What Is the Common Entrance Exam?
The Common Entrance Exam is a common standard used by many different independent schools throughout the United Kingdom as a method of determining entry to senior or secondary independent schools.
The Common Entrance Exam has been used for many years and has been constantly revised and refined over time. The Independent Schools Examinations Board is the body which oversees the test and decides what questions it should contain. The board is comprised of the heads of the association’s that represent head teachers and headmistresses of independent schools. There is a common entrance exam for 11+ and another for 13+; the 11+ is usually reserved for entry into girls-only institutions.
If your child is hoping to attend an independent school, then preparing them for the common entrance exam is essential. Below is a brief guide to the different variants of the common entrance exam.
Common Entrance At 11+
The 11+ examination is sat by children in year 6 and covers English, maths, and science. The exam is usually set as an entrance exam for girls-only secondary institutions, but this is not always the case.
Common Entrance At 13+
The 13+ exam is more vigorous and demanding than the 11+ and is widely used amongst the top independent institutions throughout the United Kingdom. Unlike the 11+, which tests only three subjects, the 13+ version tests 11 subjects. In addition to the core subjects of maths, English, and science, the 13+ exam also tests a variety of other subjects, including French, Latin, geography, ancient Greek, philosophy, and religious studies. The 13+ is designed to test pupils to the highest standards.
Common Academic Scholarship At 13+
The Common Academic Scholarship offers papers in English, maths, and science just like the others, and it also includes a similar range of subjects to the usual 13+ examination. The difference here is the paper is set and marked by the institution that issues it rather than being submitted to formal external moderation. While this could potentially affect one’s chances of appeal, it usually doesn’t make any difference to the students themselves and they will be assessed to the same standard as other candidates.
Preparatory Tests
Known as the Common Pre-Tests, these examinations are usually taken in year 6 or 7 and are designed to measure performance prior to the 13+ Common exam. Students aren’t usually expected to sit any papers in the 13+ in subjects they are not proficient in and so pre-tests may be used to determine which subjects a student should be entered for.
The best private schools Portsmouth, such as King's Court, offer the common pre-test or similar assessment prior to the 13+ in order to ensure students are prepared.
The Common Entrance exams are an unavoidable part of the process of applying to a fee paying or independent school. Preparing for these exams is a challenge and many parents opt to seek outside tutoring for their child. Whichever way you decide to approach it, the better prepared you and your child are, the better their chances of success.
