A Comprehensive Guide to Tonbridge Admissions
Tonbridge School : an introduction to Tonbridge Admissions
Tonbridge School is a prestigious independent school for boys, offering both day and boarding options. Known for its commitment to academic excellence, Tonbridge provides a supportive environment where students can thrive. Students can join the Tonbridge at either Year 9, 10 or Sixth Form. Alongside a strong reputation for intellectual achievement, Tonbridge School also emphasises the importance of co-curricular opportunities and pastoral care. With its values of excellence, integrity, community, and leadership. the Tonbridge school environment is designed to foster the holistic growth of its students.
This guide will break down Tonbridge admissions, helping you understand the admissions requirements and key dates, as well as offering preparation tips for the entrance exam and answering essential questions you may have about Tonbridge.
Blog Contents:
Tonbridge Admissions: Key Dates and What to Expect
Students can join Tonbridge at various entry points including 13+, 14+ and 16+. As a competitive school, it’s important to stay on top of registration deadlines and the admissions requirements. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect at each entry point for Tonbridge admissions:
Year 9 entry (13+)
At 13+, around 150 boys join Tonbridge. Around 85 of these boys are boarders, whereas the other 65 are day pupils.
Registration Deadline: June of Year 5.
ISEB pre-test: Applicants sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn term of Year 6. See our separate in-depth guide to excelling in the ISEB.
Assessment and Interview Day: Boys are invited to take part in an assessment afternoon and attend an interview at Tonbridge in late November. Students are also required to submit their school report at this point.
Offers sent out: After this day, students may either receive an unconditional or provisional offer.
Further exam day: Students who receive a provisional offer will be invited to attend a further exam day at Tonbridge in March of Year 7 or November of Year 8. On this day, they will sit a paper in Maths (60 mins) and Writing (70 mins), including an argumentative, creative and summary task. You can view the full preparation syllabus for the Maths exam here. After this day more students will be offered an unconditional place at the school.
Offer Confirmation: Offers are conditional on passing the Common Entrance exams or the Academic Scholarship assessments in Year 8.
Year 10 (14+):
Tonbridge accepts a small number of boys to join the school at 14+.
Registration Deadline: September year prior to entry.
Assessment and Interview Day: In November of Year 9, applicants sit exams in maths, and English, followed by an interview. You can view the 14+ Tonbridge Maths and English syllabus here. The school will also request to see the student’s latest school report.
Tonbridge Sixth Form (16+):
Up to 20 boys join Tonbridge Sixth Form each year.
Registration Deadline: September year prior to entry
Assessment Day: Applicants attend an assessment day at Tonbridge in November of Year 11. On the day they will sit subject-specific tests (e.g., biology, economics, English literature) aligned with their A-Level choices. Conditional offers depend on GCSE results, typically requiring grades 8–9.
Explore Tonbridge: Open Days and Tours
Attending a Tonbridge open day is a crucial way to better understand the school and assess whether it is the right fit for you or your child. On a Tonbridge open day, you will have the opportunity to meet the Admissions team, go on a pupil-led tour of the school, and ask your burning questions. These open days are a great opportunity to see the school’s facilities, meet staff, and learn about Tonbridge’s academic and co-curricular offerings.
To get the most out of a Tonbridge open day, prospective students and parents should prepare a list of questions they want to ask to better understand the school’s values, facilities and focus and decide whether these are the right fit for them. You could think about:
What subjects are available at GCSE and A-Level, and how flexible are the options?
What is the average class size in the Sixth Form, and how much individual attention can students expect?
How are new students helped to settle into school life?
How much time is allocated to co-curricular activities during the week?
Can I see myself thriving in the school’s environment and culture?
Tonbridge Scholarships
Tonbridge offers a wide range of scholarships, including academic scholarships, music, sports, art and drama, all of which make the student eligible for means-tested support of up to 100% of the school’s fees. A student awarded a scholarship not in need of financial support will instead have £2000 deducted from their first term’s fees, in recognition of their achievement.
At Year 9 entry, boys can apply for any scholarship. At Tonbridge sixth form, only Music and Sports scholarships are open to students.
Boys applying for Tonbridge academic scholarships will take 9 compulsory papers alongside at least two optional papers (with the majority of students taking two or three). These exams are set at a challenging level to differentiate the top students. Only 21 Tonbridge scholarships are awarded each year for students of strong academic merit joining in Year 9.
3 Tips for Excelling in Tonbridge Scholarship Exams
Get used to complex Maths questions
The maths paper for Tonbridge admissions is meant to be challenging. Students can use a calculator, so they should get used to using one efficiently. They should be prepared for multi-step, complex problems which require them to link different concepts and topics in order to reach the correct answer, e.g. algebra with geometry or physics. They need to get used to applying mathematical reasoning in scientific contexts, e.g. calculating collisions between moving objects or using formulas for kinetic energy. For these challenging, multi-step questions, it’s important to be able to work backwards to reach the answer when students get stuck and to show all workings, as these may allow students to pick up marks even when they haven’t reached the right answer.
You can work with the Tonbridge past papers for maths available on their website, or work with a tutor who can curate the most challenging question types from Tonbridge past papers to create bespoke resources tailored to improve your performance. Find out more.
Read with a critical eye
Being able to think critically about texts and sources is key across the Tonbridge scholarship exams. The English paper requires students to make sophisticated inferences about a text, drawing deeper insights about character and more nuanced interpretations of language and themes in an unseen text. Equally, the History Tonbridge Scholarship paper requires students to work from sources, reading them critically to draw out information. These papers are testing an aptitude for learning and the ability to ask challenging questions and then solve them, which the school highly values. Reading lots, and widely, is key to boosting critical thinking skills. Students shouldn’t just read passively but challenge themselves to question and interact with what they read: do you agree? disagree? Why has the author expressed something the way they have?
Students could also boost their understanding of subjects they’re sitting the Tonbridge scholarship exams in by engaging in co-curricular courses designed to build critical thinking. On our co-curricular division, Minds Underground, we run online co-curricular clubs in a range of topics such as STEM or Debate. These are ideal for teaching you to engage critically with new perspectives.
Use Tonbridge Past Papers
Tonbridge past papers are a great opportunity to practise the exam format and technique for the Tonbridge scholarship exams. Tonbridge publishes a specimen paper for each subject on its website so you can gain a better understanding of the question styles. If you’d like further opportunities to practice with Tonbridge past papers, or the opportunity to receive in-depth feedback on your past paper performance, you could work with one of U2 Tuition’s team of tutors specialised in Tonbridge admissions. Tutors can create bespoke resources and practice papers in the style of the subject paper you are sitting for Tonbridge scholarship exams and beyond. These resources are designed to challenge you and prepare you for the hardest questions in Tonbridge Past Papers so you can feel confident on the assessment day.
Looking for support with Tonbridge Admissions?
Our team of Oxbridge-educated tutors provide tailored study plans and resources to help boys prepare for the assessment days and scholarship exams. We also offer structured interview preparation to help your son feel confident and well-prepared to showcase their strengths and interests during the Tonbridge interview.
Our dedicated tutors are committed to helping your child succeed and excel in the Tonbridge admissions process.
Tonbridge Admissions: The Interview
In the interview element of the Tonbridge admissions process, students will be expected to demonstrate a passion for learning, a desire to contribute meaningfully to the Tonbridge community and leadership skills. Tonbridge strongly values excellence, integrity, and community, and it is important that students use their interview to reflect these values back to the school.
Honing interview technique is essential for success at Tonbridge. Students should aim to come across as motivated, intellectually curious, and actively engaged in their school community, without relying on overly rehearsed answers. A tutor can help students refine their interview technique, building confidence and providing valuable tips to ensure they stand out in the interview process. At U2 Tuition, we specialise in helping students prepare thoroughly for their Tonbridge interview, ensuring they present themselves as thoughtful and well-rounded individuals. Find out more about how U2 Tuition can support your son through the Tonbridge application process.
Demonstrating a genuine love of learning is key, and engaging in co-curricular activities is a great way to show this. Whether it's joining a school chess club, participating in the house system, or getting involved in one of our many enriching online clubs through Minds Underground, such as coding, debating, or design engineering, these activities can help students develop valuable skills and provide engaging talking points during the interview (as well as boosting their critical thinking skills for Tonbridge entrance exams!)
For more support in preparing for the Tonbridge interview, we’ve curated helpful guides and resources, including tips for each entry level 11 plus, 13 plus and 16 plus interviews and specialised question banks which available for purchase from our online store.
What are Tonbridge Fees?
Tonbridge School offers both boarding and day options for its students, with fees structured accordingly. The Tonbridge fees for boarding are £19,708 per year, while Tonbridge fees for day pupils are £14,786 per year. These fees cover tuition, but additional costs may apply for co-curricular activities, trips, and other extras.
Looking for a Tutor to Support with Tonbridge Admissions
A dedicated tutor is the best way to ensure your child is fully prepared for the Tonbridge entrance exam and admissions process. At U2 Tuition, we offer personalised study plans and resources that cover every aspect of the Tonbridge admissions process, combining academic content with key exam techniques to help your child achieve their best possible performance.
Our team of Tonbridge tutors includes Oxbridge graduates, many of whom have direct experience with Tonbridge’s admissions process. With their insider knowledge, they are well-equipped to offer expert guidance and answer any questions your child may have. Our tutors create tailored practice materials that reflect the Tonbridge entrance exam format, providing students with the opportunity to practice. Additionally, we offer interview preparation mentoring to help your child feel confident and prepared when discussing their interests and experiences during the Tonbridge interview.
If you're seeking support with Tonbridge admissions, we begin with a free consultation to discuss your child’s goals, identify key areas for focus, and match them with a tutor who specialises in Tonbridge admissions. Starting early allows us to offer thorough, well-rounded support, but we also provide intensive programmes leading up to the Tonbridge entrance exam or interview. Our flexible tutoring options are available both online and in-person, ensuring a convenient learning experience tailored to your child’s needs.
Book a free initial consultation now to find out more about how our tutors can help support your son through the Tonbridge admissions process.