Alleyn’s New 11+ English Exam Format

New Alleyn’s 11+ English Exam Format

In the intense world of top London day schools, Alleyn’s has long stood apart – not just for its academic reputation, but for its nurturing ethos. The school balances academic study with emotional wellbeing. This is something that isn’t always easy to achieve because with academic reputation often comes significant pressure. 

Alleyn’s previosuly had a long 11 Plus comprehension paper followed by a separate creative writing prompt. However, the new format of the school’s English paper has changed rather dramatically. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new!

First, the ISEB Common Pre-test does not form part of the exam process for Alleyn’s School. There are various scholarships on offer including: Drama, Art, Design and Technology, Music and Sports. 

Stage 1 (45 minutes)

The first test is written by the GL exam booard and involves Verbal, Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning (a multiple-choice format where written answers on paper are required). 

Stage 2 New English Exam Paper Format 

• Duration: 40 minutes
• Structure: The English paper is written by the school and now involves a creative writing question in response to a provided passage. Note, the open-ended written comprehension questions have been scrapped. It is recommended that children spend 10 minutes reading the text, leaving 30 minutes for planning, writing and reviewing work.
• What are examiners looking for? Students are evaluated on their comprehension (particulary inference skills) of a text extract, creative flair, structure, fluency and accuracy of writing.
• What this means: Candidates will need to have a good grasp of the text (likely to be challenging).

How best to prepare:

Don’t be fooled into thinking that reading comprehension is no longer important – it’s just become a more subtle part of the English curriculum. While exam techniques like writing PEE (Point, Evidence, Explain) paragraphs are longer be required, your child will still need to grasp a challenging text and truly absorb what they’ve read.

One common issue is that many children write responses that completely miss the point of the question, veering off on unrelated tangents. It’s easily done! To help your child build strong foundational skills, try the following strategies:

• Practice story writing regularly – This builds both confidence and an understanding of how to create narrative worlds.
• Encourage extensive reading – Books, graphic novels  and audiobooks all count. The more exposure, the better.
• Gradually introduce more complex fiction – Start with your child’s natural interests. For example, if they enjoy adventure stories, try classics like Treasure Island or modern fiction with ambitious vocabulary and complex sentence types.
• Use a variety of creative writing prompts –  Include formats like letter writing, diary entries, and descriptive scenes to flex their creative muscles!

Below is a sample 11+ English paper available on the Alleyn’s School website.  The paper has an extract from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Candidates are asked to continue the story in the same style.

11-english-sample-paper

Practice Papers

11+ English practice papers can be quite different from each other. Some can be harder than others and the types of questions can really vary. 

If your child is working with a tutor, they’ll know which papers are the best fit for your child’s level and progress. For example, I normally recommend starting off with a range of easier questions to build confidence and skills from the ground up. 

When using practice papers, don’t worry about timing at first. It’s crucial your child becomes confident with the questions before adding time pressure. However, also bear in mind, that its easy to put off timed practice, it rarely feels like there is a perfect time to start.

A Gradual Approach to Timed Papers

Judge accordingly so your child has plenty of time to practice timed papers. Start to build up practice gently so your child eventually takes full owernship of the time. This helps children to feel more confident and empowered. 

Use a range of past papers from different independent schools. This will help your child get used to the different types of creative writing questions they might face in the exam.

One popular question type is continuing a story, often used because it checks both your child’s understanding of a text and their ability to write creatively.Your child may also be asked to write a diary entry for one of the characters featured in the extract.

The key is to encourage your child gently to help them embed skills and confidence at their own pace.

Key Registration Dates for 2026 Entry

•  Monday 1 September 2025
• Alleyn’s Afternoon Taster: Friday 26 September 2025
• Closing Date: Friday 7 November 2025 at midday

A Holistic Approach to Education

One of the wonderful things about Alleyn’s is the school emphasises on developing the whole child, not just academic performance. The school values a balance between intellectual growth, emotional intelligence, creativity and empathy. 

These values help equip children for the 21st century by preparing them for jobs that don’t yet exist. As well as challenges that will be tackled in a world increasingly being shaped by fast-moving AI.

A Reputation for Strong Pastoral Care

Alleyn’s is well-known for its forward-thinking approach to pastoral care. The school have:

• Form tutors, heads of year and counsellors for wellbeing.
• Initiatives like mindfulness sessions for optimising mental health.
• An anti-bullying culture and inclusive community values.

During the often-stressful transition to secondary school, Alleyn’s School helps families to feel supported every step of the way. 

The New 11 Plus English Exam Format: What It Means 

Alleyn’s has restructured its 11+ English paper to reflect a more contemporary understanding of English and creative expression. The exam leans more towards assessing how children think, interpret and express. The examiners are not looking for regurgitated answers. Instead, there is an emphasis on how your child expresses their ideas. 

Students might be asked to read a passage and respond in a way that blends inference, analysis and creativity. 

It’s less “identify the simile” type questions and more, “what is the author really trying to say and how does it make you feel?” Or, ‘‘how can I continue the story in the same style?’’

This is not a test of grammar drills. It’s a test of voice, thoughtfulness and interpretation. In short: it’s challenging and more like the real grown-up world. 

Why The Exam Matters 

Many high-achieving children have been primed for exams. They know the format, they’ve rehearsed the questions and are fluent in the right answers.

The exam rewards emotional intelligence and nuanced thinking. However, these qualities don’t always develop neatly with academic performance at the ripe old age of 10!

This can be unsettling for parents whose children excel in school tests. It’s not that their child is underprepared; it’s that the assessment focus has shifted away from rehearsal answers towards more individual thinking. 

Preparation: Not a Boring Checklist but a Collaboration

If you’re looking for a formula such as, read this, write that, rehearse this sentence structure – it won’t cut it for Alleyn’s or indeed other similar schools. 

The best preparation now is developmental, not tactical. 

This has been my preferred approach to tutoring for many years now, so it’s invigorating to see it now formally recognised as part of the exam preparation process. 

Here Are a Few Ways to Help Your Child Succeed:

• Read: Not just children’s classics but books your child actually wants to read. Read opinion columns. Read comics. Read poetry. Listen to podcasts. Most importantly, start with what your child naturally enjoys. 
• Talk about ambiguity: Ask your child how a story or a film character might feel, or how a real situation at their school might be interpreted differently by people.This will help build their critical thinking skills. 
• Practice creative writing: Encourage writing that isn’t just descriptive but reflective. Instead of “the sky was grey” how about saying, “the sky hung heavily, as if it too was waiting for something to change.”

The One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Even within families, there can be big differences between siblings. One sibling may have breezed through a similar process a few years ago, while another, equally capable, may struggle. 

It’s not about ability, it’s about fit.

Some children think best in the quiet. They benefit from having more time to interpret and reflect. Some struggle to write creatively under timed conditions, this is normally because they haven’t had sufficient time to hone their skills and creative confidence. 

This exam rewards certain profiles: the quietly curious, the emotionally perceptive, the intuitive thinker. If your child isn’t naturally inclined that way, it doesn’t mean they aren’t suited to Alleyn’s but it means their route may be less direct.

You’re not failing them by recognising this. You’re helping them to prepare effectively to reduce any overwhelm. 

Questions Parents Ask

“Will my child be judged for their polished answers?”

Sometimes. Robotic coaching is probably fairly easy to spot. Admission teams are looking for children who are engaged and natural, rather than obviously trained.

“Should we mention the books they have read?”

No, unless specifically asked. Depth matters more than breadth. A single well-understood book enjoyed meaningfully will beat a list of literary references. It’s similar to when children say they’ve read hundreds of books for a summer reading challenge but struggle to say what they enjoyed. 

“What if they have a bad day?”

It happens to all of us. Remember, the interview and school reference are also considered important in the admissions process.

Emotional Readiness

I think one overlooked factor in this 11+ process is the opportunity to build children’s emotional resilience. I overlooked this when I first started tutoring children. The opportunity is massive and if done well it can help children’s long-tem wellbeing and development.

Competitive exams often feel like a high-stakes process.

Therefore children can benefit from building a growth mindset to help them manage the pressure they will experience in their 11 Plus journey and beyond!

The best gift you can give your child during this time is not just preparation, but perspective. It sounds obvious, I know. Simply reminding your child that you love them and you are proud of them no matter what happens matters more than anything. 

Try to find some ways to detach your aspirations from your child’s performance. This will help you and your child to feel calm and confident in the process.

What Else is New?

Starting in 2026, Alleyn’s will be expanding north of the river. That’s right – Alleyn’s Hampstead is on the horizon, joining Alleyn’s Regent’s Park, which is set to open in September 2025.

A Summary of Alleyn’s School 11+ English Exam

The English exam reflects not only how a child reads and writes, but how they view and experience the world. And in a sense, it reflects how a family engages with education. 

So yes, preparation is essential and beneficial for your child. Trust in your child’s long-term development rather than focusing on last-minute tactics. Lastly, know that you support your child to show up as their best self – not as an idealised version of an Alleyn’s student, whoever that might be in your mind. 

If Alleyn’s School is your dream school and the right place for your child – they won’t just get in, they’ll feel as though they belong, now that’s truly exciting. 

Free Sample 11+ English Papers

Are you looking for an experienced online English tutor for your child? One who will focus on creative self-expression, depth of skills and real confidence. If so, email clare@creativehare.co.uk to book your free, initial consultation – I’d love to hear from you!

Or use the website contact form to reach out to me.