The Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) is known for producing the Common Entrance Examination at 11+ and 13+, as well as Common Pre-Tests and Common Academic Scholarship. The ISEB provides exam questions to more than a hundred UK independent schools for entry admissions at 11+ and 13+.

Girls usually sit the Common Entrance (CE) examination at 11+ when they are in Year 6. Many independent schools use CE at 11+ as their written assessment for entrance. Pupils will be tested in their knowledge of the core subjects: English, Mathematics and Science. There are two examination sessions each year; one is in November and the other is in January. Most girls sit the test in January.

Here is a list of senior girls’ schools that currently use Common Entrance at 11.

Benenden School

Downe House School

Queen Anne's School

Queenswood School

Sherborne Girls School

St Mary's School, Calne

St Swithun's School

Westonbirt School

Woldingham School

Wycombe Abbey School

A vast majority of pupils sit the Common Entrance examination at 13+ when they are in Year 8. The 13+ Common Entrance examination is strongly supported by many of the top-ranking prep schools and independent senior schools in the UK. Its rigorous syllabuses and breath of subjects provide a strong academic focus for pupils in Years 7 and 8. The Common Entrance at 13+ is considered an excellent preparation for GCSEs.

There are three examination sessions each year: in November, January and May/June. English, Mathematics and Science are the core subjects to be tested. In addition, pupils can sit papers in a wide range of subjects chosen from French, German, Geography, Classical Greek, History, Latin, Spanish, etc. The core subjects, most modern languages, Latin and Classical Greek are offered at more than one level according to students’ academic skills.

More than one hundred independent senior schools have been using the Common Entrance examination at 13+ for part of their entrance assessment. These schools include Eton College, Harrow School, Wellington College, Tonbridge School, Charterhouse School, Rugby School and Shrewsbury School. For more information on a list of senior schools which use Common Entrance at 13+, please contact us.

Pupils sit the Common Pre-Tests when they are in Year 6 or Year 7 as the first-round computerised assessment for potential entrance to top-tier British public schools. Candidates only take the Common Pre-Tests once in an academic year and their results will be shared with each senior school which registers them. The tests are taken online and are adaptable; they include English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Each candidate will start with a medium-level question. Candidates who answer questions correctly are gradually routed to more challenging questions.

The Common Pre-Tests are used by about one hundred top-ranking independent senior schools in the UK as their first-found assessment for entrance selections at 13+. These schools include Eton College, Harrow School, Winchester College, Westminster School, Charterhouse School, Wellington College, Tonbridge School, and Brighton College. For more information on a list of senior schools which use the Common Pre-Tests, please contact us.

We provide expert and tailored tuition to pupils preparing for the ISEB tests. Our team of professional ISEB tutors have a thorough understanding of every aspect of the ISEB tests, such as the topics tested, the format of each test and specific exam techniques to boost your score. Pupils can have access to our large database of practice papers and learning materials. Over the years, we have trained many students to pass the ISEB tests for their chosen schools, including Eton College, Harrow School, Winchester College, Tonbridge School, Charterhouse School, Radley College, Rugby School, Shrewsbury School, Oundle School and Wellington College.