Not every 13+ scholarship is academic. Senior independent schools also award Music, Art, Sport, Drama and (at 13+ specifically) All-Rounder scholarships — merit-based fee reductions assessed through a live performance, portfolio or trial rather than a written exam. Each track has its own timing and process, set independently by the school, not by a shared exam board.
Why these tracks look nothing like a written exam
A CASE or bespoke academic scholarship paper is fundamentally a written test marked against a fixed set of right answers or model responses. Every non-academic track below is assessed differently — through demonstrated skill, live or recorded — which changes what preparation actually looks like: rehearsal and technique rather than past papers, and a portfolio built over months rather than revision crammed into weeks.
Here are the five main non-academic scholarship tracks a family may encounter at 13+.
1. Music scholarships
Music scholarships are assessed through a live performance and audition, usually on one or two instruments (or voice), often including sight-reading and sometimes a short aural test or interview with the director of music. Schools frequently want to see evidence of a pupil's grade level (many expect a standard well above what is typical for age 13) alongside genuine musicality rather than technical ability alone. Some schools also offer instrumental awards below full scholarship level, aimed at pupils who show strong potential but are not yet at competition standard.
2. Art scholarships
Art scholarships are judged on a portfolio of existing work submitted in advance, followed by a supervised session at the school where candidates produce new work — often responding to a set theme — under exam-like conditions. This combination matters: the portfolio shows sustained development and range, while the supervised piece confirms the work is genuinely the candidate's own and produced under time pressure, not assisted at home.
3. Sport scholarships
Sport scholarships are typically assessed through a supervised match, trial session or fitness and skills assessment, sometimes across more than one sport, and often supported by a reference or report from the pupil's current school or club coach. Because sporting ability is harder to standardise on a single day than a written paper, schools frequently weigh the trial performance alongside evidence of sustained achievement — county or regional selection, for example — rather than a one-off assessment alone.
4. Drama scholarships
Drama scholarships are usually assessed through prepared performance pieces (often one classical and one contemporary), sometimes combined with cold-reading or improvisation exercises set on the day, and an interview with the head of drama. As with music, schools are typically looking for range and stage presence rather than a single polished set-piece.
5. All-Rounder scholarships (13+ specific)
Unlike the other four tracks, an All-Rounder scholarship does not reward outstanding ability in one specialism. It exists specifically to recognise pupils who combine solid academic performance with genuine achievement across two or more co-curricular areas — for example, a pupil who plays a musical instrument to a good standard, represents a school sports team, and holds a position of responsibility, without being a stand-out academic or sporting scholar individually. Assessment usually draws on a combination of academic results, a shorter written element, references, and an interview covering the pupil's wider activities, rather than a single specialist audition or trial.
How the five tracks compare
| Track | Assessment method | Typical evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Music | Live performance, audition, sight-reading | Instrument grade level, aural test |
| Art | Portfolio + supervised new work | Existing body of work, themed piece on the day |
| Sport | Trial, match or fitness assessment | Coach reference, representative honours |
| Drama | Performance pieces + interview | Prepared monologues, cold-reading ability |
| All-Rounder | Combined academic + co-curricular review | Balanced achievement across several areas, references |
Timing is set by each school, not a shared calendar
Unlike CASE, which is sat on a common date across many schools, non-academic scholarship assessments are scheduled independently by each senior school — often on a different day from the academic scholarship exam, and sometimes months apart from Common Entrance itself. A family targeting a music or sport scholarship should confirm the audition or trial date directly with each school well in advance, since missing a one-off audition slot is far harder to remedy than missing a single question on a written paper. For the shared academic route most families encounter, see What Is the Common Academic Scholarship Examination (CASE)?; for schools that set their own bespoke academic exam entirely, see How Do 13+ Scholarships Work? Eton's King's Scholarship Explained.
FAQ
Can a pupil hold both an academic and a music or sport scholarship?
It varies by school. Some senior schools allow a pupil to be recognised across more than one category, while others award a single scholarship type per pupil even if they show strength in several areas — which is part of what the All-Rounder category exists to address. Check the individual school's scholarship policy for how it handles overlapping strengths.
Do music, art and sport scholarships still require a good academic record?
Generally, yes. Even a scholarship awarded primarily for musical, artistic or sporting ability usually still requires the pupil to meet the school's ordinary academic entry standard through the normal Pre-Test and Common Entrance route — a non-academic scholarship recognises an additional strength, but it does not usually replace the standard admissions process.
How is an All-Rounder scholarship different from a specialist scholarship?
A specialist scholarship (music, art, sport or drama) rewards outstanding ability in one specific area. An All-Rounder scholarship, only offered at 13+ by some schools, instead rewards a pupil who is genuinely strong across several areas — academic and co-curricular — without necessarily being a stand-out specialist in any single one.
Are non-academic scholarships means-tested?
No. Like academic scholarships, music, art, sport, drama and All-Rounder scholarships are merit-based fee reductions, not assessed against family income. They can, in principle, be combined with a separate means-tested bursary application — see our guide to private school bursaries and scholarships for how that combination works.
If your child is preparing for a scholarship audition, trial or portfolio alongside their core academic subjects, structured support can help them balance both — explore aitutors.me to find out more.