Registration for Magdalen College School 11+ closes in 25 days, on 31 October 2026. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| Location | Cowley Place, Oxford, OX4 1DZ |
|---|---|
| School Type | Independent day school for boys (co-educational Sixth Form) |
| Age Range | 7-18 years |
| Total Pupils | Approximately 957 students |
| Headmaster | Miss Helen Pike |
| Entry Points | 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Entrance examinations in Mathematics, English, and reasoning |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £10,036 (£8,363.33 + 20% VAT) per term |
| 11+ entrance exam | Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Creative Writing, English |
| Registration deadline | Saturday 31 October 2026 (September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | Saturday 16 January 2027 (September 2027 entry) |
| Offers | Thursday 4 February 2027 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Magdalen College School (MCS) tests Year 7 candidates for its 11+ entrance exam, usually sat in January of Year 6, across maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English, puzzles, creative comprehension, a separate Creative Writing paper and an interview. Academic Scholarships, All-Rounder Awards and Governors' Presentation Awards are assessed on this same test, so no separate application is needed for these. Registration closes earlier in that school year, with current dates set out in the key facts table on this page.
About Magdalen College School
MCS operates as a boys' school for ages 7 to 16, moving to co-education in the Sixth Form, with pupils able to draw on links to Oxford University during their schooling.
A bursary programme also sits alongside the academic scholarships and awards assessed through the 11+, so cost need not be a barrier.
The entrance exam
The 11+ entrance examination for Year 7 entry is administered by Quest Assessments, with maths and English questions developed in collaboration with MCS's own Head of Maths and Head of English; the Creative Writing paper is set by the school itself.
Most components are taken online, with the maths and reasoning papers adapting in difficulty as a candidate progresses, whilst English, puzzles and creative comprehension are delivered as fixed-format online papers. Creative Writing remains a traditional written paper, and an interview also forms part of the process, giving the school a broad view of a candidate's academic ability and character.
- Maths: 30 minutes, online adaptive
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: 10 minutes, online adaptive
- Verbal Reasoning: 10 minutes, online adaptive
- Creative Writing: 45 minutes, written paper
- English: 30 minutes, online non-adaptive
- Puzzles and Problem Solving: 15 minutes, online non-adaptive
- Creative Comprehension: 20 minutes, online non-adaptive
Registration and key dates
Registration for the MCS 11+ opens at a point the school publishes on its own admissions pages, and families should check there for the current window each year.
The deadline for registering usually falls in October of Year 6, ahead of the assessment itself, which is usually sat in January of Year 6; offers are usually issued in February of Year 6, a matter of weeks later. The key facts table on this page sets out the specific dates for the current admissions round.
- Registration opens: date published on the school's admissions pages
- Registration deadline: usually October of Year 6
- Assessment: usually sat in January of Year 6
- Offers: usually issued in February of Year 6
Current dates are in the key facts table at the top of this page, taken from the school's own admissions pages below, which remain the reference for each round.
Past papers and familiarisation
MCS publishes online familiarisation and taster questions through Quest Assessments, letting candidates see the format of the adaptive maths and reasoning papers before sitting the assessment itself, alongside an example Creative Writing paper published on the school's own website.
Families preparing for this format usually spend time getting comfortable with timed testing on a computer, since several components adapt in difficulty as a candidate answers, whilst practising short, timed writing tasks helps for the Creative Writing paper, which remains pen-and-paper.
Preparing with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the MCS 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 Oxfordshire 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
- What does the MCS 11+ exam involve?
- The MCS 11+ covers maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, puzzles and problem solving, creative comprehension and a separate Creative Writing paper, alongside an interview. Most papers are taken online, with maths and reasoning components adapting in difficulty as a candidate answers, whilst Creative Writing remains a traditional written paper marked by the school.
- When is registration for the 11+ required?
- Registration usually closes in October of Year 6, ahead of an assessment usually sat in January of Year 6, with offers following in February of Year 6. The date registration opens is published on the school's own admissions pages, and families should check there for the current timetable each year.
- Does the school publish past papers for the 11+?
- MCS offers online familiarisation and taster questions through Quest Assessments, giving candidates sight of the format of the adaptive maths and reasoning papers in advance, since past papers as such are not published. An example Creative Writing paper is also published on the school's website, giving families a sense of the standard and style expected for that component.
- How hard is the 11+ and how should a child prepare?
- The MCS 11+ combines adaptive online testing in maths and reasoning with fixed-format English, puzzles and creative comprehension papers, plus a separate Creative Writing paper and an interview, so preparation usually covers several different formats of question. Practising with the school's own familiarisation materials helps candidates get used to adaptive online testing before the assessment itself.
- What type of school is MCS?
- MCS is an independent day school for boys (co-educational Sixth Form).
Enquire about 11+ preparation
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Free 11+ familiarisation pack
English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with mark schemes.
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