Eton entrane exam at age of 13

9 replies

mk1629 · 25/09/2018 22:12

Hi,
My DS has got conditional offer to join Eton in September 2020.
He was at state primary until Y6 and he's now going to a Grammar school.The Eton admissions team said he would need to take Eton Entrance Exam instead of CE as he is in state sector.Please can anyone suggest how the format of the exam would be and any suggestion for tutoring.

Thanks

OP posts:

AnotherNewt · 25/09/2018 22:19

As he has a conditional offer, just ask the school. Either the admissions office or (and better) the person who wrote to you with the offer.

With an offer, it ceases to be a competitive process and is meant more as a way to ensure that DC don't slack between offer and joining. So they do want everyine to pass and so should give reasonable info so boys can prepared adequately.

Michaelahpurple · 26/09/2018 07:52

I imagine that like most such it will be maths English and science, possibly with french which might only be for setting purposes.
But call admissions and ask them. They will be very helpful.

Original poster

mk1629 · 05/10/2018 14:37

Thanks for the suggestions.
Spoke to Admissions office and DS would be sitting tests on Maths,English & science and for languages they would get report from current school he's attending about his performance. They don't provide any sample papers but suggested to refer common entrance sample papers.
DS prepared to go through the CE papers at home and hopefully he gets through the exam.

Thanks

OP posts:

twinsmum2007 · 05/12/2018 13:32

We sound in a similar situation in that my son is at a state grammar school and due to start Eton Sept 2020. What lucky boy's they are! Thanks for sharing the info you found. When I spoke to Admissions they said that the Eton Test would follow the national curriculum so I'm hoping that a grammar school will keep them up to speed. They also suggested some basic tutoring (or book at home for self study) for Latin would be useful. Not for the exam (state school boys won't need to Latin in the entrance exam) but just to ensure they are not too far behind when they start. Let's keep sharing anything else we find out :).

underneaththeash · 05/12/2018 17:31

My son is sitting the entrance exam for Merchant Taylor from a state school and I've just been teaching him the syllabus from the science ISEB books and doing questions from that. Maths I've also gone through the same books to ensure he knows the areas and we have a tutor for the English as its his weakest subject (and my weakest subject too).
She suggested that most boys will have a few pre-prepared creative writing passages to make that section easier.

At MT they state school boys also have to do a verbal reasoning, but I'm not sure if that applies to Eton as well.

dapplegrey · 08/12/2018 18:52

What lucky boy's they are

They certainly are! Congratulations twins & op on your sons’ places. They’ll have a fabulous time and a great education.

goodwish · 19/02/2019 03:57

Congratulations to the parents and the boys who have offers from ETON , my DS will be going for stage 2 at ETON in few days time . I understand boys cannot be prepped for this, but any information on what to expect on the day , please could you kindly share any work or orientation that you think has helped your DS get through this please ?? Thank you

twinsmum2007 · 19/02/2019 13:33

Hi Goodwish. Congrats on your son for getting through to Stage 2 at Eton. My son, who was fortunate to receive a conditional offer, starting 2020, went through this stage a little while ago. We didn't prep him from an exam perspective (other than normal 11+ stuff he'd done previously) as were told this wouldn't be necessary - and I suspect this was accurate advice. For the interview my DS had the head of Admissions who was a lovely chap. Just an informal chat, no difficult questions. DS had practiced things like 'why do you want to come here' but didn't even get asked that sort of question. Just around his interests (eg, fave subjects, extra curricular) from what I can gather. There was nothing tricky, although I guess the approach my vary a bit depending who the interviewer is. What I can say is that my DS really enjoyed his day at Eton and came away from it even more keen to attend. I wish your son much success.

goodwish · 19/02/2019 16:55

Thanks twinsmum2007.Congratulations to your DS and you all .That is pretty much what we have done not much prep for the test either and no special prep for interview . I just wanted to give him a general overview of what kind of activities he may be a part of , on the day.I was told there will be a computer based test and wondered if your DS had to take it last year ? If he did what was it about please ?

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