10 plus practice papers are entrance exam papers used for Year 5 entry into selective independent schools. They usually include Maths, English comprehension, creative writing, and sometimes verbal or non-verbal reasoning, followed by interview.
Year 10 school entry papers (14+) usually test Maths and English at strong Key Stage 3 or early GCSE level. Some schools include Science or reasoning assessments. Offers are often based on written exams followed by interview.
10 Plus Practice Papers
How 10+ Entrance Exams Work
10+ entry is less common than 7+, 8+, or 11+, but used by a number of academically selective independent schools. Most 10+ admissions processes follow this pattern:
- Registration and school reference
- Written assessment (Maths + English)
- Shortlisting
- Interview
- Offer (often conditional on continued academic performance)
Unlike 11+, 10+ exams are typically school-set rather than GL or CEM standardised tests.
Looking for Year 10 school entry papers?
Year 10 entry (commonly called 14+ entry) is used by a number of selective UK independent schools for pupils joining in GCSE year. This guide includes:
- Verified school-hosted 14+ admissions pages
- Explanation of Year 10 exam formats
- 20 realistic 14+ practice questions with coaching explanations
- Scholarship paper guidance
- Preparation strategy for occasional places
Year 10 school entry papers (14+) usually test Maths and English at strong Key Stage 3 or early GCSE level. Some schools include Science or reasoning assessments. Offers are often based on written exams followed by interview.
What Is Year 10 (14+) Entry?
Year 10 entry is less common than 13+ or 11+. Most schools describe it as 14+ entry or occasional places. Places are usually limited and competition can be strong.
Unlike 13+, where Common Entrance may be involved, 14+ entry typically involves:
- School-set written examinations
- Higher academic expectations (GCSE-style questions)
- Interview and reference review
- Often stronger emphasis on academic maturity
Verified 14+ Admissions Pages (School-Hosted)
- Brighton College 14+ Admissions Page
- Charterhouse 14+ Entry Overview
- Epsom College 14+ Admissions
- Wellington 14+ Entry
- Harrow Occasional Places (Year 10)
- Bradfield 14+ Admissions
- Canford 14+ Entry
- Oundle 14+ Entry
- Malborough 14+ Admissions
- Shrewsbury 14+ Entry
What Do Year 10 Entrance Papers Test?
Maths
- Algebra (expanding brackets, factorising)
- Simultaneous equations
- Percentage change
- Ratio and proportion
- Geometry and trigonometry basics
English
- Literary comprehension
- Language analysis
- Extended writing (discursive or narrative)
- Structured argument
Sometimes
- Science (GCSE-level knowledge)
- Reasoning assessments
- Online cognitive testing
Year 10 (14+) Scholarship Papers
Scholarship routes typically demand:
- Deeper algebraic reasoning
- Extended essay-style English
- Higher-level scientific explanation
- Subject-specific academic passion
Schools such as Tonbridge, Epsom College, and Dulwich College publish scholarship-level sample materials within their admissions pages.
Scholarship candidates should practise explaining reasoning clearly, not just reaching correct answers.
Comparison Table: 10+ Exam Formats by School
| School | Maths | English | Reasoning | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King’s College School | ✔ | ✔ | Occasionally | ✔ |
| Latymer Upper | ✔ | ✔ | Sometimes | ✔ |
| City of London School | ✔ | ✔ | No | ✔ |
| Westminster Under School | ✔ | ✔ | No | ✔ |
| St Paul’s Juniors | ✔ | ✔ | Possible | ✔ |
Maths practice questions
Q1. Expand (2x − 3)(x + 4)
A) 2x² + 5x − 12
B) 2x² − 5x − 12
C) 2x² + 8x − 3
D) 2x² + 2x − 12
Answer: A
2x² + 8x − 3x − 12 = 2x² + 5x − 12.
Q2. Solve: 5x − 2 = 3x + 6
Answer: x = 4.
Q3. If £800 increases by 15%, new value?
Answer: £920.
Q4. Factorise x² − 9
Answer: (x − 3)(x + 3).
Q5. Solve simultaneous equations:
x + y = 10
x − y = 2
Answer: x = 6, y = 4.
English practice questions
Q6. Identify the technique in “The city never sleeps.”
Answer: Personification.
Q7. Best synonym for “meticulous”:
A) careless
B) precise
C) noisy
D) angry
Answer: B.
Q8. Which is strongest argumentative thesis?
A) School uniforms are fine.
B) Some people like uniforms.
C) School uniforms improve discipline and equality.
D) Uniforms exist.
Answer: C.
Q9. Rewrite with improved vocabulary:
“The building was very big.”
Coaching: Use “immense”, “vast”, or describe impact instead of size alone.
Q10. Writing task:
“Describe a moment when everything changed.”
Coaching: Build tension, vary sentence length, controlled ending.
English practice questions
Q6. Identify the technique in “The city never sleeps.”
Answer: Personification.
Q7. Best synonym for “meticulous”:
A) careless
B) precise
C) noisy
D) angry
Answer: B.
Q8. Which is strongest argumentative thesis?
A) School uniforms are fine.
B) Some people like uniforms.
C) School uniforms improve discipline and equality.
D) Uniforms exist.
Answer: C.
Q9. Rewrite with improved vocabulary:
“The building was very big.”
Coaching: Use “immense”, “vast”, or describe impact instead of size alone.
Q10. Writing task:
“Describe a moment when everything changed.”
Coaching: Build tension, vary sentence length, controlled ending.
Science practice questions
Q11. Define diffusion.
Answer: Movement of particles from high to low concentration.
Q12. What happens to resistance if wire length increases?
Answer: It increases.
Q13. What is the chemical symbol for sodium?
Answer: Na.
Q14. Why are enzymes specific?
Answer: Their active site matches specific substrates.
Q11. Define diffusion.
Answer: Movement of particles from high to low concentration.
Q12. What happens to resistance if wire length increases?
Answer: It increases.
Q13. What is the chemical symbol for sodium?
Answer: Na.
Q14. Why are enzymes specific?
Answer: Their active site matches specific substrates.
Q1. Expand (2x − 3)(x + 4)
A) 2x² + 5x − 12
B) 2x² − 5x − 12
C) 2x² + 8x − 3
D) 2x² + 2x − 12
Answer: A
2x² + 8x − 3x − 12 = 2x² + 5x − 12.
Q2. Solve: 5x − 2 = 3x + 6
Answer: x = 4.
Q3. If £800 increases by 15%, new value?
Answer: £920.
Q4. Factorise x² − 9
Answer: (x − 3)(x + 3).
Q5. Solve simultaneous equations:
x + y = 10
x − y = 2
Answer: x = 6, y = 4.
Advanced Maths practice questions
Q15. Find gradient between (1,2) and (4,8).
Answer: 2.
Q16. Solve: x² − 5x + 6 = 0
Answer: x = 2 or 3.
Q17. If sin θ = 1/2, θ =
Answer: 30°.
Q18. Simplify 3a²b × 2ab³
Answer: 6a³b⁴.
Q15. Find gradient between (1,2) and (4,8).
Answer: 2.
Q16. Solve: x² − 5x + 6 = 0
Answer: x = 2 or 3.
Q17. If sin θ = 1/2, θ =
Answer: 30°.
Q18. Simplify 3a²b × 2ab³
Answer: 6a³b⁴.
Higher-Level English practice questions
Q19. Identify structural technique in delayed revelation.
Answer: Foreshadowing.
Q20. Improve coherence in paragraph writing.
Coaching: Use linking phrases, topic sentence
Q19. Identify structural technique in delayed revelation.
Answer: Foreshadowing.
Q20. Improve coherence in paragraph writing.
Coaching: Use linking phrases, topic sentences, and evidence-based development.
Q1. 3/4 of 20 =
A) 12
B) 15
C) 16
D) 18
Answer: B
Coaching explanation: 1/4 of 20 is 5. Multiply by 3 gives 15.
A is incorrect because it calculates 3/5, not 3/4.
C is incorrect because 4/5 of 20 would be 16.
D is incorrect because it overestimates.
Q2. A rectangle has length 8cm and width 5cm. Area?
A) 13
B) 26
C) 40
D) 80
Answer: C
Explanation: Area = length × width = 8 × 5.
Q3. 0.6 + 0.35 =
A) 0.85
B) 0.95
C) 0.75
D) 0.65
Answer: B
Explanation: Align decimals carefully.
English Comprehension practice questions
Q4. “The wind howled through the trees.” What does howled suggest?
A) Whispered
B) Roared loudly
C) Slept
D) Fell gently
Answer: B
Explanation: Howled suggests loud and powerful noise.
Q5. Choose the best synonym for “swift”.
A) Slow
B) Quick
C) Weak
D) Tall
Answer: B
Creative Writing practice questions
Q6. Write a short story beginning: “The door creaked open…”
Coaching guidance:
- Set the scene quickly.
- Introduce tension.
- End with a clear resolution.
Reasoning practice questions
Q7. Odd one out: 12, 18, 24, 27
Answer: 27 (not a multiple of 6).
Q8. Sequence: 5, 10, 20, 40, ?
Answer: 80.
How to Improve 10+ Performance
- Build arithmetic fluency daily.
- Read 20 minutes per day.
- Practise timed writing weekly.
- Redo incorrect questions after 48 hours.
10+ Scholarship Papers
Scholarship-level 10+ exams are typically more demanding. They may include:
- Extended Maths reasoning
- Advanced vocabulary tasks
- Longer creative writing pieces
- Academic interview discussion
Scholarship preparation requires depth, not speed.
Year 10 (14+) Scholarship Papers
Scholarship routes typically demand:
- Deeper algebraic reasoning
- Extended essay-style English
- Higher-level scientific explanation
- Subject-specific academic passion
Schools such as Tonbridge, Epsom College, and Dulwich College publish scholarship-level sample materials within their admissions pages.
Scholarship candidates should practise explaining reasoning clearly, not just reaching correct answers.
Further resources
Further 10 plus school entry papers