Year 9 School Entry Papers:
Looking for year 9 school entry papers? Year 9 entry (commonly called 13+ entry) is one of the main admission points into selective UK independent schools. This page includes:
- Verified school-hosted 13+ specimen papers
- A comparison table of exam formats
- 20 realistic Year 9 practice questions with coaching explanations
- Scholarship paper examples
- A structured preparation checklist
Verified School-Hosted Year 9 (13+) Specimen Papers
The schools below publish official admissions pages and, in many cases, specimen/sample entrance papers hosted directly on their own websites.
1. [Tonbridge
Tonbridge Year 9 Entry & Scholarship Sample Papers
Format: Maths, English, scholarship subject papers. Used for shortlisting before interview.
Format: Full subject papers. Strong indicator of multi-step reasoning and structured writing.
Format: Standard entry + scholarship differentiation.
Format: Maths, English, Languages. Useful for breadth practice.
Exeter 13+ Entrance Guidance & Practice Papers
Greshams Maths Entrance Sample
Comparison Table: Year 9 School Entry Formats
| School | Maths | English | Science | Scholarship Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ |
| Dulwich | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Epsom | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Solihull | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
20 Year 9 Practice Questions (With Coaching Explanations)
Maths
Q1. Expand (x + 3)(x − 2)
A) x² + x − 6
B) x² − x − 6
C) x² + 5x − 6
D) x² − 5x − 6
Answer: A
Multiply each term: x² − 2x + 3x − 6 = x² + x − 6.
B is wrong (incorrect middle term sign).
C and D are wrong (incorrect coefficient totals).
Q2. 12% of 250 =
A) 20
B) 25
C) 30
D) 35
Answer: C
10% = 25; 2% = 5; total = 30.
Q3. Solve 4x − 7 = 9
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
Answer: B
4x = 16 → x = 4.
Q4. Ratio 2:7, total 45. Larger part?
A) 28
B) 30
C) 35
D) 40
Answer: C
Total parts = 9; one part = 5; 7 parts = 35.
Q5. Triangle area (base 12, height 9)?
Answer: 54 (½ × 12 × 9).
English practice questions
Q6. Best synonym for “abundant”:
A) scarce
B) plentiful
C) fragile
D) tiny
Answer: B
Q7. “The sky wept.” This is:
A) simile
B) metaphor
C) personification
D) hyperbole
Answer: C
Q8. Choose strongest narrative opening:
A) It was fine.
B) The clock stopped at midnight.
C) I ate breakfast.
D) The sky was blue.
Answer: B
Writing Practice Questions
“You discover something unexpected in your school bag.”
Coaching: Plan first; vary sentences; clear resolution.
Science
Q9. Why are leaves green?
A) Chlorophyll absorbs light.
B) They contain metal.
C) They reflect oxygen.
D) They are cold.
Answer: A
Q10. Increasing resistance causes current to:
Answer: Decrease.
Year 9 Scholarship Papers
Scholarship exams typically increase difficulty through:
- Extended reasoning
- Higher-level vocabulary
- Broader subject coverage
- Written justification marks
Use the scholarship paper sets from Tonbridge, Dulwich, and Epsom listed above to practise at higher stretch level.
Further Year 9 past exam papers
Using a diagnostic Year 9 test
- We offer free 2026 CAT4 test practice and
- FREE CAT4 2026 Sample Tests.