The Common Entrance exams (commonly known as CE) are a set of tests undertaken by pupils at both state and independent schools seeking admission to selective senior independent prep schools at 11+ or 13+. Candidates are entered for the Common Entrance exams if they have secured a place at a school pending their results, but they are taken at the pupil’s current school. The Common Entrance exams assess whether a child who has been offered a place at an independent senior school is meets the academic standards of the school to which they are applying to.

For 11+, pupils will sit exams in English, Maths, and Science in the autumn or spring term of Year 6, though these are usually for independent girls’ schools. While, candidates for the 13+ sit exams in these core subjects, as well as tests from a wide range of topics in the humanities, languages, and in classical subjects such as Latin and Greek. 13+ exams take place in the autumn, spring, or summer term of Year 8, before going to boys’ or mixed senior school the following September.

The Common Entrance written exams at 13+ are taken over a four-day period, which can be 40 minutes to an hour and a quarter; some mathematics tests, plus the speaking and listening tests in languages, are usually shorter in duration.

In some prep schools, pupils might also take the age-standardised Common Pre-Tests, which are used to evaluate the attainment and potential of Year 6 or Year 7 children before they might apply to independent senior school. For some, the results of the Common Pre-Tests are enough to gain them a place, but for most other schools the results usually still mean that the child will have to sit the Common Entrance exams.

Pupils who succeed in the Common Entrance exams are usually those who have the acquired the necessary knowledge, but also the knowledge of how it apply it. Prospective schools are looking for how students can adapt, interpret, and analyse, not merely the regurgitation of learned information. Past papers are available online, but private tuition can be a beneficial way of boosting your child’s confidence and preparing them for their Common Entrance exams at 11+ or 13+, whenever they might be sitting them. Do let us know if you would like to discuss your child’s requirements in further detail.