The Official Guide to Common Entrance (CE) at 13+ for families, from ISEB
At the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB), we understand that preparing for Common Entrance (CE) at 13+ is a significant milestone for pupils, parents, and schools. This guide is designed to help parents navigate the process with confidence, providing insights into the purpose and structure of the exams, practical tips for preparation, and guidance on supporting your child’s well-being.
What is Common Entrance (CE) at 13+?
Common Entrance (CE) at 13+ is a highly regarded assessment used by many independent schools in the UK to evaluate candidates for entry into Year 9. The exams are carefully designed to ensure pupils are ready to meet the academic challenges of senior school. Candidates have the option of sitting the Common Academic Scholarship (CASE) exam, which will identify pupils with exceptional ability in a particular subject or scholarship pupils. CE at 13+ exams are held in the summer term (May/June).CE at 13+ assesses a wide range of subjects, including the compulsory core subjects:- English
- Mathematics
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)And additional subjects:- Languages (French, Spanish, and German)
- Humanities (History, Geography, and Theology, Philosophy & Religion)
- Classics (Latin, Classical Civilisation, and Classical Greek)Most subjects have two difficulty levels, Foundation and Core. Mathematics can be sat at Foundation, Core or Additional level. CE at 13+ exams are most often sat at Core level.Some senior schools may also require interviews with your child or reports from their current school as part of the admissions process. It is important to check the requirements of your child’s destination school. If your child attends a prep school, you can also talk to their current teachers about this.
How are Common Entrance (CE) at 13+ exams structured?
CE at 13+ exams assess both a base of knowledge and technical skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical reasoning.- Timing: CE at 13+ exams will typically range from 40 – 90 minutes.- Question styles: Exams will include a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended essay-style questions, depending upon the subject.- Speaking/Listening: Some language subjects include speaking and listening assessments.- Grading: Papers are marked out of 100, with scores converted into grades (e.g., A–E). Each senior school will determine its own grade requirements for acceptance.Complete the form on the right or at the bottom of this page to receive a free set of in-depth subject guides for English, maths and science.
What do parents and guardians need to do?
Candidates should only be entered for CE at 13+ if they have been offered a place at a senior school subject to their passing the CE at 13+ exams.If you have visited, decided on and registered your child with a senior school of your choosing, the senior school will advise you on which entrance exam they expect your child to take, and when. If your child attends an independent prep or junior school, your child will most likely be registered for CE at 13+ by their school. However, if your child’s current school does not offer the exam or your child attends a state school, you may need to register them yourself.If you do need to register your child for CE at 13+ exams, this can be done online via the ISEB website.Visit the Registration section of our CE Admissions Toolkit for Families to find out more and complete the online registration form.
How can I support my child with their exam preparation?
Making exam preparation a part of family life can feel daunting, so we recommend starting early and creating a sustainable and realistic routine. Keeping the home learning environment as calm and consistent as possible is important to ensure your child feels confident and ready.Here are some things you can do to help support your child’s revision:- Plan ahead: Make sure you know everything you need to do as a parent before the exam. This could involve confirming subject choices or liaising with your child’s current school. Understanding how the process works and what your child will need to do can help you feel prepared and ready to support your child.- Timetables: Create a balanced schedule for your routine, ensuring all required subjects are covered, while allowing plenty of time for rest and any extracurricular activities, like hobbies or sports.- Use past papers: Practicing past CE at 13+ exam papers is the best tool to familiarise your child with the exam format, content and questions. Past papers can be useful to help identify knowledge gaps, track progress, and for mock tests to help your child practice in exam conditions. These exercises will help to build confidence and reduce any anxiety. We provide past exam papers in print form via our online shop for families.- Set clear and achievable goals: Having something definitive to work towards can help with motivation, and small, achievable goals will help your child build a sense of confident progress in their revision.- Focus on progress: Encourage your child to concentrate on areas where they feel less confident and to seek support when needed, whether from teachers or additional resources. Embrace mistakes – see them as an opportunity to learn and make a positive move forward.- Support your child's mental heath and wellbeing: We understand that preparing for exams can feel overwhelming, and children and their parents can often feel stressed and anxious about the outcome of a test. Small things such as creating a positive and supportive home environment, encouraging breaks and balance in revision plans, and promoting healthy habits such as sleep and nutrition, can help prioritise health and wellbeing. Being a good listening ear is one of the most important things you can do for your child as they prepare for exams.- Plan and prepare for exam days: Being well prepared can make all the difference to your child's exam day experience. Having everything they will need laid out the night before, knowing the route to the exam centre, and ensuring your child has a good night's sleep and breakfast on the day are small things that can have a big impact. Consider avoiding last-minute revision and make sure to assure your child that they have worked hard and will do their best.
Additional support and resources
Schools provide excellent preparation for CE at 13+, but some parents opt to look for additional support. ISEB offers the following resources to help parents and families feel as confident as possible in their CE at 13+ journey:- Past papers: The ISEB online shop for families offers Exam Packs of past papers for every CE at 13+ and CASE subject, going back over four years. These past papers are a fantastic resource for things like familiarisation with the test content and practicing exam techniques. Our exam papers are printed and delivered to you, ready for you to use with your child at home.- The Parent Power Toolkit: Evidence-backed digital resources developed by Dr Kathy Weston of Tooled Up Education specifically for ISEB parents. The Parent Power Toolkit includes a range of downloadable PDF activity resources you can complete at home with your children, to support them through their admissions journeys.- The Common Entrance (CE) Admissions Toolkit: The CE Admissions Toolkit for Families is a hub of resources on the ISEB website, with sections on Registering and Preparing for CE at 13+ exams. Find support articles, FAQs, downloadable resources, and links to our customer support portals.- Common Entrance (CE) Support Portal: The CE Support Portal offers a set of support articles written by ISEB for parents preparing and registering their children for CE at 13+ and CASE exams. You can also contact our customer support team through submitting a ticket.
Support from ISEB at every step of the journey
At ISEB, we are committed to ensuring that the CE at 13+ process is as rewarding as possible. While the exams are an important milestone, they are also an opportunity for growth, resilience, and learning.Your role as a parent is invaluable in providing encouragement, structure, and reassurance. By supporting your child’s preparation and well-being, you are helping them develop skills that will serve them far beyond the exam room.We wish you and your child every success on this journey.If you have any questions, or need support with any aspect of CE at 13+, you can contact the ISEB Qualifications & Delivery team via our support portal. You'll also find a wide range of support articles and FAQs for families.
Complete the form below to access a set of free resources designed to help your family prepare for Common Entrance exams.
You'll get two free downloadable Parent Power Toolkit resources, access to our 'Resilient Reviser' video, and dedicated guides to CE 13+ English, mathematics and science.
You'll also get a discount code to use on purchases of CE past exam papers and Parent Power Toolkit products on the ISEB online shop!
By completing this form you will be added to ISEB's mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Complete the form below to access a set of free resources designed to help your family prepare for Common Entrance exams.
You'll get two free downloadable Parent Power Toolkit resources, access to our 'Resilient Reviser' video, and dedicated guides to CE 13+ English, mathematics and science, as well as a discount code to use on purchases of CE past exam papers and Parent Power Toolkit products on the ISEB online shop!
By completing this form you will be added to ISEB's mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.
New CE 13+ past paper bundles for English, maths and science!
You can now order all of the papers included in the Spring 2021 to Spring 2024 exam packs for English, maths or science in one easy-to-order bundle product from the ISEB online shop. You'll save 10% on buying the packs individually. These papers are printed and delivered to you ready to use at home.
Parent Power Toolkit - activities for families preparing for exams
Unleash your parent power to help your child succeed. Activity resources now available individually so you can select those most valuable to your family's assessment or admissions journey.
See a selection of these resources below. The full set is available on the ISEB online shop now.
See the full set of Parent Power Toolkit resources on the ISEB online shop now.
Your discount code for the ISEB online shop for families
SUMMERCE5
Use the code above to get 5% off shop orders over £50.00. Expires 30 April 2025. Includes sale items.
Your free Common Entrance (CE) resources
Parent guide to CE 13+ English
Parent guide to CE 13+ maths
Parent guide to CE 13+ science
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Your free Parent Power Toolkit resources
Preparing and packing for my exam (PDF activity resource)
Resilient Reviser (video resource)
Preparing for all eventualities: A, B, C Plan (PDF activity resource)
Visit the ISEB CE Admissions Toolkit for Families
Visit our dedicated area for parents and guardians of children preparing for Common Entrance (CE) at 13+.
Visit the ISEB Online Shop
Visit our online shop for families to see our exam packs for Common Entrance (CE) at 13+.
Ask us a question!
The ISEB team is on hand to answer any questions you might have about the upcoming CE at 13+ session through our CE Support Portal. You'll also find a wide range of support articles and FAQs.