Our Ultimate Guide to the London Consortium Exam
What is the London Consortium exam?
The London Consortium exam is a single assessment used by a group of prestigious independent girls’ schools in London to select students for admission at 11+ entry. This exam is collectively administered by its member schools. This means that students only have to sit one entrance exam when applying to all of these schools, simplifying the process and reducing pressure on students.
What schools are in the London 11+ Consortium?
Channing School
Francis Holland Sloane Square
Francis Holland Regent’s Park
Godolphin and Latymer
More House School
Northwood College for Girls
Nottinghill and Ealing
Queen's College London
Queen's Gate School
South Hampstead High School
St Augustine's Priory
St Helen's School
St James Senior Girls' School
St Margaret's School
London Consortium 11+ Key Dates
Here are the key dates for the London 11+ consortium application process and entrance exam:
Early November: Deadline to register for London 11+ Consortium
Late November/Early December: students sit the London Consortium exam
Mid February: Offers are made to candidates
Early March: Deadline to accept offers
It’s important to review the application process and details for the individual school(s) you are applying to within the London 11+ Consortium. Check their websites for more in-depth information.
Looking for support with your London 11+ Consortium Preparation?
If you’d like to work with an 11 plus tutor, specialised in preparing students for the London Consortium Exam, they can help your daughter succeed by providing targeted preparation and London Consortium exam practice.
Our 11+ tutors are able to assist with all elements of the London Consortium exam, including the new problem-solving and creative comprehension sections.
Find out more about the 11+ tutoring services we offer here.
What does the London Consortium exam test?
The London Consortium exam is an opportunity for schools to evaluate a student’s academic potential and aptitude across key subjects, helping students identify which candidates would best thrive in their challenging academic environment. Targeted preparation and an understanding of the different elements of the exam are crucial to ensuring your daughter excels.
As of 2022, the London Consortium exam is an online assessment which aims to go beyond the standard 11+ entrance exam testing of cognitive ability. Instead, the London Consortium Exam also aims to assess a child’s skills in critical thinking, creative and original thinking and problem-solving and analysis. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the London Consortium exam structure and question style.
The online assessment lasts 100 minutes in total and is split into two parts.
Part one consists of:
Maths (20 mins)
English and verbal reasoning (30 mins)
Non-verbal reasoning (10 mins)
These questions are adaptive, meaning the questions will change and vary according to the student’s performance. This is to ensure that all students can be challenged and give their best in their exam.
In the Maths section, core mathematical concepts will be tested up to year 5. Your daughter will need strong mental arithmetic skills to answer multiple-choice questions on fractions, percentages, decimals, ratios, statistics and measures. There may be diagrams that your daughter needs to be confident analysing and drawing data from.
In the non-verbal reasoning section, students will be tested on non-verbal and spatial reasoning questions through a multiple-choice format. There will be a variety of different question types designed to challenge your child.
U2 Tuition Quick Tip: Practice makes perfect. Non-verbal reasoning may feel unfamiliar at first but with a bit of practice the question types will quickly come to feel more familiar and approachable. Build strong age-appropriate vocabulary.
For English Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning, the section begins with a reading comprehension. The questions may ask students to identify grammar and punctuation mistakes or test their understanding of vocabulary in context. To prepare for this section, students should focus on building their reading level. Sevenoaks School has published a great reading list for 11+ that shows the kind of level students should be reading in order to build their vocabulary.
U2 Tuition Quick Tip: While all 11+ practice questions will be useful, particularly for the first half of the exam, it’s important your child gets comfortable with the online format of these questions. Make sure they are comfortable with interacting with and answering on screen questions. The questions are similar to the style of Geogebra, so these may offer a good place for interactive practice.
After the first section, students have a 30 minute break.
The second part consists of:
Problem solving (15 minutes)
Creative comprehension (25 mins)
This section is non-adaptive, meaning the questions are standard and unchanging for every student.
The second part of the London Consortium exam varies much more from standard 11+ entrance exams. These questions are interactive and test creative thinking and problem-solving rather than just cognitive skills. Here’s an example source below.
In order to answer the creative comprehension section, students need to be able to compare and infer across different sources. These sources may be both literary (e.g. from a text) and non-literary (e.g. maps, diagrams, timetables and charts).
Preparing for the London 11 Plus Consortium Exam
As with any exam, preparation is crucial. Getting started early and making time for lots of practice is a key way to ensure success.
The London Consortium has published some online familiarisation materials which you can access here. These are short versions of the sections that will be in the London Consortium exam. While they do not provide the full experience of sitting the exam in timed conditions, they allow students to get a sense of the kinds of questions asked, the sources used and, crucially, how to engage with the online format.
Students will also find all 11+ practice useful for the London 11+ Consortium. The first half of the exam more closely imitates the English, Maths and Verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions typical of 11+ entrance. Having a strong foundation with the 11+ curriculum for English and Maths is crucial to success in this first paper.
Working with an 11+ tutor specialist in preparing for the London 11+ Consortium can also be a really useful way to support your student’s preparation. Tutors can assess the level of your daughter and create supplementary resources in the style of the London Consortium exam so she has more opportunities to practice. A tutor can also work through previous London consortium exam questions with the student to ensure they understand what the questions are asking and how best to approach them. You can find out more about 11+ tutoring we offer here.
3 Final Tips for Success in the London Consortium Exam
Practice, practice, practice
With lots of practice with 11+ and London Consortium exam questions you can start to build your confidence with the question format and grow your confidence. Working with a tutor also provides opportunities for tailored feedback and targeted preparation practice activities.
Ensure you have a strong foundation
The London Consortium exam tests up to year 5 level core content. Ensure your child is very confident in their core syllabus and they will be well prepared for what the London Consortium exam covers/
Be an ambitious reader
Reading lots and at an appropriate level is an important way for students to build a strong vocabulary. This is crucial for the English and verbal reasoning sections and other problem-solving components.
Looking for an 11+ Tutor to help with London Consortium Exam Prep?
Are you looking to secure a place for your child at one of the prestigious independent schools part of the London 11+ Consortium ? We have a great team of 11+ and specialist London Consortium tutors who are all Oxbridge-educated and highly experienced at guiding students through the challenging exam preparation.
With a one-on-one consultation with one of our educational consultants, you will be matched with a tutor with extensive experience leading students to success in the London Consortium exam. Tutors cover all elements of the London Consortium exam and will assess the student’s level and focus on the areas they most need to strengthen. They can review and mark past papers and create supplementary resources in the style of the London Consortium exam to give your child the advantage of going into the exam more prepared.
The tutor will then develop a structured plan tailored to the student’s specific needs. The frequency and duration of sessions is up to you. According to your needs, your tutor will come up with a plan for your child’s preparation so they are ready for the London Consortium exam.