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What is the Common Entrance Exam?

By Alexis Pratsides, Founder · Updated 10 April 2026

What is the Common Entrance Exam?

If you are considering an independent school for your child - whether at 11 or 13 - you will almost certainly encounter the Common Entrance examination. It is one of the most widely used admissions assessments in the independent sector, yet many parents find it opaque until they are already mid-process. This guide explains what Common Entrance is, how it works, and how to approach preparation sensibly.

What is the Common Entrance Exam?

Common Entrance (CE) is a set of standardised examinations used by many independent schools in the UK to assess candidates for entry at Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+). The papers are set by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB), a not-for-profit organisation based in the UK. ISEB was established in 1995 specifically to provide a common set of assessments across the independent sector.

The key word is common: the same papers are sat by candidates at prep schools across the country, which allows receiving schools to compare applicants on a level playing field - in theory, at least. In practice, preparation methods and prep school quality vary significantly.

Not every independent school uses Common Entrance. Some of the most selective schools - notably Eton, Winchester, and Westminster - set their own scholarship or entrance papers, often in addition to or instead of CE. Always check with the specific school what examinations they require.

11+ Entry (Year 7)

The 11+ Common Entrance is sat at the end of Year 6, typically in January of the year a child would start at the senior school. Subjects assessed at 11+ are:

  • English (comprehension and writing)
  • Mathematics
  • Science (some schools)

Many schools that admit at 11+ also conduct their own pre-test, interview, or assessment separately from the CE papers - or instead of them altogether. The 11+ CE route is less standardised than the 13+ route; it is important to check exactly what each school requires.

13+ Entry (Year 9)

The 13+ Common Entrance is the more established and widely used route. It is sat in the February or May of Year 8, with the receiving school nominated in advance. Candidates sit papers in:

  • English (comprehension and writing)
  • Mathematics
  • Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics - either combined or separate papers)
  • History, Geography, Religious Studies, French, Latin, Classical Greek, German, Spanish, Mandarin - candidates typically sit the subjects relevant to the curriculum they have been following at prep school

The full 13+ examination can involve up to 15 separate papers across multiple subjects, sat over a period of several days. In practice, most candidates sit English, Maths, Science, and two or three other subjects.

How is Common Entrance Marked?

ISEB marks the papers centrally and sends the results to the receiving school (the senior independent school the candidate is applying to). There is no universal pass mark. Each school sets its own threshold, and many schools do not publish it openly.

This is one of the most important things for parents to understand: a score that gains entry at one school might not meet the threshold at another. A school might require an overall average of 60% for standard entry and 70% for a scholarship, but these figures vary widely.

Some schools - particularly the more selective - use CE as a confirmation examination rather than a true competitive one. They offer places based on a pre-test taken a year or two earlier, and CE is then sat to confirm the child is on track. In these cases, a child who meets the school's pre-test offer and passes CE with the required score is admitted; CE is a hurdle rather than a competition.

Pre-Testing

Pre-testing has become increasingly common, particularly for the most sought-after 13+ schools. Pre-tests are typically taken in Year 6 or the autumn of Year 7, often using ISEB's own Common Pre-Test - a computer-adaptive assessment covering English, Mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.

The Common Pre-Test is used by many London day schools and popular boarding schools as an initial sift. Results are shared between schools (with parental consent), so a single pre-test can satisfy the requirements of multiple schools simultaneously. Schools then make conditional offers, confirmed when CE is sat in Year 8.

Some schools run their own bespoke pre-tests or interviews rather than using ISEB's Common Pre-Test. Check with each school individually.

Registration Timeline

The timeline varies by school and entry point, but a typical 13+ journey looks like this:

  1. Year 5 / early Year 6: Attend open days; shortlist preferred senior schools.
  2. Year 6 (autumn): Register with senior schools; pay registration fees.
  3. Year 6 (spring) or Year 7 (autumn): Common Pre-Test or school's own pre-test.
  4. Year 7 (spring/summer): Conditional offers received from schools.
  5. Year 7–8: Continue at prep school; prepare for CE papers.
  6. Year 8 (February or May): Sit CE papers.
  7. Year 8 (summer term): Confirmed places; transition preparation.

Registration deadlines are firm. Missing a school's registration deadline - which can be 18 months before entry - may mean missing the process entirely. Set calendar reminders well in advance.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Many independent schools offer scholarships for academic, music, sport, or all-round excellence. Academic scholarships are typically awarded based on performance in scholarship papers (separate from CE, and usually harder) or pre-test scores. Scholarship papers are often sat in the autumn of Year 8 for 13+ entry.

Scholarships typically reduce fees by 10–20%, though some schools offer more generous awards. Scholarships are distinct from bursaries, which are means-tested financial assistance. A child can hold both a scholarship and a bursary. If affordability is a concern, always contact the school's bursary office - many schools have significant bursary funds that are underused because families assume they will not qualify.

How to Prepare

Prep School Curriculum

At a good prep school, the CE curriculum is woven into the normal school programme. Children in Years 7 and 8 are taught directly to the ISEB syllabus. If your child is at a prep school, their subject teachers will be the primary resource for preparation - use parent consultations to understand how your child is tracking against CE expectations.

Past Papers

ISEB makes past papers available through its website and through Galore Park, a major publisher of CE preparation materials. Working through past papers under timed conditions is the most effective single revision technique, particularly for Mathematics. Past papers are available for all subjects and all years of recent CE.

Tutoring

Many families use a tutor - particularly for Mathematics, English writing, or subjects where the child is weaker. Tutoring can be valuable, but it is most effective when targeted at genuine gaps rather than simply adding pressure. Over-tutoring - particularly in the pre-test year - can produce anxiety that is counterproductive.

If you are looking for a tutor for Common Entrance preparation, search independent schools in your area on School Signal and ask school admissions offices whether they have recommended tutors or preparation resources.

Self-Study

For motivated pupils, Galore Park's revision guides and the ISEB website's resources are high quality. The key subjects to prioritise are English and Mathematics, which appear in every school's required papers. Science is important if the child's target schools require it. Modern languages and humanities are generally easier to prepare for through normal teaching than through intensive cramming.

Common Entrance vs Independent School Own Entrance Papers

Some schools - including the most selective London day schools and certain boarding schools - use their own entrance examinations rather than CE. These are typically more stretching than the standard CE papers. Schools using their own papers usually make past papers available. The subject coverage is broadly similar to CE, but the style and difficulty can differ significantly.

If your child is applying to both CE and own-paper schools, ensure their preparation covers both. ISEB syllabus and the school's own specimen papers should both feature in revision.

Useful Links

Common Entrance is a significant milestone, but it is navigable with good information and sensible preparation. The most important step is starting the senior school research early - ideally in Year 5 - so that your child is registered in time and you understand what each school actually requires.