Common Entrance (CE) is an exam set by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB), typically sat at age thirteen by pupils moving from a preparatory school to a senior independent school. It is not a public qualification, but it is the standard gateway into many leading independent schools at Year 9 entry.
Who sits the Common Entrance exam?
Common Entrance at 13-plus is taken almost exclusively by pupils in the independent (fee-paying) sector — specifically, those attending a preparatory school and seeking entry to a senior independent school. State school pupils very rarely sit CE because senior independent schools typically use alternative assessment routes (such as an in-house entrance exam or interview) for applicants from the state sector.
There is also a Common Entrance at 11-plus (CE 11+), used for entry to some independent senior schools at Year 7 rather than Year 9. CE 11+ is less widely used than CE 13+ and tends to be school-specific.
What subjects does Common Entrance 13-plus cover?
CE 13+ covers a broad range of subjects, and schools can choose which they require candidates to sit. The full subject list includes:
| Subject | Notes |
|---|---|
| English | Comprehension and writing; required by virtually all schools |
| Mathematics | Required by virtually all schools |
| Science | Often required |
| History | Optional for most schools |
| Geography | Optional for most schools |
| Religious Studies | Optional |
| French | Required by many senior schools |
| Latin | Optional; required by some traditional senior schools |
| Greek, German, Spanish | Optional modern or classical languages |
Most senior schools specify which subjects they require candidates to sit. A typical requirement might be English, Mathematics, Science, and one or two languages. Pupils apply to a senior school, receive a conditional offer, and then sit CE papers set and marked against that school's requirements.
How is Common Entrance different from the 11-plus?
The 11-plus is a selection test used primarily by state grammar schools in certain local authorities. It tests verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, and mathematics, and it determines access to selective state education. Common Entrance is a quite different examination used within the independent sector:
| Feature | Common Entrance 13+ | 11-plus (state grammar) |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Independent senior schools | State grammar schools |
| Age | Typically 13 (Year 8) | Typically 10–11 (Year 6) |
| Content | Subject-based academic curriculum | Reasoning tests, English, Maths |
| Sits within | Prep school → senior independent school pathway | State primary → grammar school pathway |
| Cost | Prep school fees fund preparation; no separate exam fee to parents | No exam fee; state school pupils |
Who sets and marks Common Entrance papers?
ISEB writes the papers, but marking is done by the senior school — not by ISEB. Each senior school sets its own pass mark and marking criteria. This means that the same CE paper may result in an offer from one school but not another, because schools apply different thresholds and weight subjects differently according to their academic character.
Most senior independent schools give conditional offers at an earlier pre-test stage (commonly Year 6 or Year 7), with the formal offer contingent on the candidate meeting the school's CE grade requirement. By the time pupils sit CE in the summer of Year 8, most already know which school they are going to — CE typically confirms the conditional offer rather than being a surprise competition.
How do schools use CE results to make offers?
The process for most selective independent schools follows these steps:
- Pre-test (Year 6 or Year 7): Pupils sit an ISEB-registered computerised adaptive test or the school's own entrance test. The school makes conditional offers based on this.
- Conditional offer: The senior school confirms a place subject to meeting a CE grade requirement, typically expressed as a percentage (e.g., 55%, 65%, or 70% in specified subjects).
- Common Entrance papers (Year 8, typically May/June): Pupils sit papers at their prep school. Scripts are sent to the senior school for marking.
- Results and confirmation: Results are typically released in mid-June. If the pupil meets the required grades, the conditional offer becomes unconditional and the place is confirmed.
What if a pupil does not meet the required CE grade?
If a pupil narrowly misses the required grade, most schools will review the full application — including teacher references, interview notes, and the pre-test result — before making a final decision. Schools rarely rescind an offer for a small shortfall if other indicators are strong. If the shortfall is significant, families may need to consider alternative senior schools or, in some cases, request a gap term at the prep school for resit purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Can state school pupils sit Common Entrance?
In theory, yes — ISEB does not restrict who sits the papers. In practice, CE preparation is embedded in the prep school curriculum and it would be very difficult for a state school pupil to sit CE without dedicated teaching aligned to the specification. Most independent senior schools recognise this and offer alternative assessment routes (scholarship papers, school entrance exams, or interviews) for state school applicants. Contact the admissions office of any senior school you are considering to find out their preferred process for non-prep school candidates.
Is Common Entrance the same as a scholarship exam?
No. Scholarship examinations are separate, harder assessments for pupils competing for an academic, music, art, or sports scholarship. These are set and marked by the individual senior school, not by ISEB, and sit alongside or after CE. A scholarship may carry a fee reduction, an academic honour, or both. A pupil might sit CE to confirm their conditional offer and separately sit a scholarship paper to compete for a bursary or award.
What mark out of 100 do pupils need to pass?
There is no single national pass mark. Each senior school sets its own threshold, which varies by school and subject. Schools in the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) tend to publish their typical CE requirements on their admissions pages. Ask the admissions registrar at your chosen senior school early — ideally when the conditional offer is made — so your child's prep school knows exactly what they need to achieve.
When should I start preparing my child for Common Entrance?
CE preparation is embedded in the prep school curriculum from Year 6 onwards and intensifies in Years 7 and 8. It is not generally appropriate for parents to source external CE tutors in isolation from the prep school, as the school's scheme of work is designed to cover the syllabus systematically. The most useful thing parents can do is communicate regularly with the prep school about their child's progress, especially in the subjects the senior school requires.
For subject support during the transition from prep to senior school, visit aitutors.me.