What are the ISEB Common Pre-Tests?

They are four online, adaptive, multiple-choice admissions tests covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Pupils usually take them in Year 6 or Year 7 for entry into Year 7 or deferred entry into Year 9.

How much does registration cost?

Parent or guardian registration through the ISEB Guardian Portal is free. Senior school applications and independent invigilation venues may have separate charges; ask the relevant organisation for its current fees.

How long are the tests, and how many questions are there?

Standard limits are mathematics 40 minutes, English 40 minutes, non-verbal reasoning 30 minutes and verbal reasoning 25 minutes, totalling 135 minutes. The tests may be split across days and may finish early. Adaptive question counts differ; ISEB does not publish one fixed total.

How are scores interpreted and can parents see them?

ISEB uses Standardised Age Scores with an independent-school-sector comparison sample and an average of 100. There is no universal pass mark. ISEB does not release results directly to parents; ask the senior school for context about its admissions decision.

Can pupils retake the tests for another school in the same academic year?

Pupils may sit the tests once per academic year. Families send the same Applicant ID to each senior school applied to so the schools can access the shared results. Report illness or technical incidents through the invigilator and ISEB rather than arranging another attempt independently.

What is covered and where should families start preparing?

English covers comprehension and language skills; mathematics covers the National Curriculum through Year 5. Verbal reasoning uses vocabulary and language-based logic; non-verbal reasoning includes 2D patterns and 3D spatial tasks. Start with the free official walkthrough and preparation toolkit. ISEB says additional preparation is not required.

What are the current 2026–27 session dates?

Registration opened on 9 June 2026 and testing began on 1 September 2026. ISEB currently lists testing ending in late May 2027. Check the current ISEB pages and every chosen senior school for precise or earlier deadlines; the venue schedules the tests.

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Is the content up to date?

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

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Free ISEB Pre-Test Exam Prep

ISEB Common Pre-Test (11+ Independent School Entrance)

Prepare for the ISEB Pre-Test exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.

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Updated January 2026

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ISEB Common Pre-Test

Study Guide Practice Questions100 questions

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Your Study Path

ISEB ISEB UK Independent School Entrance: Study Roadmap

Follow this path to organize your exam preparation

Optional orientation and familiarisation

Explore the official ISEB walkthrough, confirm the Applicant ID and venue arrangements, and choose a few independent exercises to identify learning needs. These hours are illustrative, not an exam requirement.

hours

English reading and language

Discuss age-appropriate fiction, non-fiction and poetry; practise retrieval, inference, contextual meanings, summaries, comparisons and correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

hours

Mathematics foundations through Year 5

Revisit number, calculations, fractions, decimals, percentages, measures, geometry and statistics; use mistakes to select the next classroom skill to review.

hours

Verbal and non-verbal problem solving

Practise vocabulary, letter and word rules, logical constraints, 2D patterns and 3D visualisation in short sessions, explaining how each proposed answer satisfies the clues.

hours

Review and comfortable on-screen practice

Check recurring errors and practise committing each answer before advancing. Keep a balanced routine; ISEB emphasises accuracy and consistency rather than maximum question count.

hours

Estimated total study time

24 hours

That's about 3 weeks at 10 hours/week

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What You'll Study

14 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide

Orientation, Registration & Strategy

3 sections

English: Retrieval, Inference & Word Choice

4 sections

English: Summaries, Comparisons & Word Classes

3 sections

English: Spelling, Sentences & Punctuation

3 sections

Mathematics: Place Value & Calculations

3 sections

Mathematics: Factors, Primes, Squares & Cubes

2 sections

Mathematics: Fractions & Percentages

3 sections

Mathematics: Scaling, Charts & Tables

2 sections

Mathematics: Units, Time, Money & Area

3 sections

Mathematics: Volume, Shapes, Angles & Coordinates

3 sections

Verbal Reasoning: Vocabulary & Word Relationships

3 sections

Verbal Reasoning: Codes, Sequences & Logic

3 sections

Non-Verbal Reasoning: 2D Patterns & Codes

4 sections

Spatial Reasoning: Reflections, Rotations & 3D Views

4 sections

ISEB Pre-Test Exam Details

ISEB Common Pre-Test (11+ Independent School Entrance)

Administered by Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB)

Official Source

No universal pass mark; senior schools interpret age-standardised results in their own admissions process

Passing Score

Four

Questions

About

Hours

Free registration via the ISEB Guardian Portal (individual senior schools charge separate application fees)

Exam Fee

Study time: No required preparation-hour total is published. The study path below is an optional, adjustable OpenExamPrep example; additional test preparation is not required by ISEB.

Exam Content Breakdown

Based on the official Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) content outline

EnglishWeight not published by ISEB

Reading comprehension: retrieval, inference, meaning in context, word choice, summaries and comparisons; vocabulary, punctuation, grammar and spelling.

MathematicsWeight not published by ISEB

National Curriculum through Year 5: number/place value, calculations, fractions/decimals/percentages, measurement, geometry and statistics.

Verbal ReasoningWeight not published by ISEB

Language-based comprehension, vocabulary and definitions, problem solving, trial and error, logical working and recognising suitable solutions.

Non-Verbal ReasoningWeight not published by ISEB

Patterns in 2D figures and diagrams, including similarities/differences, completion and code matching; manipulation of 3D figures for spatial reasoning.

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ISEB Pre-Test Exam FAQ

Official Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) Resources

Verify information with these official sources

ISEB Common Pre-Tests: current session and overview ISEB Common Pre-Tests Framework (2026–27)ISEB official test walkthrough ISEB preparation toolkit

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