10+ entrance for secondary education Sep 2025

[Parent2024]

Hello
wanted to get a thread going for entrance in secondary school for 10+ in Sep 2025. Key questions to know more about include : preparation, mock tests and reading habits, past successful preparation etc.… happy to include other topics. Target schools - Whitgift, Trinity, City Of London and Emanuel.

That’s great to hear. 😊 Did you request to move your interview? As I thought all interviews were on Saturday unless you requested to move it. Did they give you son any tests/ puzzles on the spot?

Whitgift was last Saturday, and was really good! No puzzles etc. W wasn’t really a contender for us and after we were interviewed and discussed our concerns, left feeling really positive.

We had our sports scholarship assessment yesterday. DS was sick as a dog but what can you do!

My response was for the Emanuel query :), we had Emanuel today. Whitgift was last Saturday for us. Went ok. I am very unclear about how they use the interview to further shortlist, gauging how our interaction went on Saturday.

Same - not really sure either…. A teacher at Trinity told me they want to see if there is anything glaringly not ok like a racist, arrogance etc from kids or parents, though not sure how true that is 🤷🏽‍♀️ I think for Trinity they give the children further tasks to whittle them down even more and mark how they perform. Which makes sense from a selection perspective. But yeah whitgift was just a chat…

That's interesting feedback regarding T. In the interview notification for this Saturday, ours just says that the duration of the interview will be 15 minutes. Doesnt mention any other interaction per se, so maybe the feedback is for 11+?

A few of the mums at our school had the same email as me. I think it’s a blanket email and the term they used after saying it will be a 15 minute interview was, “it will cover a range of topics” so I just assumed that meant tasks. And maybe the teacher was referring to 11+ interviews not 10+ who knows. I’ll ask her.

She did the 11+ interviews. So hopefully they won’t make them do any tasks for 10+ 🤞🏽

my info is two years out of date but for my older son it was I think a few mental maths questions, a short english passage to read with some oral comprehension type questions and then a few questions about their interests and hobbies. From his friends, there are very chatty boys and quieter boys so I think just do their best and see how it goes. I explained it to my son that it's like speaking to one of the more senior teachers at school and the important thing is to have a few things that you can talk about, so if you get asked what is your favourite book, having a reason for your choice. They seemed to look to find ways to connect and my son came out very happy and cheerful after his so I am hoping for the same this time!

@FreeButtonBee this is really helpful, thank you. Was this for the 10+ or 11+?

@Parent2024 we want to apply next year !!! for 10+

Interview over! Yay!!! 🥳 well done to all the boys 🙌🏽 I would never have got this far 😂 DS was given 2 maths puzzles and a science question, our friends son got given 2 maths and an art question. Roll on the 13th February 🕰️

Were any of the other boys here given 3 maths puzzles in the interview? Speaking to others most only did two and then an arts or science one too. My son was given three...wondering if some are given more based on exam weaknesses? Mind is doing overtime at the moment. Roll on 14th Feb!

I know of another child who got 3 maths questions. But this child is particularly strong in maths. So who knows!

Likewise, mine was given 3 maths questions and I would say that maths is easily his strongest subject. Will see how it goes, I guess.

That fills me with a little more confidence! My DS is also strong in Maths, but I wondered if he had maybe had an off day with the exams.
Does anyone know whether everyone is expected to receive news of outcomes on the same day? Is it definitely 14th? Thanks!

I think the head said, email on the 13th, by post on the 14th but don’t quote me!

Would any of you share how your DS got on with the three questions please? Mine was given 3 maths questions but only finished two. Maths is his strongest subject. I know it’s based on more than just the questions at interview but I’m wondering if other children completed their questions… trying to guess how he got on!

Oh, were the boys given a time limit on the maths puzzles then??

I think it was all within their interview slot. Guess I’ll find out soon enough!

Not long now! Argh 🙈
Just out of interest, who did your boys have interview them? We had Mr Hammond, believe he is a Maths teacher. I read somewhere in another thread that those considered for scholarships tend to be interviewed by senior management. Some of DS friends were interviewed by Mr Price. Not sure how true this is?? Does anyone know if there is any link between when the interviews take place/who interviews and the consideration of a place or scholorship at all?

DS was interviewed by Spanish teacher with 2 Maths questions and one science(Physics). He answered the science one wrong and was a bit scared, unfortunately.

Opposite to the interview at W., he really enjoyed talking to the Art teacher, who went to T. and also taught there before moving to W.

Who knows. We shall see next week when the result comes through. Finger crossed!

@Tolibot25 if your child was considered for an academic scholarship he would have been called in the week after they took the exam certainly before Christmas. That’s when scholarship interviews took place.

@MumOfLL my son was interviewed by him too! My son also got the question wrong. He told my son it was a trick question. I think he asked it to see if they could provide a rationale for their answer. Son said he was funny and kind. IDK! Not long now!

Oh I see, that soon! Thanks @Doorframe2024 thats good to know! I know friends that were called in that early but they are going for sports/drama scholorships. Didn't realise the academic ones would be considered so early on! I was hoping the interviews would play a part too.

The Science question was a bit of a surprise! DS had a Physics one too, gravity related apparently.

@Tolibot25 sports and drama scholarships took place on the 20th and 23rd Jan. If they were called in earlier than dates they posted on key dates it would have been to be considered for an academic scholarship. That’s what I’ve gathered. But who really knows.