Skip to content

Year 7 11+ entry

How to prepare for City of London School

What the test asks for, where to start with the time you have, and a month-by-month plan to test day.

2 weeksto the exam · 27 Nov 2026

Now: final stretch

Keep sessions short and daily, revisit past mistakes rather than new topics, and do one dress-rehearsal paper at the time of day of the real test.

See City of London School papers →

What’s in the test

For 2027 entry

Online test · 105 minutes in all

  • Maths20 minutes

  • English30 minutes

  • Non-verbal reasoning10 minutes

  • Verbal reasoning10 minutes

  • Puzzles and problem solving15 minutes

  • Creative comprehension20 minutes

Written papers

  • English30 minutes

    Written answers, on paper

From the school's admissions information for 2027 entry.

Month by month

The whole plan runs from a year before the test. With less time, join it at your stage.

  1. FoundationMonths 12–9
  2. Skill-buildingMonths 8–5
  3. Exam-styleMonths 4–2
  4. Final stretchFinal 4 weeksYOU ARE HERE

  1. Months 12–9 before exam

    Foundation

    Fill curriculum gaps before moving to exam-style work. Consistency > intensity.

    • Daily 20-minute practice across all four subjects (rotate, not all at once)
    • Identify weak topics via a diagnostic and prioritise them
    • Build reading stamina — 20 minutes of fiction + 10 minutes of non-fiction daily
    • Learn core mental maths facts (times tables to 12, doubles, halves, %)

  2. Months 8–5

    Skill-building

    Move from learning topics to practising them under mild time pressure.

    • Introduce timed mini-tests (15 questions in 15 minutes) per subject weekly
    • Add vocabulary-building: aim for 10 new words per week with usage
    • Start verbal and non-verbal reasoning technique drills (one type per week)
    • Review mistakes — a wrong answer without a follow-up is a wasted question

  3. Months 4–2

    Exam-style

    Full papers under real test timing, in the school's format.

    • One full timed paper a week, then go through the marks together
    • Build exam resilience — do at least one sitting in exam-style conditions
    • Target weakest topic from the diagnostic each week

  4. Final 4 weeks

    Final stretch

    Your stage now

    Peak condition — maintain volume, reduce novelty, prioritise sleep.

    • Short daily sessions (25–30 min) — no marathons
    • Review mistakes notebook — revisit questions, don't re-do unrelated topics
    • Do a dress-rehearsal paper at the same time of day as the real exam
    • Sleep, hydration, breakfast — treat the final week like athletes treat taper

Want this school's practice in one place? See the City Boys 11+ preparation bundle.

Questions parents ask

When should we start preparing for City of London School?

Most families start a year to 18 months before the test: building skills first, then moving to full timed papers in the last few months. Starting later still works: begin at the stage that matches the time you have. The key dates page lists City of London School's admissions dates.

Can we prepare without a tutor?

Yes. Many children prepare at home with short daily practice, full papers under timed conditions and an honest weekly look at mistakes. Leap gives you the papers, marks them and suggests the next step.

Practise for City of London School

42 practice papers ready. Practise online or on paper, then see the next step.

Year 6: free practice papers for City of London School until 31 January.

Other years: the City Boys 11+ preparation bundle, paid once, no subscription.

Created by Leap. Leap is not affiliated with or endorsed by City of London School.

Get early accessSee the bundle