ISEB Common Pre-Tests – Everything You Need to Know
We outline the most important things to know about the ISEB Common Pre-Tests, for students applying to UK independent schools.
WHAT IS ISEB?
ISEB is the acronym for the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB). They create tests used as part of the admissions process for a selection of independent day schools and boarding schools in the UK, including Common Entrance exams and the Common Pre-Test.
These tests allow the school to benchmark each applicant against the standards they set internally, evaluate a student’s academic knowledge and reasoning skills, check for academic potential, and eventually place each new pupil in the right learning set.
The Independent Schools Examination Board has been a well-regarded organisation since 1903. The assessments are designed by top teachers with years of experience. ISEB tests are becoming increasingly used instead of each school creating their own tailored exams. Therefore,you can apply for multiple schools who use this system and your child will only be required to sit the test once.
WHAT ARE ISEB COMMON PRE-TESTS?
ISEB Common Pre-Tests are an online and adaptative form of assessment. Adaptive tests allow the questions to change in real time depending on the strength of the answers a student is providing in the test. These are typically sat in the first term of the final year of primary education (Year 6), at the age of 10-11.
Schools with an 11+ admission for Year 7 entry often use ISEB Common Pre-Tests as their main form of academic assessment followed by an interview or assessment day.
Schools that have 13+ entry for Year 9 may use common pre-tests as an initial assessment of academic potential. This is to help them identify candidates with promise who are suitable to pursue the formal application process of exams and interviews. This initial screening tool helps schools manage the large demand of applicants.
Depending on how your child performs in the pre-tests, your target school(s) may make an unconditional offer for entry. This makes pre-tests a very advantageous time to have your children prepared and performing at their best. Alternatively, you may get a conditional offer which will be revisited based on how the common entrance 13+ tests go. If your child does not perform well in a pre-test, it is worth checking with your specific target schools on what their policies are with retaking tests as this varies.
WHEN AND WHERE DO THESE TESTS TAKE PLACE?
The test may be taken anytime between October and June of the academic year but senior schools will set their own deadlines to ensure they see the results in time. Therefore Pre-Tests tend to happen in a similar window to the Year 6 11+ common entrance exams. October to January is the main exam period with most pupils opting to sit the tests in December or January so they have more time to prepare. Results are standardised and adjusted according to age at the time of sitting the test.
It is likely that one of your target schools will be hosting the test. Parents need to actively register as this will not automatically be done by your schools of interest anymore. Registration opens in August.
WHAT DO THE TESTS CONSIST OF?
Common Pre-Tests assess based on the UK Year 5 curriculum. You can use the British National Curriculum for reference to topics. These tests have changed slightly in recent years. They are online, adaptive, multiple choice tests, and are split into 4 sections:
English includes multiple comprehension tasks, as well as spelling, punctuation and grammar questions.
Maths will involve number and place value, operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement, geometry, and statistics. Not only will your child need to know the content here but also be able to apply it to problem solving, written and multi-step questions.
Verbal Reasoning (VR) will likely be new to your child as this is not taught as part of school curriculums. This is testing reasoning skills involving word groups, antonyms, synonyms, word combinations etc. Vocabulary is of main importance here. *
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) will also be new to your child. This subject also tests logical, critical, and spatial reasoning using shapes, patterns, matrices, nets and more. *
*You can refer to our CAT4 article for a further break down of what verbal and non-verbal reasoning entails.
In total, the tests will take 2 hours and 15 minutes. Maths for 40 minutes, English for 40 minutes, NVR 30 minutes and VR 25 minutes. These are 4 independent tests and therefore can occur at separate times. If all four tests are held on the same day, then your child will be allowed some break time in between. Your child will also have access to a pencil and note paper should they wish to use it.
The test is designed so that you cannot skip questions, go back to the previous question or review your answers. Therefore, exam technique is of utmost importance and something we work on with our tutees at British Tutors.
HOW CAN BRITISH TUTORS HELP WITH COMMON PRE-TEST PREPARATION?
These exams are unique and contain elements that your child may not have come across before. Our aim at British Tutors is to equip you with a tutor who can identify the starting level of a student, map out their individual journey in order to reach their goals and execute on it. We want to make sure your child feels extremely confident walking into their pre-tests.
Materials
Your tutor will have access to a host of materials for verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Our British Tutors library carries a range of past papers in all core subjects which our tutors use during tutorials. Furthermore, British Tutors works closely with wonderful and vetted online platforms – so do reach out to your tutors for recommendations and our special client discounts!
Exposure
Your child will be exposed to the online format and many exam-style practice questions to feel confident on the day. Your tutor will identify the appropriate starting level, bridge gaps and set foundations in which their tutee can climb from. It is important not to skip steps in this process so that students are armed with the basics and build mastery solidly.
Timing
Your tutor will familiarise your child with operating under timed exam conditions. We also offer mock exams in a more formal setting in our Sheung Wan office. This gives students a glimpse of the real experience, and helps your child build stamina and function well under pressure. A big skill is making sure you read a question carefully and manage your time well.
Marking progress
Your tutor will also work through a range of questions and explain the adaptive nature of these tests to your child as questions will not be pre-determined and the difficulty will change. Having a professional to mark your child’s progress and offer immediate feedback is highly beneficial to building your child’s self-assurance. Proof reading and checking answers will help minimise the same mistakes in the future. Your tutor will aim to pull out the full potential of your child. The earlier they start, the better their chances are!
Making it fun!
Preparing for ISEB tests doesn’t have to be boring. We’ve done this many times before! Therefore, we have all the tips and activities to make lessons varied, interactive and yet still educational and rigorous. Having a tutor who can double as a mentor at times can be the perfect sounding board as you navigate new topics and formats. Many online platforms we work with also gamify the process, so we keep your child looking forward to lessons!
Consistency
To be in the best place possible heading into that exam room, you want to make sure your child has had a decent time preparing. Cramming in practice last minute won’t be as successful a strategy as taking your time and making small incremental improvements in the lead up to your test day.
Foster love of reading
At British Tutors, we know how to make your child fall in love with reading. Extensive reading of a variety of genres will be a positive nudge for these tests and beyond. We have lots of fun reading lists to share and your tutor can help choose books that your child will love. From here, they can make a personalised dictionary or vocabulary box to capture all their new fancy words!