The Common Entrance route to an Independent School is one of the longest and most complex. Beginning with the pre-test, which is sat in either Year 6 or Year 7, the successful applicant must pass assessments in English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning. If successful, they sit the full Common Entrance exam a few years later.
Knowing where to start with your preparations can be tricky so we have put together a handy guide to get you started.
The whole process is best seen as a marathon, not a sprint. It is therefore important to give yourself and your child plenty of time to acclimatise to the expectations and demands of the paper. Some parents find it useful to begin a year before the assessments as this allows for the gradual increasing of difficulty, without it being too pressurised. This can often be more beneficial than leaving it just a few weeks before the exams start, which can be stressful for all
As the pre-test exams are sat via a computer, it is important that children are familiar with the set up and expectations of the real thing. This can help with nerves as they will, by and large, know what to expect on the day. Happily, over the last few years specialist platforms have been set up to help students complete online assessments:
Atom Learning: This platform is used by several prep schools to help students acclimatise to online assessments. It is a paid for service that provides a range of practice materials covering each of the elements on the pre-test. While we disagree with their claim ‘the best private tutor is a machine’ it is possible to start a 5 day trial on their parent platform
Bofa: Similar to Atom Learning, Bofa provide online assessment practice, presented in a child friendly way, that helps with familiarisation. It also offer a paid for subscription service and is used by some schools to help with preparation
GL Assessments: The ISEB pre-tests are outsourced to GL Assessment, who write the papers. In addition they also provide a few free resources which can help with familiarisation. While these are paper based, the question format and multiple choice format give a good feel for the papers themselves
Mathletics: As might be expected this is a maths focused platform which is also used by some schools. Aside from practice assessments students are able to compete in real time against their classmates or other students both at home and abroad. Although not directly aligned with the ISEB syllabus, it can help students develop their confidence with mathematics. It might be a good idea to disable the easier difficulties well before the assessment, to ensure they are being challenged at the right level
Nintendo Switch: The popular handheld games console produced by Nintendo has a game called “Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training”. Although in no ways related to entrance examinations it can provide excellent preparation in getting students used to the interactive reasoning components of the tests. It is likely to meet less resistance as well! At the time of writing copies of the game can be purchased for around £20
Setting regular, designated time for preparation and study has lots of benefits. Clearly regular practice and study will be more beneficial than irregular bursts of activity. It is also less stressful for both the student and parent as there is a clear demarcation between work and play time. Knowing that there is a clear start and finish to the study time can also help to provide focus. Its really important that regular breaks are built into the study period as well as (healthy!) snacks and drinks. Like all of us, students learn best when happy
It’s easier said than done, but if you can designate a neat, tidy and quiet area for your child to study in, it can make a huge difference. The obvious benefit is your child will be able to focus better there but it also has one other benefit. It helps to reinforce that time at the study space is time for study. After the study is complete, your child is free to leave and can leave their work (and maybe their worries about it) at the desk
The benefits of one-to-one tuition are manifold. Each lesson is tailored towards the needs of your child and they benefit from the instant support and feedback a private tutor provides. Our pre-test tutors are all experienced and qualified teachers who have helped many students succeed in their pre-tests and beyond. If you would like to learn more about our tutors, please see below
Aysha is a dedicated and experienced tutor with a passion for helping students achieve their academic goals. With a strong background in Primary and Secondary education (teaching 3-14 years old), English as an additional Language and Special Educational Needs, she offers personalised and engaging tutoring sessions that cater to each student's unique and individual learning style
Ann is a classroom teacher with over 25 years teaching experience in both the state and private sectors. She has extensive experience in 11+ and Common Entrance entry examination preparation in English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning
Gareth studied Education at the University of Durham, specialising in Primary with English and classical studies being his specialist subjects. He has been teaching since 1996 and has significant leadership experience in prep schools
Hugely experienced in the London independent school sector, Alastair has supported over 100 children to successful school offers, including to Alleyn's, St Paul's Girls', City of London and Tiffins.
Highly skilled across all areas of 11+ and in particular a Maths and Reasoning specialist, through his senior leadership roles Alastair has an intimate knowledge of the entrance system, the secondary schools involved and every aspect of the process
We store some data to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this. You can learn more here
