Entry at 13+

The 13+ entrance examinations are for candidates who are looking at Year 9 entry and who are currently in Year 8 at a state school, or at an independent school that does not prepare candidates for Common Entrance or PSB.

The deadline for registration is 31st October when boys are in Year 8 at their current school and the tests are held at MCS in the January preceding entry in September.

If your son is currently at a prep school that continues to Year 8, he should apply to join us by taking our pre-test entrance examinations when he is in Year 6.  Please see our ‘Joining at Pre-test’ page for more information about this.

Starting the application process

If you haven’t already visited MCS, please do book to attend one of our open events in the months running up to the registration deadline. We would be delighted to welcome you and answer your questions about the application process and life at MCS.

Our Admissions dates document give a full timeline for the year. A summary of the key dates for entry in September 2025 is below:

Key dates

Registration

To register please complete the online registration form. You will be required to upload an electronic copy of your son’s birth certificate or passport and make an online payment of the registration fee (£180 (inclusive VAT) for UK applicants; £300 (inclusive VAT) for applicants living overseas). There is no need to register a long time in advance, but do please bear the 31st October deadline in mind.

In the weeks leading up to our tests, we will contact you to ask more information about your son’s hobbies and interests so we can start to build a more rounded picture of him. We will also ask for a reference from his current school at this stage. The registration form will ask you if your son has any medical conditions or specific learning difficulties that the school should be made aware of, so that access arrangements may be put in place if applicable.

Apply Online

Help with fees

The school is committed to offering places to those most able to benefit from an MCS education, irrespective of financial means. The registration form will give you an opportunity to indicate whether you require information about our means-tested Bursary scheme. Please be aware of the published November deadline should you wish to apply for financial support.

The 13+ entrance tests

When boys come to sit our entrance examinations, we pay careful attention to current attainment as well as potential. The entrance tests involve a combination of written papers and interviews for most candidates. We will also take the school reference into consideration as well as your son’s wider interests and any other relevant information.

Boys take tests in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. Papers are largely based on the Key Stage 3 curriculum. The English paper (1 hour 30 minutes) consists of an extended test in comprehension and a composition. The Maths paper is an hour long and the use of a calculator is permitted. The Verbal Reasoning test lasts 45 minutes and candidates will have an opportunity to work through sample questions before the test starts. There are breaks between the papers, and at lunchtime candidates are offered a choice of activities.

No special preparation is expected or required for the 13+ tests, but we would recommend familiarising your son with the format of our papers by looking at our sample English and Maths papers:

• 13+ Maths sample paper
• 13+ Mathematics sample paper (marking scheme)
• 13+ Sample English paper

Interviews

We will let you know by 5pm the following Friday whether we will be inviting your son back for an interview, on the basis of his performance in the entry tests.

During the interview, boys are asked to read and comment on a short passage and to bring in an object to talk about. Occasionally, the interviewer may also give a few short Maths questions. We will also ask about hobbies and extra-curricular activities and we are keen to hear about what our applicants are really excited about and love doing. The interview lasts about 30 minutes and we aim to make the boys feel as much at ease as possible so they enjoy the experience.

Results

We will let you know if your son has been offered a place at the beginning of February and you will need to confirm that you wish to accept the place by returning the correct forms and pay a deposit by the agreed acceptance date. The deposit is currently £1,500 for candidates living in the UK and will be adjusted for those who have been awarded a bursary. For candidates who live overseas, the deposit is £2,500.

Scholarships

Boys who have done particularly well in their entrance test or show particular promise will be considered for Academic Scholarships, All-Rounder Awards and Governors’ Presentation Awards.

Scholarships in Art, Music and Sport become available at 13+ and more information can be found on our Scholarships page.

Induction and joining MCS in September

Important joining information is sent out in May and we hold an induction morning in June for parents and new boys. There will be a further induction day in September just before the beginning of term to help boys settle in and start making new friends.

Fees

Please visit our Fees page for an overview of Senior School Tuition Fees at Magdalen College School.