All candidates are invited to the assessment day at Sevenoaks School in October.

All candidates sit four papers: English, Maths, Thinking Skills (humanities and linguistics) and Science. Applicants considering Higher Level Maths sit an additional maths extension paper. The paper is used for setting purposes and has little bearing on whether an applicant will be offered a place. However, we might advise some candidates that they need extra preparation before starting the HL Maths course, and occasionally we might advise a candidate that we do not consider them suitable for HL Maths. Candidates also participate in a 40-minute group discussion led by our teachers. For those candidates not testing at the school, the group discussion is held online.

We accommodate candidates who have been assessed as needing extra time, word processing or other provision. You can read more about the school’s learning support provision here.

Applicants who live in or attend a school in the UK are expected to attend the assessment day in Sevenoaks in mid-October, and all other candidates are encouraged to do so. However, we do usually hold assessment days in other locations such as Hong Kong and Mumbai, depending on demand. There is a charge for attending an international assessment day to help cover our expenses. Alternative arrangements can be made with the Sixth Form Registrar for candidates to test in their home country if necessary, usually at a British Council office.

Timetable for Sixth Form Entry in September 2025

DateEvent
1 August 2024Closing date to for 2025 applications
1 September 2024Deadline for submission of confirmation forms and candidate’s personal statement
19 October 2024Assessment Day at Sevenoaks
Mid October 2024International assessments
Late October – early November 2024Scholarship Assessments and references requested
1 December 2024
Results

Scholarships

Sevenoaks offers scholarships to honour and celebrate exceptional talent in academia, music, sports, drama and art.

Learn more

 

Past papers

A student who is doing well in their current school should not need much preparation for our entrance tests. One set of past papers is released to candidates for familiarisation purposes once you have submitted the confirmation form. We also provide some guidance from our Heads of Department on the topics that could come up in the exams.

We have been accepting students from a wide range of schooling systems for many years, so our Heads of Department try to write papers that are accessible to all and allow students to demonstrate how they think rather than simply what they have been taught. In the Thinking Skills paper, for instance, students answer open questions, using their own prior knowledge to illustrate their points; they are not expected to have covered any particular topics in history, geography or other humanities.

Results

Offers of places, including scholarships, are sent by email to all candidates on 1 December. Acceptance of all places must be confirmed by the payment of a deposit and the completion of a Form of Acceptance by the date in specified in our offer letter. Any candidate who decides not to accept their place should inform us of their decision as soon as possible so the place can be released to a reserved candidate.

Some candidates will be reserved. This means they have passed our tests and have demonstrated that they would be good Sevenoaks students, and we will be pleased to offer them a place if one becomes available later in the process. Parents are advised to keep in touch with the Assistant Director of Admissions, in this situation.

“Ultimately, we are looking for students who are bright, and eager to be involved in the wider, co-curricular life of the school, and – most importantly – who are kind.”

Lorna Dolan, Director of Admissions

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