Entry at Pre-test

Boys who are currently studying at a prep school that caters for pupils aged up to 13 years (and that prepares them for Common Entrance or PSB) usually apply to join us in Year 9. We refer to these entrance examinations as our ‘pre-tests’.

The deadline for registration for pre-test applicants is 31st October when boys are in Year 6 at their current prep school. Boys then come to MCS to take our pre-test entrance examinations in the January of their Year 6, along with the 11+ candidates. All pre-test and 11+ candidates sit the same papers at the same time.  If successful in the pre-tests, candidates are offered a place for Year 9, which is then conditional on their performance at Common Entrance (or PSB) or in our Academic Scholarships in Year 8.

Common Entrance papers are taken in the June preceding entry in September and candidates are expected to perform to a suitable standard, which for MCS generally means in the region of 70%. Alternatively, offer-holders may opt to come to MCS to sit our Academic Scholarships in the February before entry in September.

If you are interested in Year 9 entry, but your son is not at a UK prep school that continues to Year 8, please see our Entry at 13+ page.

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.

You can find information about our open events on our Open Events web page, and our Admissions dates document gives a full timeline for the year. A summary of the key dates for entry in September 2027 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 very 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 pre-test examinations

In our exams, we look carefully for potential, not simply current attainment and our 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, Maths and Verbal Reasoning. They are all paper-based and the same papers as the boys who are taking the 11+ entrance examinations for entry into Year 7:

• The English test lasts one hour and comprises two composition questions, one fiction and one non-fiction.  We look at spelling, punctuation and handwriting, as well as at applicants’ ability to write lucidly and effectively, with creativity and flair.
• The Maths paper is also an hour long and is based on the National Curriculum up to and including Year 5. Calculators are not permitted.
• The Verbal Reasoning test lasts 45 minutes and there will be an opportunity to work through sample questions before the test starts.

Applicants take their tests in small groups, and are looked after by their group leader and prefects throughout the tests. There are breaks between the papers, and an activities session after lunch where boys are encouraged to relax and have fun.

Sample Maths and English papers

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

• English
• Maths (without marking scheme)
• Maths (with marking scheme)

Interviews

Applicants are invited back for interview on the basis of their performance in the entry tests. We ask them to bring something with them that they would like to talk about, for example a souvenir, a small object or photo. The interviewer will also ask about hobbies and extra-curricular activities, as we are keen to hear about what the boys are really excited about and love doing.

They will then be given some time to look carefully at a short passage of text or a poem, and will then be asked to read it aloud and to answer questions about it. The discussion may cover matters such as style, tone, structure and the intention of the author. We are particularly interested in applicants’ ability to empathise with the texts, recognise subtle meanings and investigate linguistic connections and themes explored in the passages. Occasionally they may also be given a few short Maths questions.

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

At the beginning of February, we will let you know if your son has been offered a place for Year 9 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

We will keep in contact with pre-test offer-holders over the course of the following two years. At the beginning of Year 8, we will be in touch to ask whether your son will be confirming his place by taking the Common Entrance examinations (or PSB) or will opt to take our Academic Scholarship examinations.

• Academic Scholarship information (2025 entry)

Specimen papers are available here:

• English paper
• Maths paper
• General paper
• Science paper
• Languages paper

You can find more information about how to apply for Art, Music or Sports Scholarships on our Scholarships page.

Induction and joining MCS in September

Important joining information is sent out in May (when boys are in Year 8) 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.