Entrance Examination
At Fidelis College, we take great care in ensuring that every pupil joining us is well prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Our 11+ Entrance Examination assesses core skills in Mathematics and English, helping us to identify each child’s potential and ensure they are placed in the most supportive learning environment.
Mathematics
The Fidelis College Mathematics Entrance Examination is designed to reflect the National Curriculum (Key Stage 2), testing both fundamental understanding and the ability to apply knowledge in problem-solving contexts.
To help your child feel confident and prepared, we recommend ensuring familiarity with the following key concepts:
- Number operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- Fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Time, area, and perimeter
- Prime numbers and factors
- Averages (mean, median, mode)
- Distance, speed, and time
- Graphs and charts
- Angles, reflection, and rotation
- Ratio, probability, and sequences
- Volume, nets of shapes, and 3D reasoning
While most questions align closely with the Key Stage 2 syllabus, some may extend into early algebra or logical reasoning to explore higher-order thinking.
English
Fidelis College’s English entrance exams are not used by other schools. The English exams are split equally between comprehension and extended writing. They give prospective students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of rigorous yet age-appropriate pieces of English-language fiction, then express themselves in a related non-fiction piece.
Teachers at Fidelis College have shared mark schemes for the papers, to ensure as much fairness as possible in marking.
Section A
Q1 is the simplest, asking, in a child’s own words, or in a quotation, what is happening in the story.
Q2 is harder, demanding two different quotations and explanations of what the quotations mean. The question may require inference.
Q3 demands the most, and is where children can show that they can take quotations and also recognise English language features and devices. The strongest students will be able refer specifically to the extract, use terminology and explain the effects of what they have found.
Section B
This section asks students to produce an opinionated piece of extended writing. They are given a statement as a stimulus, and can respond in agreement or disagreement.
The piece is marked according to the standard of students’ argument, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Teachers will mark higher the children that use technically accurate SPAG, offer a cogent line of reasoning, and use rhetorical techniques, such as rhetorical questions, emotive language, anecdote and careful repetition.
