13+ Private School entry - Rob Williams Assessment Ltd

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13 plus private school entry 2024

How do I find the latest TOP private school entry prep from 5+ 6+… 11+ 13+ to 16 plus?

Ask ROB, our resident 13+ test design expert , your questions by emailing passedpapers@gmail.com

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests. Rob has worked for all three of the main school entrance test publishers: GL Assessment; ISEB independent school entry papers and CEM Select private school entrance papers.

Recommended private School entrance test practice

Our FREE private school 11+ entry past papers
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If these free prep past papers are not in fact you need, then you can try searching all of our extensive School Entrance exam practice tests here.

ISEB Pre-Tests Guides for Parents 2024

Click these ISEB inks for:

…searching your local schools which use the ISEB Common Pretest.

…downloading this excellent ISEB introductory guide ISEB Pre Tests Parents Guide

Our Independent School Guides

Our ISEB pre-tests for Private School’s 12 plus exams and 13 plus exams can be found below.

Our independent School test practice guides 2024

Firstly, 16+ test practice and 16 plus test prep.

Secondly, 13+ test practice and 13 plus past papers.

Thirdly, 11 plus independent school test practice and selective school CEM Select test practice.

And then finally THE BEST ISEB test prep.

Our prep school exam advice for parents

The best way to prepare for prep school entrance exams is to believe that your children should be able to pass. Also though, to manage their own expectations.

In our opinion, your child needs to view target schools as options. That way if they don’t get in, it Is because the school was not right for them.

So, be open about the amount of prep school exam prep that will be required. Promote a growth mindset by avoiding the belief that your child has failed somehow.

Entrance exam papers for private school entrance. Apple on books

Independent Schools English Exam Papers 13+

13+ Biology (ISEB Level 2 2017)

Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB Level 2 2017)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2012)
Biology Level 2 (ISEB January 2014)
13+ Biology Level 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2014)
Biology Level 2 (ISEB November 2013)
13+ Biology Level 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2013)
Biology (ISEB January 2012)
13+ Biology (ISEB November 2011)
Biology (ISEB June 2011)

13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB June 2011)
Biology (ISEB January 2011)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2011)

Biology (ISEB November 2010)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2010)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

Biology (ISEB June 2010)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB June 2010)
Biology (ISEB January 2010)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2010)
Biology (ISEB June 2009)
13+ Biology (ISEB June 2008)
Biology (ISEB February 2006)
13+ Biology (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
Biology (Merchant Taylors 2017)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ Chemistry (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
Chemistry (ISEB Level 2 2017)
13+ Chemistry Mark Scheme (ISEB Level 2 2017)
Chemistry Level 2 (ISEB January 2014)
13+ Chemistry Level 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2014)
Chemistry Level 2 (ISEB November 2013)
13+ Chemistry Level 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2013)
Chemistry Level 2 (ISEB January 2013)
13+ Chemistry (ISEB January 2012)
Chemistry (ISEB November 2011)
13+ Chemistry (ISEB June 2011)
Chemistry (ISEB January 2011)
13+ Chemistry (ISEB November 2010)
Chemistry (ISEB June 2010)
13+ Chemistry (ISEB January 2010)
Chemistry (ISEB June 2009)
13+ Chemistry (ISEB June 2008)
Chemistry (ISEB February 2006)
13+ Chemistry (Merchant Taylors 2017)

Entrance Exam Papers for Private Schools

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ English – Sample Paper 2 (Alleyn’s)
English – Sample Paper 1 (Alleyn’s)
13+ English (Bromsgrove 2013)
Charterhouse English 13+ (2004)
English (City of London Freemen’s School 2012)
13+ English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper A)
English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper B)
13+ English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper C)
English (Dulwich College 2009)
13+ English (Emanuel School)
English (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
13+ English – Spelling, Proof Reading, Punctuation (Harrow)
English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB November 2014) – with mark scheme
13+ English Level 2 Paper 2 (ISEB November 2014) – with mark scheme

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ English Level 2 Paper 2 (ISEB June 2014) – with mark scheme
English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB November 2014) – with mark scheme
13+ English Level 2 Paper 2 (ISEB January 2014) – with mark scheme
English Level 1 Paper 1 (ISEB January 2013)
13+ English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB January 2013)
English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB November 2013)
13+ English Level 2 Paper 2 (ISEB November 2013) – with mark scheme

13+ English Paper 1 (ISEB Autumn 2013)
English Paper 2 (ISEB Autumn 2013)
13+ English Papers 1 & 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB 2013)
English Paper 1 (ISEB 2012)
13+ English Paper 2 (ISEB 2012)
English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB November 2012)
13+ English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB June 2012)
English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB January 2012)

13+ English Level 1 Paper 1 (ISEB November 2012)
English Level 1 Paper 1 (ISEB June 2012)
13+ English Level 1 Paper 1 (ISEB January 2012)
English Levels 1 & 2 Paper 2 (ISEB 2012)
13+ English Level 2 Paper 1 (ISEB January 2011)
English Paper 1 (ISEB February 2006)
13+ English Paper 2 (ISEB February 2006)

Entrance Exam Papers for Private Schools

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ English Section A (King’s College School Wimbledon Pre-test 2019)
English Section B (King’s College School Wimbledon Pre-test 2019)
13+ English Section C (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017 and Pre-test 2019)
English (Merchant Taylors 2017)
13+ English (Shrewsbury 2014)
English (St Edward’s 2016)
13+ English (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
English (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
13+ English (St Edward’s 2015)
English (St Edward’s Scholarship 2013-14)
13+ English (St Edward’s 2013)
English (St Edward’s 2012-13)
13+ English (St Edward’s 2011-12)
English (St Edward’s 2010)

13+ French (Alleyn’s School)
French – Listening Comprehension (Dulwich College)
13+ French – Reading & Writing (Dulwich College)
French – Writing (Emanuel)
13+ French – Reading (Emanuel)
French (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
13+ French Level 2 Speaking (ISEB January 2013

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

French Level 2 Speaking – Examiner’s Copy (ISEB January 2013)
13+ French Level 2 Reading and Writing (ISEB January 2013)
French Level 2 Listening and Speaking Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2013)
13+ French Level 2 Listening – Examiner’s Copy (ISEB January 2013)
French Level 2 Listening (ISEB January 2013)
13+ French Level 2 Speaking (ISEB November 2012)
French Level 2 Speaking – Examiner’s Copy (ISEB November 2012)
13+ French Level 2 Reading and Writing Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)
French Level 2 Reading and Writing (ISEB November 2012)
13+ French Level 2 Listening and Speaking Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)
French Level 2 Listening (ISEB November 2012)
13+ French Level 2 Reading and Writing (ISEB January 2010)
French (Kent College)
13+ French (Merchant Taylors 2017)
French (Shrewsbury 2014)
13+ French (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
French (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
13+ French (St Edward’s 2014)
French (St Edward’s 2013)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ General Paper – History, Geography, Theology (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)

Geography (ISEB January 2013)
13+ Geography Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2013)
Geography (ISEB November 2012)
13+ Geography Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)
Geography (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
13+ Geography (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
Geography (St Edward’s 2013)

13+ Greek (St Edward’s 2013)

Entrance Exam Papers for Private Schools

History (ISEB Autumn 2013)
13+ History (ISEB January 2013)
History Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2013)
13+ History (ISEB November 2012)
History Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)
13+ History (ISEB June 2012)
History Mark Scheme (ISEB June 2012)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
13+ History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2014)
History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2013)
13+ History (St George’s College Scholarship)

Humanities (Merchant Taylors 2017)

13+ Latin (Dulwich College)
Latin (Emanuel)
13+ Latin (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2014)
Latin Level 1 (ISEB January 2013)
13+ Latin Level 2 (ISEB January 2013)
13+ Latin Level 2 (ISEB January 2013)
13+ Latin Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2013)
Latin Level 1 (ISEB November 2012)
13+ Latin Level 2 (ISEB November 2012)
Latin Level 3 (ISEB November 2012)
13+ Latin Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

Latin (Merchant Taylors 2017)
13+ Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
13+ Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2014)
Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2013)

Maths – Sample Paper 2 (Alleyn’s)
13+ Maths – Sample Paper 1 (Alleyn’s)
Maths (Bromsgrove School 2011)
13+ Maths (Charterhouse 2004)
Maths (Charterhouse)
13+ Maths – Revised (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
Maths (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
13+ Maths (Colfe’s School)
Maths (Dulwich College Specimen Paper A)
13+ Maths (Dulwich College Specimen Paper B)
Maths (Dulwich College Specimen Paper C)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

Entrance Exam Papers for Private Schools

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ Maths Section A (King’s College School Wimbledon Pre-test 2019)
Maths Section B (King’s College School Wimbledon Pre-test 2019)
13+ Maths (Merchant Taylors 2017)
Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2017)
13+ Maths (Oundle School 1 2009)
Maths (Oundle School 1 2010)
13+ Maths (Oundle School 2 2008)
Maths (Oundle School 2 2009)
13+ Maths (Oundle School 2A 2010)
Maths (Oundle School 2A 2011)
13+ Maths (Reigate Grammar School 2010)
Maths (Shrewsbury 2014)
13+ Maths (Shrewsbury Sept 2013)
Maths (St Edward’s 2016)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 1 2016)
Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2016)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 1 2015)
Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2015)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 1 2014)
Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2014)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

13+ Maths (St Edward’s 2013-14)
Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 1 2013)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2013)
Maths (St Edward’s 2013)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s 2012)
Maths (St Edward’s 2011)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s 2010)
Maths (The Perse Upper School 1)
13+ Maths (The Perse Upper School 2)
Maths (The Perse Upper School 3)
13+ Maths (The Perse Upper School 4)
Maths Non-Calculator Paper (Winchester May 2012)

Greek 13+ exam papers

13+Greek (St Edward’s 2013)

Independent Schools English Exam Papers 13+

13-14+ English (Shrewsbury 2013)

English as an Additional Language (St Edward’s 2016)
13-14+ English as an Additional Language (St Edward’s 2013)

French (Shrewsbury 2013)

14+ English (City of London Freemen’s School)
English (St Edward’s 2016)
14+ English (St Edward’s 2015)
English (St Edward’s 2013-14)
14+ English (St Edward’s 2012-3)

French (St Edward’s 2013)

14+ German (St Edward’s 2014)

Latin (St Edward’s 2013)

Independent Schools Exam Papers 13+ (cont’d)

14+ Maths (City of London Freemen’s School 2012)
Maths (St Edward’s 2016)
14+ Maths (St Edward’s 2015)
Maths (St Edward’s 2014)
14+ Maths (St Edward’s 2013)

Maths, English & French (Monmouth School)

14+ Science (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
Science (St Edward’s 2016)
14+ Science (St Edward’s 2014)
Science (St Edward’s 2013)

14+ Spanish (St Edward’s 2013)

Independent Schools Exam Papers

COMMON APPLICATION FORM 2022

There are often stories of disappointment from people allocated inappopriate schools. Or even unacceptable for their child. There are various reasons that this may happen. Although, it’s often because parents did not:

Grasp the admission criteria for their chosen schools.
Comprehend the process of allocating schools – the Equal Preference System.

It really should not happen that children lose out on school places. Certainly, not because their school preferences were entered incorrectly on the CAF (Common Application Form). Often this happens because parents listen to a headteacher or teacher.

Even Headteachers and teachers are not always aware of the best procedure. Or able to advise on the correct way to complete the CAF. Often, parents have entered the following order of preferences on the CAF on the advice of their child’s Headteacher.

Preferred grammar school, not a catchment school.
Local Comprehensive school, heavily over-subscribed.
Catchment grammar school.

ISEB Exam Intro

ISEB, or the Independent School Examination Board, provides sets of Common Pre-tests for senior school students in year 6 or 7, when the students are aged 10 to 12.
While candidates who are aged 6 take the 11+ Common Entrance Exam, those who are aged 8 years take the 13+ Common Entrance Exam for admittance to the senior school of their choice.
The ISEB tests are considered entrance tests for students by many prep or senior schools and the marks achieved therein help students to gain admittance to independent schools.
As these tests are age-standardised exams, students start to prepare for them at a very young age in readiness for joining their senior school.
ISEB tests are held online by the school administration in which the pupil currently studies. They include multiple choice questions in English, mathematics, non-verbal and verbal reasoning.
As it is the responsibility of the senior school students to inform the parents about the Common Pre-tests, parents do not need to register.
The ISEB is taken once a year for those children applying to several senior schools.

What happens to my ISEB results?

The scores for the ISEB tests are shared with all the senior schools that the candidate is registered with.

Hence, the parents need to inform the administration of each senior school about the test their child took before admission.

How long is the ISEB common entrance test?

The total ISEB common entrance test time: is 2’5 hours, which is allotted as follows:

25 minutes for the English section.
50 minutes for the Maths section.
32 minutes for the Non-verbal reasoning section.
And the remaining 36 minutes for the verbal reasoning section.

Students can take the tests together or separately. However, each section needs to be completed within the given time allotted to the respective section.

Overseas candidates can take the exam at the testing centres accepted by the senior schools.

What sort of questions are in each section of the ISEB Common Entrance Exam?

The questions under the English category comprise reading comprehension, sentence forming, punctuation and spelling.
In the Maths section, the ISEB Maths questions align with the National Curriculum. Hence, students need to address the topics taught on the National Curriculum up to 5 years of age.
For the verbal reasoning part, questions are asked based on common words, word combinations, antonyms, number codes and letter transfer.
Lastly, in the non-verbal reasoning section, questions focus on geometry, horizontal codes and classes.

Based on the syllabus for the Common Pre-test, it is suggested that students do not need any special preparation as the test is designed to identify the potential and attainment of candidates. A brief syllabus of the ISEB test can be downloaded from its official website.

If a student is interested in undertaking special preparation, parents can visit the online ISEB website and download the previous year’s question papers and several textbooks endorsed by ISEB.

Common Entrance Exam Intro

The Common Entrance Test is offered by Galore Park, which is the selected distributor of the Independent School Examination Board (ISEB) exam papers. The common entrance exams are titled the 11+ Entrance Test and the 13+ Entrance Test.

The 11+ Common Entrance Test is conducted by senior schools in the United Kingdom in order to assess the eligibility of the candidate to enter the respective senior school. The test is held in year 6, during the spring or autumn. The subjects for the 11+ entrance exam are English, mathematics and science. The exam is at one level only.

What sort of questions are in each section of the Common Entrance Exam?

For the English section, students are tested on their writing and reading skills.
Maths section entails an hour answering questions on numbers, measuring, algebra, geometry, space and data.
For the science section, the 11+ Common Entrance Test covers biology, chemistry and physics knowledge.
Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning are not part of the 11+ test, but many prep schools prefer to test the candidates in these areas as well.

For the mathematics section, students need to sit these three levels.

The first Maths level is a calculator paper.
Second MAths level is a non-calculator paper.
Third Maths level is a mental arithmetic paper.
For science subjects, there are also two levels of paper, and students prefer to sit level 2.

There are optional papers for the exam, including Latin, Classical Greek, German, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. For the English paper, there are two levels. Papers for other subjects are also divided into several levels and students prefer to sit the standard level to achieve the more valuable score.

Which schools use the Common Entrance Exam?

The 13+ Common Entrance Test is also conducted by senior schools to assess eligibility for admission.
This exam is mostly held in spring or summer during year 8. Practice and mock tests for the exam are also provided by Galore Park to help prepare the candidate for this exam.
The main subjects of the 13+ Entrance Exams are English, mathematics and science.
However, additional subjects that students can apply for to enhance their admission process include French, geography, history and religious studies. Most pupils prefer to sit the second level as it is the standard paper.

How much does the Common Entrance Exam cost?

The fee for students to take the exam in the United Kingdom is £125.
However, if a candidate prefers to be tested on subjects separately, the fee is £25 for each subject.
The date and timing of the exam for each academic year is available at the ISEB or Galore Park exam site.
Both the 11+ Common Entrance Test and 13+ Common Entrance Test are vital for students going to senior schools in the United Kingdom and the scores of these exams are evaluated during admission time.
Students with a high score get to choose their preferred senior school.

COMMON APPLICATION FORM 2021 Part II

One set of parents were advised to put the comprehensive school as high as possible on the form if they wanted a chance of getting a place. The Headteacher was under the impression that if the child qualified for grammar school; the comprehensive school will automatically be ignored. She was wrong.

Unfortunately, the Admissions Department could not allocate the child a place in the grammar school. Even though the child did qualify for a one. Although he/she qualified for grammar school allocation, the first preference school was oversubscribed. Therefore the Admissions Department automatically moved to the next preference school. The Admissions Department had to believe that that was what the parents intended. To therefore award the child a place at the comprehensive school.

The only solution for the parent was to go on to the waiting lists for both grammar schools. To hope that a place would become available at one of the. Or to fight an over-subscription appeal for both schools. Luckily, on this occasion, a place came up at the local, catchment grammar school in the second round of allocations.

As the example above shows, even experienced professionals can give incorrect advice, despite their best intentions.

In many areas of the country, the CAF allows you to express up to six preferences. This is generally sufficient for most parents. However, in certain areas, there are only three spaces on the CAF, and completing the form presents considerable challenges.

The golden rule for completing the CAF is that you should always put the schools in your real order of preference.

COMMON APPLICATION FORM 2021 Part IV

Remember when completing the CAF:

If your child is taking the 11+, list all your preferred grammar schools above any other type of schools.
Be realistic. If a certain grammar school is 15 miles away then don’t list it as a preference. Although if you live only 8-9 miles away, take a chance.
Your last preference school should be your ultimate fallback if all else fails. Therefore, make sure it is still a school that will be acceptable. Plus, one that your child is certain to get a place.
Keep a copy of your CAF (print the online version or make a copy of the form signed and dated version). You will be very glad if you decide to appeal. Then need to prove what you filled in.
Get proof that your application form has been sent. Take a screenshot or send it by recorded mail. You can even phone the local authority a few days later to confirm.
ASK any questions you may have. You only have one opportunity to apply for secondary school places. So make sure you do it right.
If your child does not get a place at any of your listed preferences, your home local authority will allocate your child a place. Check carefully with your local Admissions Department. Or with the School Choice Advisers.

Independent Schools Exam Papers

The focus of this page is Independent School Exam Papers.

If these free prep past papers are not in fact you need, then you can try searching all of our extensive School Entrance exam practice tests here.