, the Engagement Day and a school reference to inform its decision.
- What test does the school use for Year 7 entry?
- Candidates sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an online assessment covering English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. It is usually taken at the child's own school, with overseas candidates able to sit it at the British Council or another approved testing centre.
- Are scholarships available at 11+?
- Yes. The school offers Academic, Drama, Music and Sport scholarships at 11+. Academic scholarships are awarded using the entrance test, Engagement Day and school reference, with no separate scholarship exam; performing arts and sport awards involve their own assessment process.
- Can families get help with fees?
- The school offers means-tested bursaries, with more than half of recipients receiving at least three-quarters of their fees covered. Families register interest by contacting the Chief Operating Officer and then complete an online bursary application; a separate scheme supports families of registered medical professionals through the Royal Medical Foundation.
- When does registration close for Year 7 entry?
- Families are asked to submit the registration form by an autumn deadline in Year 6, ahead of the ISEB Common Pre-Test later that term. The school publishes the exact date on its admissions pages.
- Is the Lower School day only or boarding?
- The Lower School, covering Years 7 and 8, is day only, so Year 7 entrants join as day pupils. Boarding becomes available once pupils move into the Senior School from Year 9, with weekly and full boarding options offered at that stage.
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