Our Ultimate Guide to St Paul’s Girls’ School 11 Plus (11+) Entry
Welcome to U2 Tuition's guide to preparing for the challenging St. Paul's Girls' School 11 Plus admissions process. Gain insights on the tests and interviews, as well as tips for successful preparation to one of the toughest Secondary Schools.
St Paul’s Girls’ School 11 Plus Key Facts and Dates
School Location: Hammersmith, London
School Type: All girls, Independent London Day School
Does it Offer Boarding?: No
Registration Deadline: Typically November each year (check the specific date on the website)
Online Cognitive Ability Test Date (Stage 1): November (check specific date for your year of application)
11+ St Paul’s Exam Date (Stage 2): January (check specific date for your year of application)
11+ St Paul’s Interviews (Stage 3): January (check specific date for your year of application)
The St Paul's Girls’ School 11+ Admissions Process: Overview
Registering for St Paul’s Girls' School
Signing up for entry to St. Paul's Girls’ School 11+ is the first step. Parents should remember to register early when the window opens. We suggest registering as soon as possible so you don’t forget the deadline! The tests and interviews are important parts of getting in, and their dates are usually provided well before the application period.
Registration typically closes in Early November.
St Paul's Girls’ 11+ Tests and Interviews
St. Paul's Girls' School is renowned for its academic excellence and selective admissions process. To help your child prepare effectively, it's essential to grasp the unique challenges posed by SPGS, including the unconventional test formats such as the cognitive ability online test and the demanding comprehension exam. Here's an overview:
1. Cognitive Ability Online Test: The Initial Hurdle
Every candidate will take a timed cognitive ability test on a computer screen. This test assesses verbal, mathematical, and non-verbal abilities to determine academic potential. It lasts for an hour and will be conducted at St. Paul's.
2. Written Examinations in English, Maths and Comprehension: Assessing Academic Proficiency
For those who clear the computerised test, the next step involves written examinations in English, Mathematics and Comprehension, conducted at St Paul's Girls’ School in January.
English Paper Overview:
The English paper focuses on reading a literary passage closely.
Candidates will answer up to ten questions related to the passage.
Questions cover extracting information and commenting on word meanings and effects.
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical accuracy (spelling, punctuation) is not specifically scored but is appreciated.
Genuine enjoyment, engagement, careful inference, and sensitivity to linguistic effects are valued.
Some questions involve extended imaginative writing tasks based on the passage.
Wide vocabulary is appreciated, but using unusual or obscure words is not necessary.
There is no separate creative writing section. Instead, at least one of the questions relating to the passage will test students’ creative writing skills. For example, in the Sample English Paper 1, the final question is: ‘Imagine that you are one of Ursula’s pupils. Write a description of how she behaved in your very first lesson and what happened.’ This 11+ question assesses the candidate's ability to:
Use imagination and creativity to put themselves in a fictional scenario.
Describe characters' behaviours and actions based on a given context.
Construct a coherent narrative with clear beginning, middle, and end.
Demonstrate writing skills such as grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary usage.
Maths Paper Overview
The paper is typically divided into three 25-minute sections:
Section 1: Fundamental Arithmetic:
Features straightforward "sums" to ensure basic arithmetic understanding.
Section 2: Problem-Solving:
Contains questions that require more problem-solving skills.
Section 3: Multi-Part Questions:
May include multi-part questions based on unfamiliar material.
Topics Covered:
Based on National Curriculum up to KS2.
Aim is not just to test techniques but also insight - this suggests that the purpose of the mathematics paper isn't solely to evaluate whether candidates can apply mathematical techniques or methods. Instead, it also aims to assess their deeper understanding and insight into mathematical concepts. In other words, the examiners are interested in seeing not just whether candidates can solve problems mechanically, but also whether they grasp the underlying principles and can apply them in different contexts or when faced with unfamiliar challenges.
Importance of Showing Work:
Vital for candidates to show their working out.
Incorrect answers without supporting work receive no credit.
Question Style:
Questions are designed to be interesting and sometimes amusing.
Aim is for students to find the paper enjoyable.
Comprehension Paper Overview
Whilst most schools at 11 Plus, do test comprehension, this paper is quite unique to St Paul’s Girls’ School. Rather than coming under the ‘English paper’, St Paul’s Girls’ have their own separate Comprehension test which centres around a central theme. It is aimed at testing comprehension in a broad sense, potentially incorporating visual or numerical materials. Therefore, it aims to assess not just the ability to understand written text, but also skills such as deduction, inference, evaluation, and comparison across various types of information.
Skills Tested:
Deduction, inference, extraction, and organisation of information.
Evaluation, comparison, identification of patterns and links, and logic.
Prior Knowledge:
No prior knowledge is necessary.
KS2 scientific inquiry skills might be helpful in evaluating material and presenting data.
Range of Materials:
Materials can be visual, numerical, or written.
Requires drawing pertinent conclusions from the comprehension of these materials.
Desired Ability:
Seeks candidates capable of responding perceptively to various stimuli.
Emphasises the potential to react effectively to a range of materials.
3. St Paul’s 11+ Interviews
Following the entrance examinations at St. Paul's Girls' School, successful, students are extended an invitation to return for interviews, typically scheduled on weekends in January. These interviews are relatively brief, lasting approximately 15 to 20 minutes each. During the interview, the focus is placed on evaluating the student's academic potential. This evaluation is conducted through interactive discussions involving stimulus material, which could encompass a variety of topics or prompts designed to elicit critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and depth of understanding.
Through these interviews, the school aims to gain further insight into each candidate's intellectual capabilities, ensuring that those admitted possess not only academic aptitude but also the potential to thrive within the school's rigorous academic environment.
4. International Considerations: Overseas Candidates
St Paul’s Girls’ School welcomes applications from students joining them from abroad. For those applying for 11+ entry, they can facilitate assessments to be conducted overseas at a nearby British Council office. Simply reach out to your local British Council office to confirm their availability to invigilate the assessment and provide the school with their contact information. They will then send the necessary papers and instructions for the assessment to be carried out. Once completed, the 11+ papers will be returned to them for evaluation.
All interviews will be conducted remotely.
5. Resources and Syllabus: Preparation Essentials
St Paul’s Girls’ School provide Sample Papers on their webpage, offering valuable insight into the format and content of their 11+ examination. It could also be useful to look at St Paul’s Boys’ School’s comprehensive syllabus for the 11+ examination to further enhance your child’s preparation and understanding of the assessment requirements. We have included further preparation tips below and also have a fantastic team of 11 plus tutors who specialise in St Paul’s Girls’ School entrance preparation, to support students’ preparation where needed. Contact us for more information.
14 Tips for Targeted St Paul’s Girls’ 11 Plus Exam and Interview Preparation
Early Start: Begin the preparation journey early. St Paul's Girls is known for its rigorous curriculum, and starting early allows your child to build a strong foundation in key subjects. This early start aids in mastering the advanced concepts that may be encountered in the examinations.
Tailor Your Approach to St Paul's Girls’ School’s Expectations: Recognise that St Paul's Girls seeks candidates who go above and beyond their age level. Tailor your child's preparation to not just meet but exceed the standard expectations. This may involve exploring advanced topics, engaging in independent reading, and fostering a genuine love for learning.
Mock Tests for Familiarity: Regularly expose your child to mock test papers - try the St Paul’s Girls’ School Sample Papers and also handpick past papers from similarly academic schools to practice from. You could even challenge the student at a later stage with 13+ past papers, a level above. This will help them become familiar with the format and time constraints of the examinations, reducing anxiety on the actual test day. It also provides an opportunity to identify and address any weak areas in their knowledge.
Subject-Specific Focus: Identify the subjects where your child may need additional support and focus on enhancing their proficiency in English, Mathematics, and Comprehension. Reviewing material covered in KS2 curriculum can be beneficial.
Practice Deduction, Inference, and Extraction: Encourage your child to read passages carefully and identify key information, draw conclusions, and infer meaning beyond the explicit text. They should practice extracting relevant details and organising them logically.
Develop Organisational Skills: Help the child practice organising information effectively, such as categorising details, summarising main points, and structuring responses coherently.
Hone Evaluation and Comparison Skills: Provide opportunities for the child to evaluate information critically, compare different perspectives or pieces of information, and identify patterns or links between ideas.
Strengthen Logical Reasoning: Practice exercises that require logical reasoning, such as identifying cause-and-effect relationships, predicting outcomes, and making logical deductions based on given information.
Utilise Scientific Inquiry Skills: While no prior knowledge is necessary for the St Paul’s Girls Comprehension, familiarity with scientific inquiry skills from KS2 curriculum can be beneficial. Encourage the child to practice analysing data, interpreting graphs or charts, and drawing conclusions based on evidence.
Engage with a Range of Materials: Expose the child to various types of materials, including visual images, numerical data, and written passages. Practise drawing conclusions and making connections across different types of stimuli. Encourage the child to respond perceptively to stimuli by considering multiple perspectives, interpreting subtle cues, and making insightful observations. Practice responding thoughtfully to questions that require deeper understanding and analysis.
Develop Critical Thinking Skills: St Paul's Girls’ School values candidates who can analyse information, draw logical conclusions, and solve complex problems. Encourage your child to engage in activities that stimulate their analytical and problem-solving abilities. This could include puzzles, logical reasoning exercises, debates, and discussions on a wide range of topics. You can keep your child engaged with current affairs via publications like The Week Junior.
Enhance Writing Skills: Work on improving your child’s writing skills, as writing tasks are often included in the entrance exams. They should practice writing essays, creative stories, and descriptive passages, paying attention to structure, grammar, vocabulary, and clarity of expression.
Effective Time Management: The examinations at St Paul's Girls can be demanding in terms of time. Instill effective time management skills in your child to ensure they can complete each section of the tests within the allocated time. This skill is crucial for success in the written examinations.
11+ Interview Skills:
Prepare your child for the in-person interview by conducting mock interviews at home. Focus on articulation, clarity, and confidence in responses. Discuss potential questions that may be asked and encourage your child to express their thoughts coherently. Ensure your child doesn’t sound rehearsed, but has lots of exciting material to draw on in answer to interview questions.
St Paul's Girls’ School seeks students who are not only academically adept but also well-rounded individuals so encouraging your child to actively participate in extracurricular activities will also demonstrate a range of interests and qualities that go beyond the academic realm and will provide great discussion points for interview.
Children should in no way sound rehearsed, but getting them used to discussing and debating will help immensely! U2 Tuition's specialised interview tutors also provide valuable insights into the types of questions asked and strategies for effective responses if you’d like a helping hand. Contact us here for more information.
We also have an 11+ interview preparation pack, which includes loads of detail on how to prepare, how to hone your child’s communication skills and an array of questions to practice
What St Paul's Girls’ School is Looking For at 11+ Level
At the 11+ level, St. Paul's Girls' School seeks candidates who demonstrate not only academic potential but also a range of personal qualities indicative of future success within the school's community. Specifically, they look for:
Academic Potential: Strong academic ability is a fundamental requirement. Candidates should showcase their aptitude for learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through their performance in the entrance examinations.
Intellectual Curiosity: The school values students who display a genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Candidates who show a passion for exploring new ideas, concepts, and subjects are highly regarded.
Analytical Skills: St. Paul's Girls' School looks for candidates who can analyse information critically, draw logical conclusions, and demonstrate a depth of understanding across various subjects.
Communication Skills: Effective communication, both verbal and written, is essential. Candidates should be able to articulate their thoughts clearly and coherently, demonstrating strong literacy skills.
Personal Attributes: The school values qualities such as resilience, independence, adaptability, and a positive attitude towards challenges. Candidates who exhibit these traits are more likely to thrive in the school's demanding academic environment.
Potential for Contribution: St. Paul's Girls' School seeks students who show potential not only academically but also in extracurricular activities, community engagement, and leadership roles. Candidates who demonstrate a well-rounded profile are highly valued.
Our 11+ tutors at U2 Tuition work closely with students to nurture these qualities, aligning their preparation with St Paul's Girls’ School’s expectations.
With U2 Tuition's expertise, your child can confidently navigate the challenges and emerge successful in the St Paul's Girls’ School 11+ journey. Here’s how we support:
St Paul’s Girls’ School 11 Plus Tutoring: The Process
We have a number of tutors who specialise in preparing students for St. Paul's Girls' School entrance exams. They can provide personalised guidance, practice materials, and targeted feedback.
You can book a consultation to discuss your specific requirements with us, timeline to St Paul’s Girls’ School 11+ entry etc. We will then speak to our 11 Plus tutor team and recommend you one of our tutors with most experience with St Paul’s Girls entrance specifically at 11+ level. Some of our tutors are alumni of the school itself.
We arrange a preliminary session with the tutor to assess mentor fit. This is usually a diagnostic session, split between English, Maths and Comprehension. We issue a full report following this session and a suggested plan for preparation individualised to the particular student.
Rather than teach curriculum material, sessions are geared entirely towards school entrance preparation for this form of tuition, ensuring the student is able to broach each question format, and particularly the more complex questions in each examination. E.g. Longer analytical questions for comprehensions and the more complex problem-solving or multi-step Maths questions. Tutors have a wealth of challenging past papers at their disposal, and also have their own materials to use for consolidation of topics etc. Sessions typically involve past paper practice in an interactive setting, pausing to consolidate tricky topics, and generally working to elevate the student’s level to compete with the strongest candidates for these top schools.
We also arrange interview preparation with either the same mentor or one of our interview specialists if needed.
Sessions from £75/h + VAT.