Common Entrance (CE) at 13+ is the main route into UK independent boarding schools for children who do not attend a registered prep school. It is set and marked by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) and sat in the spring of Year 8, when children are 12 or 13.
What is Common Entrance?
Common Entrance is not a single exam but a suite of subject papers. The most commonly required subjects are:
- English (two papers: comprehension and composition)
- Mathematics (two papers: calculator and non-calculator)
- Science (three combined papers: Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
- History
- Geography
- Religious Studies
- Modern Languages (French, Spanish or German)
- Latin (required by several schools including Winchester and Eton)
Each senior school sets its own pass mark and typically requires different combinations of subjects. Always confirm with your target school which papers are required and what grade is expected.
How is CE marked?
Common Entrance papers are sent to and marked by the senior school the candidate is applying to — not by ISEB. This means the same paper can be marked to different standards by different schools. Competitive schools like Eton and Winchester expect far higher marks than less selective boarding schools.
Most schools offer a conditional place offer (typically after pre-testing in Year 6 or Year 7) which is confirmed on receipt of CE results. The conditional offer will specify the minimum marks required.
The preparation timeline
CE preparation is typically a multi-year process. A realistic timeline:
- Year 5–6: Broad academic foundations. Many families also begin targeting specific schools at this stage, attending open days and registering for pre-testing.
- Year 7: Structured subject-by-subject preparation begins. CE-specific content is introduced. A tutor working across multiple subjects is common at this stage.
- Year 8 (autumn term): Past papers under timed conditions across all required subjects. Interview preparation for scholarship candidates.
- Year 8 (spring term): Final preparation. CE exams typically sit in late February or early March.
CE vs in-house assessments
Some schools — including Harrow, Radley and a growing number of others — have moved away from CE to their own in-house entrance assessments. These are usually taken in Year 7 (age 11–12). If your target school uses its own assessment, the CE syllabus may not be directly relevant, and tutoring should be tailored to that school's specific format.
How tutoring helps at 13+
The breadth of CE — up to eight or nine subjects — makes it very difficult to prepare well without support. A tutor who specialises in CE preparation can prioritise which subjects need most work, ensure the child is familiar with the specific question styles ISEB uses, and help manage the significant workload across all papers.
For families outside the UK — particularly in the Gulf — online tutors experienced with CE are particularly valuable. The structured nature of CE lends itself well to online sessions, and many tutors have experience adapting their approach for students who do not attend UK prep schools.