Registration for Reading Blue Coat 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
| Location | Holme Park, Sonning, Berkshire |
|---|---|
| School Type | Co-educational independent day school |
| Age Range | 11-18 years |
| Student Numbers | Approximately 800 pupils |
| Founded | 1646 |
| Contact | 0118 944 1005 |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £8,700 (incl. VAT at 20%) per term |
| 11+ entrance exam | English, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, Non-Verbal Reasoning (Quest Assessments) |
| Registration deadline | Friday 30 October 2026 (September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | November to December 2026 (September 2027 entry) |
| Offers | Week commencing Monday 11 January 2027 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Reading Blue Coat School's 11+ entrance exam is the Year 7 admissions assessment, sat by candidates during the autumn term of Year 6. Set by Quest Assessments, it covers English, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and sits alongside an interview as part of the admissions process. Academic and Music Scholarship candidates take separate assessments during the same round.
About Reading Blue Coat School
Reading Blue Coat is a co-educational independent school in the village of Sonning, taking pupils from age 11 through to age 18. Around 800 pupils are on roll.
The entrance exam
The assessment is set and administered by Quest Assessments, an external testing provider used by Reading Blue Coat to assess candidates across four components. English is tested with fixed-difficulty multiple-choice questions, whilst Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning are adaptive, meaning the difficulty of later questions responds to a candidate's earlier answers. Alongside the written assessment, candidates attend an interview as part of the admissions process. Academic and Music Scholarship candidates sit separate assessments during the same admissions round, distinct from the standard Year 7 entry test.
- English: 30 minutes, multiple choice, fixed difficulty
- Verbal Reasoning: 10 minutes, adaptive difficulty
- Mathematics: 20 minutes, adaptive difficulty
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: 10 minutes, adaptive difficulty
Registration and key dates
Registration usually closes in October of Year 6, ahead of assessments sat across November and December of the same term. Offers are usually issued in January, in the weeks following the assessment period, with entry into Year 7 beginning the following September. The school publishes the date on which registration opens on its admissions pages; the key facts table above carries the current deadlines for registration, assessment and offers.
- Registration deadline: usually late October, Year 6
- Assessment sat: usually November to December, Year 6
- Offers issued: usually January, Year 6
- Entry into Year 7: usually September, following the offer round
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
Quest Assessments publishes an online familiarisation test for Reading Blue Coat candidates, showing example question styles alongside a walkthrough guide, recommended reading lists and a vocabulary list, which families typically work through ahead of the assessment. Pupil Premium-eligible candidates receive free access to Atom Home for further preparation. Beyond these published materials, families preparing for an adaptive, multiple-format assessment of this kind often focus on building familiarity with verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types alongside general reading, vocabulary and mental maths practice.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Academic Scholarships
Candidates who show strong academic achievement can be awarded an Academic Scholarship, worth up to 10% of school fees.
Specialist Scholarships
- Music Scholarships: for pupils with musical ability in instrumental or vocal performance
- Art Scholarships: for pupils with artistic ability
- Sport Scholarships: for pupils with sporting ability
Means-Tested Bursaries
Families needing support with fees can apply for a means-tested bursary, with awards able to cover up to 100% of tuition costs depending on circumstances.
Preparing with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Reading Blue Coat 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 Berkshire 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 Reading Blue Coat School 11+ exam involve?
- The assessment, set by Quest Assessments, covers English, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning. English uses fixed-difficulty multiple-choice questions, whilst the other three components are adaptive. Candidates also attend an interview as part of the wider admissions process, and separate assessments run for Academic and Music Scholarship applicants within the same intake.
- When does registration close and when are offers sent out?
- Registration usually closes in October of Year 6, with the assessment sat across November and December of the same term. Offers are usually issued in January, ahead of entry into Year 7 the following September. The school publishes exact dates on its admissions pages, reflected in the key facts table above.
- Are there past papers or familiarisation materials for the 11+?
- Quest Assessments provides an online familiarisation test showing example question styles, a walkthrough guide, recommended reading lists and a vocabulary list. Pupil Premium-eligible candidates get free access to Atom Home for additional preparation. These materials give families a sense of the format before the assessment itself.
- How hard is the 11+ and how should a child prepare?
- The school publishes its own guidance on preparation via the familiarisation materials and reading lists provided by Quest Assessments. Beyond these, families preparing for an adaptive assessment of this kind often build familiarity with verbal and non-verbal reasoning formats alongside general reading, vocabulary and mental maths practice ahead of the autumn assessment.
- What type of school is Reading Blue Coat?
- Reading Blue Coat is a co-educational independent day school.
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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