Assessment

THE JOURNEY STARTS HERE

Assessment

All pupils who have applied for a place at The Perse School are assessed in the academic year prior to entry.

No remote or overseas testing is possible. All candidates must attend in person.

Our entrance assessments involve a combination of tests, a group activity and a short informal interview with a Perse teacher to talk about their interests and passions. A child’s ability to engage with the extra-curricular life of our school and support our values are important factors in the selection process.

Entrance assessments for Year 7 and 9 entry in September 2027, will take place on Saturday 16 January 2027.

Pre-examination Access Arrangements

The Perse is inclusive and welcomes applicants with disabilities and special educational needs.

We must be made aware of any known special educational need or disability which may affect a child’s ability to participate in the admissions procedure and take full advantage of the education provided at The Perse.

Entrance Assessment Overview

All candidates registered by the deadline will be invited to sit our entrance assessments, which are divided into two parts and take place on the same day.

Assessment Structure

Part 1: Computer-based Assessment (70 minutes) – delivered by Quest.

No formal preparation is expected beyond viewing the familiarisation materials here. Please note: these questions are illustrative and not indicative of actual content. Parent guidance can be reviewed here.

This section includes four components:

Component	duration	format
Maths	20 minutes	Adaptive
English	30 minutes	Non-adaptive
Non-verbal Reasoning	10 minutes	Adaptive
Verbal Reasoning	10 minutes	Adaptive

What to Expect

• Question Format: Most questions are multiple-choice. A few may require a short, typed response (a word or number), but no extended typing is needed.
• Adaptive vs Non-Adaptive:
  Adaptive – Maths, Non-verbal reasoning, and verbal reasoning adjust in difficulty based on responses. Candidates cannot skip or revisit questions.
  Non-adaptive – English follows a fixed sequence of questions. Candidates can move back and forth and revise their answers.
• Materials Provided: All necessary materials, including pens/pencils, will be supplied. No calculators, rulers, or additional equipment is required.
• Timing: A visible on-screen timer will show the time remaining for each section. Candidates eligible for extra time will see this reflected in their timers. For more details, click here.

Technology and Familiarisation

We recommend reviewing the assessments familiarisation exercise to get a feel for the format and style.

Please note: these sample questions are illustrative and not indicative of actual content.

What Is Being Assessed?

subject	focus areas
English	Reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar
Maths	Arithmetic and mathematical reasoning
Non-verbal Reasoning	Spatial and visual reasoning
Verbal Reasoning	Vocabulary usage and logical deduction

Part 2: Creative Writing Task (40 minutes)

Candidates will be asked to write a short story inspired by either a written prompt or an image. They will have full creative freedom to respond in any fictional genre, style or tone they feel is appropriate.
They may choose to write from any narrative perspective, such as first or third person.

The story must be structured in paragraphs, and will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Creativity – How imaginative, engaging, and descriptive is the writing?
• Vocabulary – Does the candidate use varied and effective language and literary techniques?
• Accuracy – Is spelling and punctuation used correctly and confidently?

Please note pre-prepared phrases, imagery, or memorised content are often easily identifiable and rarely enhance the quality of the writing.

To prepare, candidates are encouraged to read widely and practise creative writing regularly. This includes developing convincing characters, describing sensory details effectively and using punctuation with confidence to enhance clarity and impact.

The Part 2 assessment is typically handwritten, unless access arrangements are in place for typing. The content of Part 2 is entirely separate from Part 1.

Results and Next Steps

Assessment outcomes will be communicated in early February, with an acceptance deadline in early March.