Preparing for The Perse School 11+ in the 2026/27 cycle?
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The Perse School Cambridge 11+ is a highly competitive entrance process for around 70 Year 7 places at The Perse School's Upper School. The assessment uses a 70-minute computer-based test delivered by Quest — covering Maths, English, Non-verbal Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning — alongside a 40-minute handwritten creative writing task, a group activity, and a short informal interview. Registration for the 2026/27 admissions cycle closes at 12 noon on 1 December 2026, the assessments take place on Saturday 16 January 2027, and assessment outcomes are communicated in early February 2027. The Upper School's fees for 2026/27 are £9,482 per term, including VAT where applicable, with optional lunch at £368 per term. This guide covers everything families in Cambridge city and the surrounding villages need to know before starting preparation.
Checked October 2026
The Perse School's own admissions pages give Upper School fees for 2026/27 of £9,482 per term, VAT included where applicable, with optional lunch at £368 per term. Registration for September 2027 entry closes at 12 noon on 1 December 2026, and the assessments are on Saturday 16 January 2027.
The Perse School is a co-educational day school for children aged 3-18, and its Upper School is at Hills Road, Cambridge (CB2 8QF). The Upper School takes children aged 11–18. The school says its students consistently produce many of the best GCSE and A level results in the country.
The school's results are published on its website. In 2026, 95% of GCSE grades were in the 9–7 range — broadly equivalent to the old A*-A grades — while 77% of A-Level grades were A* or A. Among The Perse's 2026 leavers, 21 went to Oxford and 9 to Cambridge University.
The school has around 70 Year 7 places, and all candidates registered by the deadline are invited to sit its entrance assessments. Understanding the specific assessment format is a useful first step, and the school says no formal preparation is expected for Part 1 beyond viewing its familiarisation materials.
The assessment for 2026/27 entry runs in two parts, both on the same day in January. Understanding the structure in detail — not just the subjects covered — is one of the most important steps families can take early in the process.
Part 1: Computer-based assessment (70 minutes total), delivered by Quest. This section comprises four timed components. The Maths component lasts 20 minutes and uses an adaptive format: question difficulty adjusts based on your child's responses, and candidates cannot skip or revisit questions once answered. The English component lasts 30 minutes and is non-adaptive — questions follow a fixed sequence covering reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar, and candidates can move back and forth. Non-verbal Reasoning runs for 10 minutes and uses an adaptive format focused on spatial and visual reasoning. Verbal Reasoning also lasts 10 minutes, testing vocabulary and logical deduction, in an adaptive format.
The school's assessment page links familiarisation materials for the Quest test and recommends reviewing the familiarisation exercise to get a feel for the format and style; it notes that the sample questions are illustrative and not indicative of actual content, and that no formal preparation is expected beyond viewing them. No calculators, rulers or additional equipment are required — all materials including pens and pencils are provided on the day. All questions are primarily multiple choice; a small number may require a typed word or number but no extended typing is involved.
Part 2: Handwritten creative writing (40 minutes). Candidates respond to a written prompt or an image by writing a short story. They have full creative freedom to choose any genre, style or narrative perspective. The story must use paragraphs and is assessed on creativity (imaginative, engaging and descriptive writing), vocabulary (varied and effective language and literary techniques), and accuracy (spelling and punctuation used correctly and with confidence). The school notes that pre-prepared phrases, imagery or memorised content are often easily identifiable and rarely enhance the quality of the writing.
The entrance assessments also include a group activity and a short informal interview with a Perse teacher. The interview is informal: the teacher talks with the child about their interests and passions. The school also says a child's ability to engage with the extra-curricular life of the school and support its values are important factors in the selection process.
| Component | Part | Duration | Format | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | Part 1 (Quest) | 20 min | Adaptive | Arithmetic and mathematical reasoning |
| English | Part 1 (Quest) | 30 min | Non-adaptive | Reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar |
| Non-verbal Reasoning | Part 1 (Quest) | 10 min | Adaptive | Spatial and visual reasoning |
| Verbal Reasoning | Part 1 (Quest) | 10 min | Adaptive | Vocabulary and logical deduction |
| Creative Writing | Part 2 | 40 min | Handwritten | Creativity, vocabulary, accuracy |
| Group Activity | Additional | — | Group | — |
| Interview | Additional | Short, informal | With a Perse teacher | Their interests and passions |
Source: The Perse School's own Assessment page (perse.co.uk/admissions/upper/assessment/), retrieved 3 October 2026.
For September 2027 entry — the 2026/27 admissions cycle — the timeline is as follows. The school holds two open events each year, in the autumn and the summer, and the Upper School Autumn Open Event took place on Saturday 26 September 2026. Families considering Year 7 entry in September 2027 can arrange a visit through the school's Book a Tour page, and admissions@perse.co.uk answers questions about admissions and open events.
Registration forms must be submitted by 12 noon on 1 December 2026, the school's 1 December deadline in the year before entry. At registration, families upload the photo page of their child's passport, a brief outline of the child's hobbies and interests (maximum 500 words) and a copy of their latest school report (the end of Year 5 report for 11+ candidates), and pay the £240 registration fee, which is non-refundable whether or not the child attends the entrance tests. All registered candidates are then invited to sit the assessments on Saturday 16 January 2027. Assessment outcomes are communicated in early February 2027, with an acceptance deadline in early March 2027. The securing and induction fee of £840 is payable when an offer of a place is accepted and is non-refundable.
All assessments must be attended in person at The Perse School. No remote or overseas assessment is available. Children with special educational needs or disabilities should declare these at registration so that appropriate access arrangements can be put in place ahead of exam day.
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Preparing well for The Perse School 11+ requires a different approach to each assessment component. The Quest Maths, Non-verbal Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning sections are adaptive: they adjust in difficulty based on responses, and candidates cannot skip or revisit questions. This makes broad, flexible understanding more valuable than drilling a narrow set of practice questions.
Mathematics. The Maths section focuses on arithmetic and mathematical reasoning, delivered through Quest's adaptive format. Because the section is adaptive, the difficulty of the questions adjusts to the child's responses. The ideal preparation builds strong fluency first — so that mental calculations are fast and reliable — then applies that fluency to multi-step reasoning problems under timed conditions.
English (Part 1 — Quest). The non-adaptive English module in Quest covers reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Children can review and revise answers within this section, which rewards those who have developed systematic proofreading habits. Regular reading across a wide variety of genres remains the single most effective preparation: it builds vocabulary, analytical thinking and an intuitive grasp of grammar that no worksheet programme can replicate in isolation.
Non-verbal Reasoning. This adaptive section tests spatial and visual reasoning . Children who are otherwise academically strong but unfamiliar with the format can use the school's familiarisation exercise to get a feel for the question style before the day.
Verbal Reasoning. The Verbal Reasoning component tests vocabulary usage and logical deduction. Wide reading provides the strongest long-term foundation, supplemented by targeted practice to build familiarity with the specific question formats used in the Quest platform.
Creative Writing (Part 2). The 40-minute creative writing task is assessed on creativity, vocabulary and accuracy, and the school notes that pre-prepared phrases, imagery or memorised content are often easily identifiable and rarely enhance the quality of the writing. The most effective preparation involves developing genuine storytelling skills over time: reading widely, experimenting with different narrative voices and perspectives, practising sensory and descriptive writing, and learning to use punctuation as a tool for effect rather than just compliance. Personalised tutor feedback on draft writing is particularly valuable here, because the kind of specific, craft-level commentary that improves creative writing is rarely available in a classroom setting.
Group Activity and Interview. The school says a child's ability to engage with the extra-curricular life of the school and support its values are important factors in the selection process, and the interview is a conversation about the child's interests and passions. The best preparation over the long term is a rich extracurricular life — real hobbies, enthusiasms and interests that the child can talk about naturally and with detail. Mock interview practice can help nervous children develop composure, but the interview is a short, informal conversation about the child's own interests and passions, so natural answers are the aim.
The Perse School's Upper School fees for 2026/27 are £9,482 per term, and all fees include VAT where applicable. Lunch is optional and charged separately at £368 per term. The Prep School's fee for 2026/27 is £8,641 per term, with lunch and morning snack included. Fees are reviewed annually, and the fees for the following academic year are usually announced at the end of March. Understanding the financial support available is an important part of the admissions process.
The school offers means-tested bursaries ranging from 5-100% of annual fees. Awards are fully means-tested in accordance with the criteria in the school's Bursary Policy, and are subject to annual review. To apply for a bursary, families must tick the box on the registration form indicating they wish to apply for means-tested assistance with school fees; bursary assessments are conducted independently of the academic selection process.
The Perse's Scholarships page says that in Year 7 and 9 the school awards music scholarships. Perse pupils in Year 7 and Year 9 receive an invitation to audition for a music scholarship at the end of the academic year; awards are one-off payments of £500 and are not means-tested. The non-refundable registration fee is £240; the securing and induction fee of £840 is payable when an offer of a place is accepted. Detailed fee information, including what the fees cover and the payment options, is on the Fees page within The Perse School admissions pages.
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Reviewed October 2026: dates, figures and rules checked against The Perse School's Upper School Fees, How to Register, Assessment, Welcome, Help with Fees, Scholarships, Exam Success, University Destinations and Autumn Open Event pages, and its Prep School Fees page.
The Perse School's Upper School has around 70 places in Year 7 and around 40 in Year 9, according to the school's Welcome page. Registration for September 2027 entry closes at 12 noon on 1 December 2026, and all registered candidates are invited to sit the entrance assessments on Saturday 16 January 2027. The Upper School's fees for 2026/27 are £9,482 per term, including VAT where applicable.
The Perse School 11+ entrance assessment for 2026/27 entry is split into two parts. Part 1 is a 70-minute computer-based assessment delivered by Quest, covering Maths (20 minutes, adaptive), English (30 minutes, non-adaptive), Non-verbal Reasoning (10 minutes, adaptive) and Verbal Reasoning (10 minutes, adaptive). Part 2 is a 40-minute handwritten creative writing task, where candidates respond to a written or image-based prompt in any fictional genre. The full assessment day also includes a group activity and a short informal interview with a Perse teacher.
Registration forms for Year 7 entry at The Perse School must be submitted by 12 noon on 1 December in the year before entry, so the deadline for September 2027 entry is 12 noon on 1 December 2026. At registration, families must submit their child's most recent school report and pay a non-refundable £240 registration fee. The entrance assessment itself takes place in January, with assessment outcomes communicated in early February and an acceptance deadline in early March. For September 2027 entry, the assessment is scheduled for Saturday 16 January 2027.
The Perse School offers means-tested bursaries worth 5-100% of annual fees for families who could not otherwise afford to send their child. To apply, families must tick the box on the registration form indicating they wish to apply for means-tested assistance with school fees. The Perse's own Scholarships page says that in Year 7 and 9 the school awards music scholarships. Perse pupils in Year 7 and Year 9 receive an invitation to audition for a music scholarship at the end of the academic year. Scholarship awards carry a one-off monetary value of £500 and are not means-tested.
The Perse School's Upper School says its students consistently produce many of the best GCSE and A level results in the country. In 2026, 95% of GCSE grades were in the 9–7 range (broadly equivalent to the old A*-A grades), and 77% of A-Level grades were A* or A. Among the school's 2026 leavers, 21 went to Oxford and 9 to Cambridge.
Leading Tuition offers specialist 11+ tuition tailored specifically to The Perse School's assessment format, including the Quest computer-based test and the handwritten creative writing component. Our Cambridge-based and online tutors design personalised preparation plans built around your child's current level and the time available before exam day. We run regular mock assessments under timed conditions, provide detailed feedback on creative writing, and coach children for the group activity and informal interview stage. Our specialist tutors can help your child prepare for each part of The Perse's assessments. Book a free consultation to discuss your child's preparation.
Further reading: 11+ Tuition at Leading Tuition | Cambridge Tutors
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