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Founded in 1611, Charterhouse is one of the great historic public schools of England. With four centuries of history behind it, the school is committed to being at the forefront of educational progress in the twenty-first century. Located in Godalming, Surrey, the school became fully co-educational in September 2021 and now welcomes pupils from 13 to 18. Charterhouse offers a broad education combining academic ambition with extensive opportunities in sport, music, drama, the arts and other co-curricular activities.

Charterhouse is academically selective, but its admissions process is not based solely on examination performance. The school describes its approach as a ‘complete child’ philosophy, considering each applicant’s academic ability alongside their character, interests, talents and personality.

Charterhouse has several entry points, including 11+, 13+, 14+ and 16+. There are two main entrance points, in Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), although Charterhouse also admit around 20 pupils in Year 10, at the start of the GCSE course. The application process and assessments vary depending on the age at which a pupil wishes to join. All admissions though are by assessment, which is competitive, and contingent on performance at interview, as well as a positive reference from the candidate’s current school.

Founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, Dulwich College is a boys’ selective day and boarding school in London. Dulwich has a strong global brand with 11 outposts in other countries, including China, South Korea and Singapore. While it is certainly a very academically selective school, it also fosters an inclusive educational and social environment, and partners closely with its sister school James Allen’s Girls’ School. 

The main senior-school entry points are Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+). Dulwich also has a Junior School entry point at Year 3 and a small number of occasional places in Years 4 and 5 and, for boarders, Year 10.

Wycombe Abbey was founded in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove to create a girls’ education that was every ounce as good as boys’, through pursuit of excellence, development of talents, and an understanding of the needs of others. It has become one of the leading girls’ schools in the UK, renowned for its long-standing academic excellence and outstanding results. A formidable full-boarding school at the forefront of educating young women, it appeals to the brightest, liveliest go-getters with a passion and drive for brilliance. Wycombe Abbey educates 660 girls and has three entrance points, in Year 7, Year 9, and Year 12.

What is the CAT4 test?

Made by GL Assessment, it is one of the world’s most widely use cognitive ability tests. CAT stands for Cognitive Ability Test and it is used in schools to understand developed ability (i.e. where a child is now) and likely academic potential (i.e. where a child could be).

The CAT4 is used by some independent schools as a part of their admissions process, assessing a candidate’s verbal, non-verbal, mathematical, and spatial reasoning ability and academic potential. UK independent Prep Schools also use the CAT 4 tests as a data point (alongside qualitative and quantitative in-school data) to guide Senior School conversations with parents. This is because of its similarity to the existing Pre-Tests.

The fourth edition of CAT or CAT4 as it is more commonly known, took five years to develop, is based on extensive research, including the analysis of 25,000 UK students’ test data, and is one of the most common standardised assessment tools used in schools.

A short explanatory video of the CAT4’s content

Founded in 1553, Tonbridge School is one of the oldest schools in the world. Academic standards are extremely high with boys achieving exceptional results. Tonbridge offers both day and boarding options. The extra-curricular programme can be demanding but despite this fast pace, Tonbridge is characterised as much by individual needs as by collective endeavour.

Rugby school is a historic, well-established, co-educational school that is steeped in tradition and is probably best known as the birthplace of the sports that shares its name. The school has been educating children since 1567 and went fully co-educational in 1992. Rugby has always been at the forefront of innovation in teaching methods. The popular Extended Project Qualification was developed here, and academic facilities are outstanding, in particular for Languages and Sciences. Rugby has recently started to offer the IB Diploma in the sixth form alongside A Levels. The school has two main entry points, at 13 plus and 16 plus.

Westminster School is one of the older independent schools in the UK. It was originally a charity school founded by Benedictine of Westminster Abbey. Its existence ensured its survival during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 and his daughter Elizabeth I re-founded the school in 1560. Today, Westminster educates 750 students and has two entrance points, in Year 9 and Year 12.

Oundle is one of the largest co-ed boarding schools in the UK with just under 1,120 pupils, around 820 boarders and 310 day pupils, set in a Northamptonshire market town from which it takes its name. Oundle is a true all-round boarding school, with strong academic results, some of the best DT facilities in the country and fantastic sports and music. The school has three main entry points: 11 plus,13 plus and 16 plus.

City of London School is set within the iconic City landscape, surrounded by instantly recognisable institutions. The buzz of the school exudes enthusiasm for the opportunities that the school provides. One of the school’s main visions is to encourage boys to be the best version of themselves, in order to make progress and flourish in the modern world. The City of London School (CLS) is one of London's leading academic day schools, with over 950 boys between the ages of 10 and 18.

13+ Common Entrance Reading List: Our Recommendations for children in Years 7, 8 and 9 

For many young people, the 13+ exam is one of the most significant they will take in their school career, as it is not just about entrance. The outcome sets them on a particular course for their GCSEs and, likely, their A-Levels or IB studies. Common entrance exams are designed to gauge a student’s potential for GCSEs and beyond; they therefore often require high-level skills in reading, interpretation, and analysis. In order to make sure your child is prepared for whatever is thrown at them, reading widely, consistently, and with variety is crucial.

By the time a child is eleven or so, parents have often got out of the habit of keeping track of reading and sharing books. As a tutor, I find that this is the age group for which reading frequency and interest can drop off the most, and this seems to be especially the case with boys. At this stage, young people are developing more independent interests outside of home and school. They are usually having to juggle these interests with an increased homework load, and many of them are also spending more and more time online, all of which can make it harder for them to find the time and motivation for reading. 

It might not be desirable or practical to read with your young person on a daily basis any more. What I would recommend is having an active, regular dialogue about reading. You could talk about the news, an article you have read, a novel you are into, a cartoon you saw, a blog you are aware of, a radio show that was informative…If reading (and listening to literature/high-quality shows) is part of family life, it will likely remain part of your child’s life and make it easier for you to search for books together for more focused and formal reading practice. You can also discuss interesting and difficult vocabulary together, and play word games and puzzles… 

Some reading, even if it is just for five minutes per day, will vastly improve your child’s outcomes at Common Entrance. 

St Paul’s is an independent boy’s school set within 45 acres of open space in Barnes, South West London. The school was founded in 1509 by John Colet with the vision to provide an outstanding all-round education to prepare boys for a successful future. The school welcomes all academically eligible students, regardless of either economic or social circumstances.

For many families applying to UK independent schools, the ISEB Common Pre-Test is one of the first academic hurdles in the admissions test process. Yet, many parents are unsure how the test is scored, what constitutes a good score, or if there is even a set pass mark. In this article, we break down the key information you need to know about ISEB Pre-Test scores and how they are used by senior schools.

Eton College is one of the United Kingdom’s best known and most prestigious independent schools, founded in 1440 AD by King Henry VI, and famous for having educated many British politicians, scientists, and creative talents. As such, the process of securing a place is highly competitive. Entry at 13+ requires students to pass several stages, including the Eton List Test, the ISEB Common Pre-Test, and an interview. 

This guide provides an in-depth look at the test format, interview process and preparation tips, including some first hand insights from Josh Pull, a Keystone Director and former Old Etonian.

Preparing for the 13 Plus Common Entrance (CE) Maths Exam can be a crucial step in securing a place at a top UK independent school. This guide walks you through what to expect, how to prepare, and which resources can support your child’s success in the Maths part of the admissions test.

The 13+ interview is a crucial component of the admissions process for many independent schools in the UK. It provides schools with an opportunity to assess a candidate's personality, interests, and suitability for their academic environment. 

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the 13+ interview; from interview types and sample questions to expert tips from our 13+ tutor Ben.

The 13 Plus Common Entrance (or CE) Exam is crucial in securing a place for your child at your chosen independent school. A good set of exam results will confirm school places – most CE candidates will have been offered a space at their choice of senior school already (by pre-test in year 7 or even year 6) – but subject to them achieving a pass in the 13 Plus exams - and be the final piece in the sometimes complex and nerve-wracking process! For an overview of how the 13 Plus fits within different entry points, see our Guide to UK School Entrance Exams.

In the article, Keystone's 13 Plus tutors have gathered together a range of helpful information and strategies for passing the 13 Plus Common Entrance Exam, based on their experience of successfully guiding hundreds of students through this demanding exam. For subject-specific advice, our 13 Plus English Preparation Guide and 13 Plus Maths Preparation Guide break down the key skills examiners look for.

The 13+ Common Entrance English exam is a key milestone for students applying to top independent schools. It assesses reading comprehension, creative writing and analytical skills. In this guide, Keystone's experienced 13+ Common Entrance tutor, Ben, breaks down the exam’s key components and shares his preparation strategies and top tips to help students feel confident approaching the exam. 

Founded in 1382 by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester (who also founded New College, Oxford), this is one of the oldest schools in the world. The College is situated in the beautiful city of Winchester, and its buildings and grounds are outstanding. Academic standards are extremely high with boys achieving exceptional results. Winchester is a full-boarding school with a demanding extra-curricular programme, but despite this fast pace it is characterised as much by its consideration of individual needs as it is by collective endeavour.

The school began welcoming girls as day pupils to the sixth form in September 2022. Boys are currently welcomed as day or boarding pupils and girls’ boarding places will be available from September 2026. The admission of girls (and the increasing number of day pupils) will significantly increase the size of the sixth form. Over time the school plans to admit a minimum of 30 day pupils (approximately half of these will be girls) and up to 50 girl boarders into the sixth form.