ISEB FAMILIES HUB

Who is ISEB?

The Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) has been producing entrance assessments for the independent sector for the last 120 years. ISEB was created in 1903 to administer ‘Britain’s oldest exam’, the Common Entrance (CE) and Common Academic Scholarship (CASE) exams, and has sat at the heart of the sector ever since.

ISEB is a patron of the three leading associations in the independent sector, the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), the Heads’ Conference (HMC) and the Girls Schools Association (GSA). As the original founders, IAPS, HMC and GSA still play an active role in ISEB with representatives on the Board of Directors.

What are the ISEB Common Pre-Tests?

The ISEB Common Pre-Tests are digital, adaptive tests taken for 11+ entry to leading independent senior schools. 

The ISEB Pre-Tests may be referred to externally as the ’11+’, the ‘pre-tests’, ‘the ISEB’ or ‘CPT’. These all refer to the same set of four tests covering English, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

They are taken by children in Year 6 for Year 7 entry (11+) or used as a precursor to Year 9 entry (13+).

What is Common Entrance (CE)?

Common Entrance (CE) and Common Academic Scholarship (CASE) exams are a collection of paper-based entrance and scholarship exams and curricula used as part of entrance to leading independent UK senior schools, most commonly at 13+ (Year 9) but also at 11+ (Year 7).

The curriculum covers the following subjects:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• History
• Geography
• TPR (Theology, Philosophy and Religion)
• Latin and Classical Civilisation and Classical Greek
• Modern Foreign Languages, French, German and Spanish