Many independent senior schools have incorporated ‘Pre-Tests’ as an initial entry assessment for Year 7 and 9 entry. Pre-Tests commonly form the first stage of the admissions process, and schools use them to identify the students who are most suitable to proceed to the next stage. Pre-Tests can be administered in written form or on a computer, with the ISEB Common Pre-Test being one of the most common assessments.
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is used by a range of independent schools in the UK including Eton College, Harrow School, Westminster School and St Paul’s School to assess children before the 13+ entrance exams and at a handful of schools as a pre-test to 11+ entry.
Key Features of the ISEB Common Pre-Test
- Adaptive format: Questions adjust in difficulty based on the student’s performance, the questions will get harder if the student continually answers correctly, and easier if they do not.
- No going back: Once a question is answered, it cannot be revisited. All questions are compulsory.
- On-screen tools: A timer and progress bar help students pace themselves.
- Allowed materials: Pen/pencil and paper for workings are permitted.
- Practice: While there are no official practice tests available, there is a familiarisation test and during the actual test example questions will be shown.
Format of the ISEB Common Pre-Test
The test is taken on a computer and consists of multiple-choice questions. It is broken down into four parts:
- English – (reading comprehension, sentence completion, spelling and punctuation)
- Mathematics – (in line with Year 5 of the UK National Curriculum)
- Non-Verbal Reasoning – (shape analogies, classes like, horizontal codes)
- Verbal Reasoning – (letter, word and language-based questions)
How to Prepare for the ISEB Common Pre-Test
Keystone tutor Oli shares his three pillars of successful preparation: Skills, Variety, and Practice.
1. Skills: Start Early
Developing Skills is a long term process. Even many years before a student takes the Pre-Test, a good holistic approach to education can develop the key skills required.
Reading Skills
In both the English and Verbal Reasoning Pre-test there is a huge emphasis on vocabulary, the manipulation of words and comprehension. The best preparation? Reading. A lot of it.
If your child is a reluctant reader:
- Be persistent and flexible—try fiction, non-fiction, or books about their interests.
- Use the “first 50 pages rule”: if they’re not hooked by then, move on to another book.
- Create a visible “Books I’ve Read” list at home to track progress.
- Consider incentives for completing books—whatever it takes to build the habit.
- Join them in reading: read aloud to them, have them read to you, or read side-by-side.
Maths Skills
Success in the Maths section depends on mental arithmetic. Key tips:
- Ensure full mastery of times tables.
- Practice mental maths strategies regularly at home.
- Involve your child in maths in daily life—shopping totals, time calculations, and so on.
2. Variety: Prepare with a Range of Online Resources
Once the above foundational skills are in place, structured Pre-Test practice should begin. This can start anywhere from a few months to over a year before the test, depending on the child’s needs.
Using a range of online platforms helps your child adapt to different question styles and builds resilience for unfamiliar content.
ISEB Common Pre-Test Online Resources
- Atom Learning – Offers adaptive tests and in-depth performance analysis.
- BOFA Pre-Test – Cost-effective, good for early preparation.
- Century Tech – Developed in collaboration with ISEB; useful for format familiarisation.
- Pre-Test Plus – Claims to use materials written by ISEB question writers.
- Studyhall AI – A new platform taking an evidence-based approach and offering a personalised curriculum based on children's interests (asked during the onboarding process). Their Deep Reader, in partnership with the publisher Penguin Random House, gives users access to a wide range of diverse fiction and non-fiction to keep them motivated and engaged with their studies.
- Bond Online – Budget-friendly option; great for early practice, though less challenging at advanced levels.
Tip: Since the ISEB Pre-Test is taken online, most preparation should also be online to build confidence with the format.
3. Practice: Little and Often
Regular, targeted practice is essential, but don’t overdo it. Too much can lead to burnout and frustration.
Helpful practice tips:
- Spread practice across all four areas.
- Focus more on weak areas, using platform data to guide you.
- Encourage reflection after each practice session.
Parents can do an awful lot to help their child with this process. If, however, you find that you're finding it challenging explaining particular concepts to your children, or it needs more time than you can spare, that's where ISEB Pre-test tutors can step in.
ISEB Pre-Test FAQ
How do I register for the ISEB Pre-tests?
Previously, applicants were registered by their senior schools, but now they need to be registered by their parents/guardian. The registration process is online: https://reg.iseb.co.uk/
Where can you take the ISEB Pre-test?
For most students this will be their current school but the test can also be taken at an approved test centre (such as the British Council) which is often the case for candidates that live outside of the UK. Do ask the senior schools for a list of accepted test centres as they might dictate where the test must be taken.
When is the ISEB Pre-test taken?
Registration for the ISEB Pre-Tests, and the exams themselves, follow the schedule below:
- Candidates can be registered for the ISEB Common Pre-Tests between the 5th September and 16th June
- Candidates are registered by their parent or guardian
- Candidate’s results can be accessed by Senior Schools via a portal on the ISEB website.
- The ISEB Common Pre-Tests can be taken any time between 1st October and 30th June
- Senior Schools set testing windows within this period the most common of which is between the 1st October and 30th November when candidates are in Year 6
- However, it is important to check with the senior school you are applying to for the exact dates the ISEB Common Pre-Tests needs to be sat.
How many times can you take the ISEB Pre-test?
Students can take the test once per academic year (between October 1st and June 30th). If you are applying for multiple schools, the same set of results will be shared with all schools registering that student during the same academic year.
What if schools have different Pre-test deadlines?
Students can only take the test once per academic year so the test will need to be taken before the earliest deadline. For example, if a student has applied to 3 senior schools and the deadlines are October, January and April. The test will need to be taken before October and all 3 schools will receive the results from that sitting.
Do all 4 sections of the ISEB Pre-test need to be taken at the same time?
No, the 4 parts can be taken with breaks in-between or even on separate days. You will need to speak to the invigilator at the test centre to ask how they plan to administer the test and whether they allow sections to be taken over multiple days.
How are the ISEB Pre-tests scored and what is the pass mark?
To understand how the ISEB scoring system works, and how schools judge the results from the test, have a look at our detailed article on the topic.
Can adjustments be made to the ISEB Pre-tests for SEND or EAL candidates?
Adjustments can be made to the test for candidates that have diagnosed special educational needs or English is their second language if the senior schools permit it. For example, extra time can be added or the text on the screen can be enlarged. Families must inform all the senior schools they have registered for about any requirements as any adjustments need to be agreed by all schools that will receive the results.
Further reading on the ISEB Pre-Test
If you are interested in reading more about the ISEB Pre-test, do take a look at our other articles