About Eltham College
Eltham College is a leading co-educational independent school in Mottingham, London, ranked #49 nationally (Times). Entry is via the school’s own bespoke 11+ assessment — written English and Maths plus computer-adaptive reasoning, and an interview. 90 pupils admitted to Year 7. GCSE 9-7: 88.5%, A-Level A*-B: 91.9%. Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sports Scholarships available. Means-tested Bursaries available.
Eltham College offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. GCSE 9–7: 88.5%.
About the Eltham College Entrance Assessment
Eltham College is a co-educational independent school in England that historically used the CEM 11+ entrance test (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, University of Durham) for Year 7 admission. Note that many schools have transitioned to GL Assessment or bespoke entrance tests since CEM 11+ was retired in 2022 — verify the current format on the school's website. The school admits approximately 90 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications are made directly to Eltham College (registration fee payable).
The CEM-style 11+ format traditionally consists of one or two papers covering English (comprehension, cloze passages, vocabulary), Mathematics (numerical reasoning, problem-solving), Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. CEM scores are age-standardised so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. The CEM-style is the established alternative reference format to GL Assessment.
For 2026 entry, the Eltham College entrance exam is held in January of Year 6, with results and offers issued in February-March (varies by school).
Eltham College is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (90 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Eltham College
Eltham College Admissions Criteria
Eltham College is a leading co-educational independent school in Mottingham, London, ranked #49 nationally (Times). Entry is via the school’s own bespoke 11+ assessment — written English and Maths plus computer-adaptive reasoning, and an interview. 90 pupils admitted to Year 7. GCSE 9-7: 88.5%, A-Level A*-B: 91.9%. Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sports Scholarships available. Means-tested Bursaries available.
- ✓Register with Eltham College 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.
Eltham College Oversubscription Criteria
For 2026 Year 7 entry, Eltham College ranks applicants by performance in the CEM-style entrance assessment. The following selection priorities are typically applied:
- Children who meet the academic standard in Eltham College'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 Eltham College's places available
- Tiebreak: interview performance, references, or other school-specific criteria
Key Dates & Deadlines — Eltham College 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 Eltham College Directly
Step 1 — Attend an Open Day at Eltham College
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 Eltham College
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
Eltham College'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 Eltham College 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 Eltham College
CEM Practice Papers for Eltham College
Eltham College 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 Eltham College 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 at Eltham College (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Eltham College is one of the leading independent day schools in south-east London and was rated Excellent in all areas at its most recent ISI inspection. It is consistently placed among the higher-ranked schools nationally in the Sunday Times Parent Power guide, with a strong proportion of GCSE entries at grades 9–7 and of A-Levels at A*–B, and most leavers progressing to Russell Group and other leading universities.
- GCSE: strong results across a broad curriculum including the sciences, languages (including Mandarin), computing and design technology.
- A-Level: a wide sixth-form offer; A-Level study requires a minimum of six GCSEs at grade 7 or higher.
- Progression: high rates of entry to competitive universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Eltham College
As an independent day school, Eltham College has no catchment area: pupils travel in from across south-east London, the London Borough of Bromley and the surrounding boroughs and north-west Kent. Places are awarded on the school's own entrance assessment and interview rather than by where a family lives.
External candidates for Year 7 sit written papers in English and Mathematics together with a computer-adaptive verbal and non-verbal reasoning assessment, and attend a one-to-one interview with a senior member of staff; offers are made in February. Registration is made online (with a non-refundable registration fee) and typically closes in mid-November of Year 6. Academic, music, sport, art and drama scholarships are offered at 11+, and means-tested bursaries are available — in a recent year the school assisted over 300 pupils. The school is fee-paying (around £7,900 per term in the Senior School).
Always confirm the current registration dates, fees, scholarship and bursary details on the school's website.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1842 and co-educational since 2020, Eltham College educates around 1,000 pupils aged 7–18 across its Junior and Senior Schools on a 70-acre site at Grove Park Road in Mottingham. Pupils who join in Year 7 progress through to the Sixth Form without further assessment, subject to meeting the GCSE entry standard. Its pastoral ethos is built on a ‘5Rs’ framework — Resilience, Respect, Relationships, Responsibility and Readiness — supported by a broad wellbeing programme.
The extensive grounds support a wide sporting programme including rugby, football, athletics, climbing and fencing, alongside a rich co-curricular offer spanning music, drama, coding, chess, debating and creative writing. For the full list of clubs, teams and ensembles, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Eltham College
How do I apply to Eltham College for Year 7?
Applications to Eltham College 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 Eltham College use the CEM 11+ test?
Eltham College historically used the CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) 11+ entrance test. Since CEM 11+ was retired in 2022, many schools have transitioned to GL Assessment or developed bespoke entrance tests. 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. Many former CEM schools now use GL Assessment after CEM 11+ was retired in 2022.
How many Year 7 places does Eltham College have?
Eltham College admits approximately 90 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly.
When is the 11+ test for Eltham College?
For 2026 entry, Eltham College'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 Eltham College?
Eltham College 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) up to 90 places.
Is Eltham College a state school or fee-paying?
Eltham College 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 Eltham College 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 Eltham College's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Eltham College 2026 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, current test format, qualifying mark, supplementary forms, and any school-specific application requirements.