Common Entrance Exam UK - 11+ and 13+

[Articles home]

Over a hundred years ago the first Common Entrance Examination (CEE) took place at preparatory schools across the UK as the independent school sector made moves to standardize the entry requirements for senior schools. Today, approximately 80% of prep. schools put pupils forward for a CE examination (the shortfall exists as many senior schools continue to set their own entrance examinations). Nowadays of course, applicants to UK schools hail from all corners of the globe as the reputation of a UK education spreads ever further. Greater access to information and greater wealth generation means there is a burgeoning middle-class, especially across Asia, both willing and able to take advantage of the rich history and experience of these often famous institutions.

The CEE papers are set by the Independent Schools Examination Board or ISEB (www.iseb.co.uk) which is made up of the members of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), the Girls’ School Association (GSA) and the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS). In other words, the schools which both prepare the pupil and receive the pupil are integral to the testing system for this crucial transition. Pupils, or perhaps more accurately their parents, are able to nominate a first and a second choice senior school. Completed test papers are marked by the first choice school, which has absolute discretion as to whether or not a pass is achieved and the place secured. If a place is not offered, the papers may be passed to the second choice school. Standards thus vary - one school may set 60% as an average on the papers whereas another may require 50%. Parents will always be told what the particular school expects prior to the examination being sat. For candidates whose first language is not English, there is some flexibility. They may be allowed dictionaries and up to 25% extra time. They may be allowed a lower pass mark in the English papers. Parents should remember that there are no fixed benchmarks. Every student is different, as is every school, and you can ‘negotiate’ the entry requirements.

Back in 1904, the first candidates sat for Divinity, English, Greek, Latin and Mathematics. Today, the examination remains a stringent test of appropriate knowledge but requires students to use and manipulate what they know, and how they know it, to solve problems. All candidates, at both levels, take English, Mathematics and Science. At 13+ candidates may offer any or all of the following: French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Latin, Religious Studies and Spanish. It is usual for overseas candidates from Asian countries to offer at least Geography, History and Religious Studies. Overseas applicants will usually be judged for entry on the core papers, with the offered options being used for streaming purposes but again, this is at the discretion of the senior school and parents should be absolutely sure about the school’s requirements for their child. It doesn’t matter what your friend/colleague/relative was offered, the offer made to you should be treated as unique to you and you must make sure it is made very clear.

The 11+ examination is taken in the spring term, usually around 15th January. The 13+ examination may be taken in either the spring (Jan/Feb) or the summer term (June). Results are usually known three to four weeks after the scripts have been returned to the senior school. In the UK, candidates sit the papers at their prep. school, but overseas this is not always possible. The candidate may be at a school which doesn’t have the facilities to offer invigilation for external examinations. Sometimes parents feel awkward about asking a current school to help their children ‘jump ship’ so to speak. In this case, ISEB allows for private invigilators of good repute to run the examination.

ITS Tutorial School has extensive experience in preparing students for the Common Entrance Examination. Our tutors are all familiar with the syllabuses and requirements, and we use the same resources as prep. schools in the UK. Students are also able to sit the CE exam at ITS.  Contact Danny Harrington at ITS to see how the school can help get your child that CE score they need for their first choice of schools in the UK.

If you are at the pre-interview stage and your goal is to get an offer from the school of your choice, we can also help expose pupils to the experience of interview. We do not coach for interview, as this would be unfair on the pupil and the school, and would negate the whole process. Boys and girls do however benefit from a discussion of the possible questions they may be asked and an idea of what constitutes an answer. Again, contact Danny Harrington for details.

Information about the Common Entrance syllabus is available from the Independent Schools Examinations Board (phone +44 1425 621 111 or see www.iseb.co.uk).

If you would like to place a link to this resource on your site please just paste the following link text into your page: