Do you think you can get into Eton? MailOnline challenges you to answer these tricky questions of the King’s Scholarship Examination.
Each year, Eton College awards just 14 scholarships to the most outstanding and able candidates for places at the prestigious school that has educated British high society, from royals to politicians and celebrities.
Princes William and Harry, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston are all former old boys from the elite Windsor boarding school. It is also the alma mater of Boris Johnson, David Cameron and 18 former British Prime Ministers.
The exam is specifically designed to be demanding – that’s why we give you just 20 minutes to answer these 13 questions (Answers below).
Boris Johnson (centre of picture) captaining the Eton Wall Game team in 1982. The school was also attended by Prince Harry, Prince William, Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston, among others
The Heir and Reserve at Eton: The King’s Two Sons While Attending Windsor’s Elite Public School
Each year, Eton College at Windsor awards just 14 scholarships to the most outstanding and able candidates attending the prestigious school. Pictured above: the playing fields at Eton
Eton College is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI as Kynge’s College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore, making it the 18th oldest school in the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference
Previous papers show that there is a wide range of questions, which are designed to challenge the participant and ask him to prove his ability.
For the exam, each candidate must complete several required papers – English, Creative Writing, Mathematics A, Science, and General I – and at least three of the optional papers in French, Latin, Greek, Mathematics B, General II, and History-Geography-Divinity ..
Eton College is one of only five remaining single-sex boys’ public schools in the United Kingdom.
Other former pupils of the elite £46,296 a year Berkshire school include George Orwell, Ian Fleming, Hugh Laurie and Damian Lewis.
In addition to these famous faces, the school has trained 20 British Prime Ministers and has historical links with Britain’s political and social elites.
Eton College is one of only five remaining single-sex boys’ public schools in the United Kingdom. Former pupils of the elite Berkshire school include 20 British Prime Ministers
English statesman Sir Anthony Eden (1897 – 1977, centre) at Eton College public school. He was Prime Minister of the Conservative Party from 1955 until his resignation in 1957
English
1. Look closely at the images in Resources 1 – 4. Choose which ONE image you find most inspiring and which you find least inspiring, explain your reasoning by closely referring to the two images you selected.
2. Write a 10-line poem, in any metrical form, celebrating the beauty of the sea.
History, Divinity, Geography
1. If you had to write a book about the history of a certain raw material such as cod or milk, which raw material (other than cod or milk) would you choose and why?
2. To what extent is the British weather becoming more extreme?
Latin
1. Make the following nouns plural:
Mathematics A
1. Find the value from the image below and give your answers as reduced mixed fractions:
2. Richard invests £7,000 in an account that pays 1.2% interest per annum. He invests a second amount in another account offering 1.5%. In total, he will receive 1.25% after one year. How much did he invest in the second account?
Maths B
1. A marathon was supposed to start at noon, but Mr. Tortoise was allowed to start at 7:00 because he can only walk, which he does at a constant speed of 5 km/h. In the afternoon, Mr. Hare starts running at a steady 10 ½ mph.
What time does he catch up with Mr Tortoise?
2. I buy musical instruments. A ukulele and a xylophone together cost £120 more than a violin. A violin and a xylophone together cost £180 more than a ukulele.
How much does a xylophone cost?
Science – Data
1. Give the word equation for photosynthesis.
Science – Theory
1. Michael Johnson’s world record time over 400 m is 43.2 s.
What is Michael Johnson’s world record average speed over 400 m? Include the correct unit with your answer.
General document II
1. Professor Brabazon’s subject is media studies. This has been defined as the field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular the ‘mass media’.
We do not currently teach this subject at Eton. Shall we?
2. “The impact of social media on individuals and society has been very negative.”
Discuss this.
Answers
English
1. There is no definitive answer
History, Divinity, Geography
1. There is no definitive answer
2. There is no definitive answer
Latin
- portuum
- morality
- corpora, corpuses, corpusses or (forbidden) corpi
Mathematics A
1 one. 28 1/2
B. 18 2/3
c599 5/36
2. £1,400
Maths B
13.14 o’clock
2. £150
Science – Data
1. The word equation for photosynthesis is as follows: Carbon dioxide + water + (light energy) → glucose + oxygen gas
Science – Theory
1. 9,259 m/s
General document II
1. There is no definitive answer
2. There is no definitive answer