Queen Elizabeth's School Barnet (QEB) is consistently among the top 5 state secondary schools in England for academic outcomes. 95%+ of leavers go to Russell Group universities. It's an 11+ entry boys' grammar.
The QEB entrance test
QEB uses a two-stage test like HBS and Tiffin:
- Stage 1 (early September) — English and Maths in mixed-paper format. The top 700 advance.
- Stage 2 (mid-October) — Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Top 192 receive offers.
Pass mark
QEB requires the Stage 2 score to put a child in the top 200 across both years' tests combined. This translates roughly to 305+ on QEB's standardised scale.
What the school looks for
- Very high mathematical fluency (the maths paper is harder than typical 11+).
- Wide vocabulary — comprehension passages often use challenging classical literature.
- Strong non-verbal reasoning — QEB Stage 2 is heavily NVR-weighted.
Catchment
QEB does not have a strict distance-based catchment after qualifying. The top 192 qualifiers across both stages get offers, regardless of distance — but most successful applicants live within a 6-mile radius of the school.
Preparation
Children offered QEB places typically begin in Year 4 with daily practice. Quest Arena's centre-specific mocks include a 10-paper QEB-style pack covering both stages.