About Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Belmont (Mill Hill) School uses the CEM 11+ entrance examination for Year 7 entry. The CEM assessment covers English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries may be available.
Belmont (Mill Hill) School offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. GCSE 9–7: 75%.
About Admission to Belmont (Mill Hill) Preparatory School
Belmont is a co‑educational independent preparatory day school for ages 7 to 13 in Mill Hill Village, north‑west London. It is part of the Mill Hill School Foundation (alongside Mill Hill senior school and Grimsdell pre‑prep), and most pupils move on to Mill Hill at 13. Entry is by the school’s own assessment and you apply directly to the school — there is no local‑authority Common Application Form and no National Offers Day.
The main entry point is 11+ (Year 7), with around 60–70 places, alongside entry at 7+. The 11+ is a two‑stage assessment: Stage 1 (November) is a computer‑based adaptive test — a CEM Select‑style assessment in English, Maths, verbal and non‑verbal reasoning plus a creative comprehension task; Stage 2 (January) involves references and an interview. Registration is online with a fee.
This guide explains the assessment, key steps and dates, progression to senior school and school life. Always confirm the latest details on the school’s official admissions pages before applying.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Belmont (Mill Hill) School Admissions Criteria
Belmont (Mill Hill) School uses the CEM 11+ entrance examination for Year 7 entry. The CEM assessment covers English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries may be available.
- ✓Register with Belmont (Mill Hill) School via the school's admissions office or website.
- ✓A reference is requested from the child's current school ahead of the assessment.
- ✓Sit the CEM 11+ entrance examination at the school: two written papers — English/Comprehension and Mathematics/Reasoning.
- ✓All questions are multiple-choice. Papers cover English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- ✓Attend an interview or informal assessment day at the school.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — selection is based on the overall entrance assessment and interview.
- ✓Offers typically made within 1–2 weeks of the assessment.
- ✓Academic, Music, Sport and other Scholarships may be available.
- ✓Means-tested Bursaries available for eligible families — contact the school's bursar.
- ✓Open Days held each term — book via the school website.
Belmont (Mill Hill) School Oversubscription Criteria
For 2026 Year 7 entry, Belmont (Mill Hill) School ranks applicants by performance in the CEM-style entrance assessment. The following selection priorities are typically applied:
- Children who meet the academic standard in Belmont (Mill Hill) School's entrance assessment (CEM-style)
- Children with siblings currently attending the school
- Children of former pupils (alumni connections)
- Children with strong references from current primary head
- Children of staff members (where applicable)
- Distance from school / catchment priority (some independents)
- Children ranked by performance in the assessment up to Belmont (Mill Hill) School's places available
- Tiebreak: interview performance, references, or other school-specific criteria
Key Dates & Deadlines — Belmont (Mill Hill) School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | Varies by school (typically open Sept/Oct of Year 5) |
| 📌 Registration closes | Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies) |
| 📌 CEM-style 11+ Entrance Test | January of Year 6 (Independent school entrance exam, CEM-style format) |
| 📌 Test results released | February of Year 6 |
| 📌 Offers issued by school | February-March (varies by school) |
How to Apply to Belmont (Mill Hill) School Directly
Step 1 — Attend an Open Day at Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Visit during Year 5 to meet staff, tour the school and assess fit. Independent school open days are usually in Sept-Nov.
Step 2 — Register your child with Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Complete the registration form on the school's website. Registration closes Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies). A registration fee usually applies.
Step 3 — Sit the school's entrance assessment
Belmont (Mill Hill) School's entrance exam (CEM-style format) is typically held in January of Year 6. Covers English, Mathematics, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning, plus interview.
Step 4 — Provide school references
Your child's current Head Teacher will be asked to submit a confidential reference. Strong references are particularly important for independent schools.
Step 5 — Attend an interview
Most independent schools interview shortlisted candidates. Interviews assess motivation, character and academic potential.
Step 6 — Receive your offer
Offers issued by Belmont (Mill Hill) School in February-March (varies by school). Compare with offers from any other independent schools applied to.
Step 7 — Accept your place and pay deposit
Accept your offer in writing and pay the acceptance deposit (typically £500-£2,000, deducted from first-term fees) by the school's deadline.
CEM Subjects Tested at Belmont (Mill Hill) School
CEM Practice Papers for Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Belmont (Mill Hill) School uses the CEM 11+ format. Our Practice Papers is a great way to practice for the exam — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Belmont (Mill Hill) School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance & Progression at Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Belmont is a preparatory school and does not enter pupils for GCSEs or A-Levels; instead it prepares them for senior school. The large majority of pupils (around 90%) progress to Mill Hill School at 13+, and at 11+ most are working above national expectations for Key Stage 2.
For destination and progression details, see the school’s own website.
Catchment Area for Belmont (Mill Hill) School
Belmont (Mill Hill) School is an independent school and does not operate a catchment area. Places are open to families from across Mill Hill and the surrounding North London area and beyond, and are allocated on the basis of the entrance assessment rather than where a family lives.
The school sits in extensive grounds on The Ridgeway in Mill Hill Village, with a Mill Hill Express bus service serving local areas; entry is by assessment rather than catchment.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Belmont is the preparatory school of the Mill Hill Education Group, educating pupils aged 7–13 with the values ‘Be kind, be brave, be you’ and a strong emphasis on happiness, wellbeing and personalised pastoral care through a mentoring and tutor programme.
The co-curriculum spans more than 90 activities, from climbing and fencing to drama and choir, and most pupils move on to Mill Hill School at 13+. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Belmont (Mill Hill) School
How do I apply to Belmont (Mill Hill) School for Year 7?
Applications to Belmont (Mill Hill) School are made directly to the school. Register on the school's website (registration closes Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies)), pay the registration fee, sit the entrance exam, and attend an interview if shortlisted.
Does Belmont (Mill Hill) School use the CEM 11+ test?
Belmont (Mill Hill) School uses a computer-based adaptive assessment for 11+ entry (a CEM Select-style test in English, Maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, plus a creative comprehension task) at Stage 1, followed by references and an interview at Stage 2. You apply directly to the school. Practice papers in the CEM-style format remain valuable preparation as the topic areas (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) are still tested in most formats.
What's the difference between CEM and GL Assessment?
Both test similar subjects (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) but differ in style: CEM was designed to be less coachable with broader vocabulary and varied question types per paper; GL Assessment has more structured, predictable papers per subject area. Belmont uses a CEM Select-style adaptive assessment, so practising varied reasoning, comprehension and timed questions is the best preparation.
How many Year 7 places does Belmont (Mill Hill) School have?
Belmont (Mill Hill) School admits a limited number of Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its admissions criteria to allocate places fairly.
When is the 11+ test for Belmont (Mill Hill) School?
For 2026 entry, Belmont (Mill Hill) School's 11+ entrance assessment is held in January of Year 6 (Independent school entrance exam, CEM-style format). Registration closes Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies).
What's the pass mark / qualifying score for Belmont (Mill Hill) School?
Belmont (Mill Hill) School sets its own qualifying mark each year based on the standardised score distribution of applicants. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) according to performance in the entrance assessment.
Is Belmont (Mill Hill) School a state school or fee-paying?
Belmont (Mill Hill) School is an independent fee-paying school. Registration fees, entrance exam fees, and tuition fees apply. Bursaries and scholarships are typically available for academically able pupils from lower-income families — check the school's website for details.
How can my child prepare for the Belmont (Mill Hill) School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete CEM-style 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question, and downloadable resources covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the test for best results.
Where can I find Belmont (Mill Hill) School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Belmont (Mill Hill) School 2026 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date admissions criteria, current test format, qualifying mark, supplementary forms, and any school-specific application requirements.