Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) Common Pre-Test
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is online multiple-choice tests include Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics. http://www.iseb.co.uk/Parents/What-are-the-Common-Pre-Tests. Common Entrance exams are set by ISEB Independent Schools Examining Board and marked by the senior school of choice; the exams are sat at the end of January or end of May, usually over four days. Details of the subject syllabus and exam structure are given on the ISEB website.
Year 7 Entry (age 11+)
For most of the schools, the registration deadline is September/October for Year 5 with entrance tests in November or January for Year 6. Students may sit in for the Common Entrance or the school’s examination.
For entry to Year 10 (age 14+)
Overseas Students usually are required to sit in for English, Maths, Science, Verbal Reasoning Test and Non-verbal Reasoning Test. After the student achieved the passing grade, he /she will be invited to attend a Skype interview.
For entry to Year 9 (age 13+)
Parents are required to visit the College and register when they are in Year 5 or early in Year 6. Registered candidates will be required to sit in for the ISEB online Pre-Test at their prep school in the Michaelmas (Autumn) term of Year 6. Some schools may offer a Pre-test in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning when the student is in Year 7. Successful candidates will then provide a conditional place for Year 9 subject to success in Common Entrance. Please note that International students and students who are already studying in the preparatory school will be required to sit in the Common Entrance Examination. Students will need to register by the deadline of October for Year 8 with entrance tests in November or January of Year 8.
For entry to Year 12 (age 16+)
It would help if you had visited and made your choice of school when your child is in Year 10, the registration deadline varies with different boarding schools. Earliest registration is highly recommended. In general, students will sit their entrance tests in November during their Year 11 study. Most schools require students to achieve Five 6-9 grades in their GCSE/IGCSE programme to progress to A-Level course.
We recommend you check the registration deadline dates with individual schools as they do vary and some top-rated, oversubscribed schools have an earlier deadline date. Schools are increasingly flexible, and places are available for boarding students up to the term before entry.