The Complete Guide to 11+ and 13+ Entrance Exams in London
Entry to senior school can be a high pressure scenario and one of the first big events in a child’s educational journey. London school admissions don’t really have a set of rules, and that’s what can make them such a daunting task for parents.
Every senior school has its own individual timeline as well as tests and deadlines, which can all change from year to year. This guide aims to give you a general idea of the process and what questions to ask, although you will always need to check specifics with each school.
11+ vs 13+: What’s the Difference, and How Do You Choose?
London senior schools work with two main entry points, 11+ (entry into year 7 at the end of primary/prep school) and 13+ (entry into year 9, for children whose prep schools continue to year 8)
11+ entry – For families whose child currently attends a school that finishes in year 6 or wants their child to transfer to secondary school at the more traditional age. Places can be very competitive at this stage, with schools receiving applicants for every place they have, being very normal. The applications are usually placed in the Autumn/Winter term of year 6, with offers to be expected in the spring.
13+ entry – In contrast this is mainly based on the schools, primarily schools with an incorporated year 7 and 8 that prepare children specifically for common entrance, the 13+. The applicant to place ratio tends to be much less cutthroat as places can often be informally ‘reserved’ if students register two or three years ahead of time. In these cases the Common Entrance Exams act more as a confirmation rather than an open competition.
The best decision for a family is dependent on the individual child as well as the structure and realistic school targets. It is worth having a conversation with your child’s current school, rather than assuming one path is better or more ‘normal’.
Timeline: What to Expect and When
Timelines are specific to each school but a rough guide can be held up to most of London’s independent senior schools:
Year 4–5 (ages 8–10): For many 13+ schools as well as an increasing number of 11+, this is when registration opens with your target senior schools. In many cases this is done well in advance, sometimes over a year before any exams are even sat. It is definitely worth taking a look at prospective schools’ websites at this stage, since registration windows can open and close with little notification.
Autumn Term, Year 6 (age 10–11): This is when you can expect first stage assessments to take place for most children taking their 11+. In a large number of cases this will look like the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which is a standard computer test assessing core subjects like English, maths and verbal reasoning. The results are then shared with the multiple schools the family has applied to. This reduces the number of tests a child sits, although schools sometimes have their own papers in conjunction with or instead of the pre test.
Winter, Year 6: The pre-test is usually followed by interviews, group assessments and further written tasks. These can be expected to take place from December to late January.
Spring, Year 6: This is when offers are usually received. Families will then be given a short window to accept.
Year 6–7 (13+ pathway): Students who have gone for the 13+ route will usually sit the ISEB test in year 6 or 7 to help schools form a shortlist. Which is followed by the full Common Entrance Exam in Year 8, closer to the point of transfer.
The most important thing to bear in mind here is that the exact dates are not set centrally, and are decided by the individual schools themselves. They are also subject to change year on year. Treat these dates in this guide as a rough estimate and confirm with schools directly once you have a shortlist of your preferences.
What the Exams Actually Cover
11+ and 13+ assessments vary on exact subject matter by school, however many of them have similar themes at their core.
- English — Reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar are mainstays and are usually set at a Key Stage 2 level or Early Key Stage 3 for the 13+
- Maths — Basic arithmetic and problem solving based on the national curriculum up to the time when your child sits the exam.
- Verbal and non-verbal reasoning — Pattern recognition as well as logic and word based problems are commonly included in the ISEB Pre-Test as well as many schools individual papers.
- Interviews and group activities — Assessing a child’s communication and collaboration skills is becoming increasingly common at 11+ level. Aiming to see how candidates adapt and think on their feet rather than simply what they know.
When taking the Common Pre-Test it is useful to know that it is an adaptive assessment. Correct answers lead to harder questions and the test is customised to find a child’s working level. This can be a different experience to traditional exams and may be a bit more challenging for children. But it’s key to bear in mind that this is the purpose of the format, not a sign of struggle.
How NHP Prepares Pupils
At Notting Hill Prep, exam preparation isn’t a separate, additional program aside from the core curriculum. It’s built into every day lessons throughout Years 5 and 6 so that the skills being taught are a part of a child’s learning rather than last minute exam cramming.
Though that being said, there is a custom and purposeful support program for pupils as they approach their exams. Practice with exam formats (timed, computer-based etc) and interview techniques are explored. As well as customised teacher guidance being available for your child as to which school suits them both academically and socially.
Pastoral care is emphasised further in this period as exams are inherently stressful for children and staff are just as attentive to wellbeing as they are to results. You can find more information on where our pupils continue their studies on our leavers’ destinations page.
Choosing a Senior School: Questions Worth Asking Beyond League Tables
League tables and exam results are often the most convenient way to explore school options, as a result they are given more weight than is necessary. A few questions that are worth asking are usually geared more towards how happy and productive a child will be at a school:
- What does the school do for children who aren’t at the very top academically? A schools headline or leavers page will no doubt showcase stories of their strongest pupils. It is useful to ask how the school supports a range of abilities, this will be a much better indication of how the general experience will be for your child.
- What’s the pastoral structure actually like day to day? Asking about face time with their tutor, how transitions between years are handled and how schools assist a child who may be struggling. Not just pastoral care buzz words, but actual evidence of how it works at their institution.
- How does the school handle a child who doesn’t get in anywhere near the top of their year group in Year 7, having been used to being one of the stronger pupils at prep school? This is a surprisingly common source of anxiety for children and it is a good sign if schools have a clear, honest answer rather than vague explanations.
- What do current parents say, unprompted? Open days are great for seeing a campus and getting a sense of the environment. But they are little in comparison with conversations with parents, ideally independently sourced rather than provided by the school. This is often far more revealing than a read through of a brochure.
- How far is the commute, realistically, at 8am on a wet Tuesday? This sounds boring but a hard commute can have much more effect on a child than you think. It could have an impact on their focus, sleep and stamina for their whole school life and is a serious consideration than should not be brushed under the carpet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all NHP pupils sit the 11+?
Not in all cases, the pathway should be chosen based on the needs of the individual child and the schools that you are considering. Some children decide to take the 13+ as it is a more convenient pathway for their preferred senior school. This can be discussed within your family in advance as it is not a one size fits all situation.
What if my child doesn’t get their first-choice school?
This is very common and happens to many families, even with extremely strong candidates. London senior schools are incredibly competitive and the intensity leads to unpredictability. Most families will see that once their child is settled, their 2nd or 3rd choice was just as good of a fit as the ‘right’ school on paper. It’s worth keeping an open mind and being receptive to all schools on your shortlist, not just the high prestige names.
Is the ISEB Common Pre-Test the same as Common Entrance?
No. The Pre-Test is taken earlier and is an assessment taken on the computer, usually in Year 6 or 7. It is mainly used to shortlist candidates whereas the Common Entrance is a separate, later set of written examinations typically sat in Year 8 as part of a 13+ pathway.
How much preparation is too much?
There is a clear distinction between healthy familiarisation and prolonged tutoring that will burn out your child before you even get to their exams. A good rule to follow is that preparation is there to build confidence and competence, not to consume their life outside of school all year. If it leans towards the latter, it is definitely worth having a think about the approach of your child’s school.
For more on how we think about matching pupils to the right next step, see our Why Us page and our admissions overview.
