If your child is aiming for entry to a selective independent school at 13, you are probably already aware that this is not a straightforward process. The timeline is long, the academic bar is high, and the requirements can feel bewilderingly different from one school to the next. Many parents come to us having done their research and still feeling uncertain about where to begin — and that is entirely understandable. The 13+ route into independent education is among the most academically demanding assessments students face at that age, and navigating it well requires both careful planning and subject-specific support.
13+ entry is used by many leading independent schools for Year 9 entry, making it a significant gateway for students who want to join schools that do not admit at 11. The process is more complex than many families initially expect, partly because it is not standardised nationally — requirements vary significantly by school, sometimes dramatically so.
One detail that catches many parents off guard is that the formal examinations in Year 8 are often not the first step. Pre-testing frequently happens at 11 or 12, when schools assess candidates and issue conditional offers well in advance of the final examinations. This means that in practice, a child may sit a registration or pre-test assessment in Year 6 or Year 7, receive a conditional place, and then still need to meet the academic standard at 13+ to confirm that offer. The preparation journey, therefore, can span two to three years rather than a single exam season.
The most widely used framework for 13+ entry is Common Entrance, which is set by ISEB — the Independent Schools Examinations Board. CE provides a structured set of papers across a broad range of subjects, and many independent schools use it as their standard admissions assessment. However, it is important to understand that CE is not a single national pass mark. The receiving school sets its own required mark, which means a score that secures a place at one school may fall short at another. A student aiming for a highly competitive school needs to perform at a considerably higher level than the minimum CE threshold.
Many highly selective schools — including Eton, Winchester, and Westminster — set their own papers in addition to or instead of Common Entrance. These school-specific papers are often harder, more discursive, and designed to identify students who can think independently rather than simply reproduce learned material. A child preparing for one of these schools needs targeted preparation that goes well beyond standard CE revision.
Scholarship examinations add another layer of complexity. These typically take place in Year 8, between January and March, and are harder than CE papers in both depth and style. Scholarship candidates are expected to demonstrate genuine intellectual curiosity, extended writing ability, and the capacity to engage with unfamiliar problems. For many families, the scholarship route is not just about financial awards — it is also a mark of academic distinction that some schools weigh heavily in their admissions decisions.
Common Entrance at 13+ covers a wide range of subjects. The full suite includes:
Not every school requires papers in every subject, and the combination a student needs to sit will depend on the specific requirements of their target school. This is one of the reasons that early, school-specific guidance matters so much — a student who has not prepared the right subjects, or who has prepared them to the wrong standard, can find themselves underprepared even after months of hard work.
The standard expected at 13+ is broadly equivalent to a strong early GCSE foundation. In Mathematics, students are expected to be confident with algebra, geometry, and number work at a level that goes beyond the primary curriculum. In English, extended writing, analytical reading, and accurate grammar are all assessed. In the sciences, students need secure knowledge of the Year 7 to Year 9 curriculum, often in more detail than their current school may have covered.
Effective preparation starts with understanding exactly what your child's target school requires. That means looking carefully at past papers, mark schemes, and any guidance the school publishes — and then building a plan that addresses the specific subjects and standards involved. A tutor who knows the difference between a CE paper and a Winchester-specific paper, or who understands what Eton's King's Scholarship examiners are looking for, can make a significant difference to how efficiently a student prepares.
For most students, the priority areas are Mathematics and English, since these are assessed at every school and carry the most weight in admissions decisions. Science preparation is increasingly important, particularly at schools that set separate Biology, Chemistry, and Physics papers. Languages and humanities are often underestimated — students who have not kept up with French or Latin, for example, can find themselves struggling with papers that require consistent vocabulary and grammatical knowledge built up over years.
Consistent, structured support over a longer period tends to produce better outcomes than intensive last-minute preparation. A student who works steadily through Year 7 and Year 8, filling gaps and building confidence subject by subject, is far better placed than one who attempts to cover the same ground in a few months before the examinations.
What does Common Entrance at 13+ actually cover?
Common Entrance at 13+ is set by ISEB and covers a broad range of subjects including English, Mathematics, the three sciences, History, Geography, Religious Studies, and modern and classical languages. The papers are designed to reflect the curriculum taught in Years 7 to 9 at preparatory schools. Importantly, the pass mark is set by the receiving school rather than by ISEB, so the standard required will differ depending on where your child is applying.
How are scholarship examinations different from standard CE papers?
Scholarship examinations are harder in both content and style. They typically take place earlier in Year 8 — usually between January and March — and are designed to stretch the most able candidates. Rather than testing recall and technique alone, scholarship papers often require extended analytical writing, original thinking, and the ability to engage with challenging or unfamiliar material. Students sitting for scholarships need preparation that goes beyond CE revision and focuses on developing genuine depth of understanding.
When should we start preparing for 13+ entry?
Earlier than most families expect. Because pre-testing often takes place at 11 or 12, some students benefit from support as early as Year 6 or Year 7. Even if your child has already received a conditional offer, the work of meeting the academic standard at 13+ still lies ahead. For most students, beginning structured preparation in Year 7 — and intensifying it through Year 8 — gives the best chance of performing well across all required subjects.
What should we do if our target school sets its own papers rather than CE?
The most important step is to get hold of past papers and any published guidance from the school itself. School-specific papers — such as those set by Eton, Winchester, or Westminster — often have a distinct style and emphasis that differs from standard CE material. A tutor familiar with these papers can help your child understand what is expected and practise in a way that is directly relevant to the actual examination. Preparing only from CE materials when a school sets its own papers is one of the most common and avoidable mistakes families make.
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