How long is the 11+? Paper lengths at 20 independent schools

In this article

Timings are from the schools' pages for September 2027 entry. Where a timing comes from a sample or specimen paper, we give that paper's year, because the school may change the format.

Two kinds of test

First-stage online tests. Some schools start with a computer-based test, then invite some children back for written papers. The ISEB Common Pre-Test is the shared one. ISEB describes it as "a series of four online, adaptive and shared entrance assessments", which can be taken on one day or split over several. ISEB's page doesn't give a total length.

Written papers. These are the school's own English and maths papers, sometimes with reasoning or writing. Some schools, such as City of London School, Dulwich College and St Albans School, use their own online test instead.

Online first-stage tests

School	Online test	Length
City of London School	School's own online test, six sections	105 min
Dulwich College	School's own online tests, six sections	20, 30, 10, 10, 15 and 20 min (our sum: 105 min; the school doesn't give a total)
St Albans School	School's own online test, six sections	1 hr 45 min (2024 parent guidance)
City of London School for Girls	Cambridge Select Insight	1 hour
Guildford High School	Computer-based test	1 hour
Royal Grammar School Guildford	ISEB Pre-Tests	About 2¼ hours
St Paul's School	ISEB pre-test	About 2½ hours
St Paul's Girls' School, Westminster School, Wycombe Abbey, James Allen's Girls' School, Sevenoaks School	ISEB Pre-Test	Not stated
Godolphin and Latymer	London 11+ Consortium test	Not stated on the school's pages

Written papers, September 2027 entry

School	Papers (minutes)	Total
City of London School	Creative writing 30	30 min, after the online test
Dulwich College	Creative writing 20 (5 planning, 15 writing)	20 min, after the online test
City of London School for Girls	English 45, maths 45 (2021 sample papers also show 45)	1 hr 30 min
Hampton School	English 40, words and reasoning 40, maths 45	2 hr 5 min
Haberdashers' Boys' School	English and verbal reasoning 40, maths and non-verbal reasoning 45, creative comprehension 20, creative writing 20	2 hr 5 min
Latymer Upper School	Maths 60, English comprehension 35, descriptive writing 45	2 hr 20 min, plus a break after English
North London Collegiate School	English 75, maths 75	2 hr 30 min
Alleyn's School	English 45, maths 30, reasoning 45 (syllabus updated July 2025)	2 hours
Highgate School	English 45 (Practice Paper 1, undated); maths not stated	Not stated
King's College School	English 50, maths 50 (specimens for 11+ 2027 entry); verbal reasoning not stated	Not stated
St Paul's Girls' School	English 50, maths 50, general comprehension 50 (2027 sample papers)	2 hr 30 min
St Paul's School	English comprehension 50, composition 35, maths 60	2 hr 25 min
Westminster School	Maths 40, English 40	1 hr 20 min
Wycombe Abbey	English 60, maths 60	2 hours
Sevenoaks School	English 5 reading + 60, maths 60 (January 2024 papers)	2 hr 5 min
Royal Grammar School Guildford	Creative writing task	Not stated
James Allen's Girls' School	Short creative writing task at a Welcome Morning	Not stated
St Albans School, Guildford High School, Godolphin and Latymer	No separate written papers listed	–

Totals are our own sums of each school's paper times. They leave out breaks, interviews and group tasks.

Good to know

City of London School says children are there for about 2.5 hours in all, and Dulwich College says about 3 hours, both including breaks.

What this means for your child

Check which stage you are preparing for. An online test and a written paper feel very different. North London Collegiate School says it does not use verbal or non-verbal reasoning tests at all.
Practise to each school's clock. Paper lengths range from 20 minutes to 75 minutes in the table above.
Treat sample timings as a guide. Sevenoaks's timings come from its January 2024 papers, and Highgate's from an undated practice paper.

Check with the school

Timings can change. Confirm with the admissions team before the exam.

Questions parents ask

How long is the ISEB Pre-Test?

ISEB's page doesn't say. RGS Guildford says about two and a quarter hours, and St Paul's School says about two and a half. The four tests can be split over several days.

Is there a break between papers?

Latymer Upper School has a break after the English paper. St Albans School gives a short break between the two parts of its online test. Other schools don't say on the pages we checked.

Why do some schools say "not stated"?

Because their pages don't give a time. We'd rather say so than guess.

Sources

Each school's own pages and documents, and ISEB's page, checked on 23 October 2026:

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it.

School guideCity of London SchoolEntry points, the assessment and key dates.Read the guide Prep packCity of London School 11+ mock papersOriginal papers in the school's format, with mark schemes. Digital download.From £35See the pack

Two kinds of test

Online first-stage tests

Written papers, September 2027 entry

What this means for your child

Questions parents ask

Sources

Keep reading

Are calculators allowed in 11+ maths papers?

No pass mark: how independent schools choose at 11+

What is the ISEB Common Pre-Test?