Entrance Exam Syllabus
ENTRANCE TEST OVERVIEW
A clear progression across every year level
The entrance test follows the curriculum and assesses age-appropriate literacy, numeracy, English communication, reading, writing, grammar and Mathematics skills.
FOUNDATION
FS2 · Year 1 · Year 2
PRIMARY
Year 3 · Year 4 · Year 5 · Year 6
SECONDARY
Year 7 · Year 8 · Year 9 · Year 10 · Year 11
FOUNDATION & EARLY YEARS
Building literacy, numeracy and confidence
Early entrance assessments focus on communication, letter knowledge, phonics, counting, basic number skills and the learner’s readiness for the next stage.
FS 2
ENTRANCE
EXAMINATION
Syllabus for FS 2 – Entrance Examination
- A literacy and numeracy worksheet is given.
- His/her counting skills from 1 to 10 and writing in lowercase letters a to z are tested.
- Alphabet phonetic sounds
- His/her communication skills are also assessed.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
FS – 6 months’ to 1 year nursery
YEAR 1 ENTRANCE
ENGLISH PORTION
- Capital and Small Letters (Aa – Zz)
- Three Letter Rhyming Words and Four Letter Rhyming Words
- Simple Sentence Construction
- Initial Letter Sounds
- Picture Composition
MATHS PORTION
- Numbers from 1 to 50
- Number names from 1 to 20
- Backward counting from 1 to 50
- Greater/Lesser/Equal to 1-20
- Shapes (square, rectangle, circle, triangle)
- Addition of 1 digit
- Subtraction of 1 digit
- Time 0 o'clock
YEAR 2 ENTRANCE
ENGLISH PORTION
- Sequencing events from the story
- Jumbled sentences
- Rhyming words
- Sentence construction
- Adjectives
- Picture description
- Comprehension (unseen passage)
MATHS PORTION
- Numbers –
- Number and Number System – Numbers and Number Names 1-100
- Calculation 0 – Addition and Subtraction
- Geometry –
- 2D & 3D Shapes
- Position and Movement
- Measure –
- Measure with Non-Standard Units
- Time – O’clock & Half Past
- Handling Data –
- Answer a question by sorting and organising data or objects in a variety of ways using block graphs and pictograms with practical resources.
FOUNDATION & EARLY YEARS
English and Mathematics progression
Early entrance assessments focus on communication, letter knowledge, phonics, counting, basic number skills and the learner’s readiness for the next stage.
3
YEAR
YEAR 3 ENTRANCE SYLLABUS
ENGLISH PORTION
- Punctuation & Grammar: Punctuation (full stop, comma & question mark) antonyms, synonyms, conjunctions, verbs, types of sentences & WH-questions
- Writing: Creative Writing
- Reading Comprehension: Unseen Text
MATHS PORTION
- Number and Number System
- Number and Number System – Numbers 1 to 999
- Calculation – Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication
- Using and Applying Numbers
- Geometry and Measurement
- Symmetry, Shapes – 2D and 3D and Their Properties
- Measure with Standard Units – Capacity
- Time – O'Clock, Half Past, and Quarter Past
- Data Handling
- Answer a question by sorting and organising data or objects in a variety of ways using block graphs and pictograms.
4
YEAR
YEAR 4 ENTRANCE SYLLABUS
ENGLISH PORTION
- Punctuation & Grammar: Punctuation (full stop, comma, question mark & exclamation mark) Tenses, prepositions, adverbs, irregular verbs, singular and plural & conjunctions.
- Writing: Creative Writing
- Reading Comprehension: Unseen Text
MATHS PORTION
- Number and Number System
- Place value
- Ordering numbers
- Addition and subtraction
- Fraction
- Multiplication and division
- Geometry and Measurement
- Properties of 2D & 3D shapes
- Movement of position and direction
- Time
- Conversion of measurements
- Handling Data
- Read the frequency table & bar chart.
5
YEAR
YEAR 5 ENTRANCE SYLLABUS
ENGLISH PORTION
- Punctuation & Grammar: Punctuation (full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark & speech marks), direct & indirect speech, prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, irregular verbs, rhyming words & conjunctions
- Writing: Writing a traditional tale
- Reading Comprehension: Unseen Text
MATHS PORTION
- Number and Number System
- Place value
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication & division of numbers
- Equivalent fractions
- Geometry and Measurement
- Estimation of length
- Distinguish different types of angles
- Measure the perimeter and area of a square and rectangle from a given grid.
- Time
- Handling Data
- Bar Graph
- Tally Table
6
YEAR
YEAR 6 ENTRANCE SYLLABUS
ENGLISH PORTION
- Punctuation & Grammar: Punctuation (full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark & speech marks), conjunctions, prepositions, prepositional phrases, clauses (main & subordinate), adverbs, relative pronouns & clauses, tenses
- Writing: Writing an adventure story
- Reading Comprehension: Unseen Text
MATHS PORTION
- Number and Number System
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and decimal numbers.
- Fraction to decimal conversion
- Equivalent fraction
- Geometry and Measurement
- Properties of 2D shapes
- Reflection
- Time
- Angles of a straight line
- Handling Data
- Reading a line graph
- Calculate time intervals in the timetable
SECONDARY YEARS
Reading, writing, analysis and advanced Mathematics
The secondary syllabus builds towards literary analysis, extended writing, grammar accuracy, algebra, geometry, statistics, probability and examination skills.
YEAR 7 ENTRANCE TEST
Curriculum focus and expected skills
7
ENGLISH
Reading & Comprehension
- Understanding narrative and non-narrative texts
- Vocabulary in context
- Synonym and Antonym
- Identifying key themes, characters, and plot
- Making inferences and deductions
- Understanding the author's purpose and viewpoint
- Figurative Language (e.g., similes, metaphors, hyperbole)
Writing (Word Limit 150-200)
- Narrative & Descriptive Writing
- Summary of a nonfiction text
- Writing clear paragraphs with varied sentence structures
- Writing to inform or describe
- Report or informational text
- Descriptive article
Grammar & Vocabulary
- Word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
- Using conjunctions, prepositions, determiners
- Basic sentence structure: simple, compound, complex
- Common punctuation: full stops, commas, apostrophes, speech marks
7
MATHS
Number
- Operations on parts of a whole (fraction, decimals & percentage)
- Number line, prime numbers, odd and even numbers
- Factors and multiples & integers
Measure & Geometry
- Properties of triangles & quadrilaterals
- Perimeter
- Coordinates
- Time
Handling Data
- Measures of central tendency (mean)
YEAR 8 ENTRANCE TEST
Curriculum focus and expected skills
8
ENGLISH
Reading & Comprehension
- Analysing fiction and non-fiction
- Making inferences and deductions
- Understanding the author's purpose and viewpoint
- Recognising figurative language (personification, alliteration, imagery)
- Comparing two texts
- Drawing conclusions and supporting them with evidence
Writing (Word Limit 200-250)
- Narrative writing (200 words)
- Descriptive writing
- Summary writing
- Persuasive letter or advertisement
- Persuasive speech
Grammar & Vocabulary
- Expanded use of varied sentence types
- Using relative clauses, passive voice
- Accurate use of grammar and cohesive devices
- Sophisticated vocabulary for tone/effect
8
MATHS
Numbers and Number System
- Operations with Decimals
- Ratio and proportions
- Factors and multiples
- Sequences
Algebra
- Writing expressions
- Substituting values for the variables
Geometry & Measure
- Properties of angles on a straight line & triangles
- Area & perimeter of rectangles
Data Handling
- Mean; median; mode & range of raw data
YEAR 9 ENTRANCE TEST
Curriculum focus and expected skills
9
ENGLISH
Reading & Literary Analysis
- Analysing fiction and non-fiction
- Making inferences and deductions
- Understanding the author's purpose and viewpoint
- Recognising figurative language (personification, alliteration, imagery)
- Comparing two texts
- Drawing conclusions and supporting them with evidence
- Analysing characters, settings, and themes in depth
- Studying poetry and prose (Shakespeare often introduced)
- Comparing viewpoints across texts
- Understanding how language, form, and structure create meaning
Writing (Word Limit 250-275)
- Writing in various styles: narrative, expository, argumentative, summary, persuasive
- Planning and structuring extended writing
- Response Writing
Grammar & Vocabulary
- Manipulating sentence structure for effect
- Using varied punctuation for clarity and impact
- Figurative language in writing
- Active and passive voice, conditional sentences
- Using tone and register appropriately
9
MATHS
Number
- Indices, square roots & cube roots
- Percentages
- Ratio & Proportion
Algebra
- Equation of Straight Line
- Formulas
- Simplifying and solving linear equations
Measure & Geometry
- Angles in Polygon (Interior & Exterior)
- Area of Triangle, Trapezium & Parallelogram
- Surface Area & Volume of Cuboids
Handling Data
- Mean of grouped frequency data
- Probability two-way table.
YEAR 10 ENTRANCE TEST
Curriculum focus and expected skills
10
ENGLISH
Reading & Literary Analysis
- Analysis of fiction and non-fiction texts, including prose, poetry, and drama
- Understanding the author's purpose, context, and how language, form, and structure create meaning
- Studying set texts (novels, plays, poems), often including Shakespeare and 19th-century literature
- Responding to unseen texts and making informed inferences and evaluations
- Comparing viewpoints and themes across texts
Writing (Word Limit 250-300)
- Writing clear, structured narratives and descriptive texts
- Developing persuasive and discursive writing skills (e.g., speeches, letters, essays)
- Summary Writing
- Discursive Writing
- Article Writing
- Review Writing
- Using a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary to enhance tone and style
- Employing rhetorical devices and cohesive devices effectively
Grammar & Vocabulary
- Manipulating sentence structures for effect
- Using active and passive voice, modal verbs, and conditionals
- Mastering advanced punctuation: commas, semi-colons, colons, hyphens, dashes
- Understanding and applying figurative language
- Expanding vocabulary to suit purpose and audience
10
MATHS
Number
- Approximation and estimation
- Standard Form
- Percentages.
Algebra
- Linear & Quadratic Equations
- Factorising
- Changing the subject
- Inequalities
Measure & Geometry
- Similarity
- Pythagoras's Theorem
- Trigonometric Ratios
Handling Data
- Mean, median & mode of the grouped frequency data.
- Set Notations and Venn Diagrams.
YEAR 11 ENTRANCE TEST
Curriculum focus and expected skills
11
ENGLISH
Reading & Literary Analysis
- Analysis of fiction and non-fiction texts, including prose, poetry, and drama & evaluating the given text
- Understanding the author's purpose, context, and how language, form, and structure create meaning
- Studying set texts (novels, plays, poems), often including Shakespeare and 19th-century literature
- Responding to unseen texts and making informed inferences and evaluations
- Comparing viewpoints and themes across texts
Writing
- Writing clear, structured narratives and descriptive texts
- Developing persuasive and discursive writing skills (e.g., speeches, letters, essays)
- Planning, drafting, and editing for clarity, coherence, and impact
- Using a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary to enhance tone and style
- Employing rhetorical devices and cohesive devices effectively
Grammar & Vocabulary
- Manipulating sentence structures for effect (simple, compound, and complex sentences)
- Using active and passive voice, modal verbs, and conditionals
- Mastering advanced punctuation: commas, semi-colons, colons, hyphens, dashes
- Understanding and applying figurative language
- Expanding vocabulary to suit purpose and audience
Exam Skills
- Timed essay writing practice under exam conditions
- Analytical essay writing focused on set texts
- Close reading and annotation techniques
- Writing analytical responses with clear textual evidence and critical commentary
11
MATHS
Core Areas
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Statistics