The hypothesis tested was that exposure to English educational experiences will increase the level of performance on spatial tests of children of Indian origin. Groups of 11‐year‐old boys were tested in the UK and in India on three tests of spatial ability. There were no significant differences in performance among boys born in the UK of UK or Indian origin. In general, performance of boys in India was lower but was worst among recent immigrants in the UK. A number of factors may have contributed to this result, but the finding suggests that it is the problems associated with recent immigration rather than any innate deficit that leads to poor test performance.