News

Eight things you should know about Common Entrance

By Will Oldfield
11 January 2024

The Common Entrance has been a mainstay of a particular type of English public education for more than 100 years. In the past, it had a reputation as the private sector’s 11+, although in recent years (and, as we shall see, perhaps more and more rapidly) it has begun to lose its ubiquity. But it still holds sway at many of the most storied, academic and prestigious prep schools – so here are the most important things you need to know.

1. What is Common Entrance?

The Common Entrance (CE) is a series of exams sat by prep-school pupils in either Year 6 or Year 8 (11+ and 13+ respectively). They are written and distributed by the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB), an independent body that creates the syllabus and exams in collaboration with teachers and interest groups such as the Girls’ Schools Association and the Independent Association of Prep Schools. While it varies by school, a minimum of three years of dedicated CE study is generally needed to prepare for the exams. As part of the 13+ application process, students sit the Common Pre-Tests – online aptitude tests set by the ISEB that help to inform senior schools about applicants.

2. How is it marked?

The CE differs from other ‘public’ exams in that it is not accredited or examined by its distributing body – the ISEB issues a suggested mark scheme, but performs no moderation or internal examination and so the candidate does not receive any certificate or proof of grade. The marking is instead performed by the senior schools the child is applying to, who are free to apply their own mark schemes and selection criteria. These schools will also in most cases interview the applicant and take references from the head of their prep school.

3. What’s on the CE syllabus?

The CE curriculum is fairly open and comprises a lot of different subjects – English, mathematics and science are compulsory for both 11+ and 13+, while at 13+ the syllabus widens to encompass a range of humanities and languages, including the classics (Latin and Ancient Greek are offered and still sat by a collection of the most traditional prep schools). However, since the purpose of the exam is to gain entrance to a senior school of choice, the requirements of that senior school can often affect the subjects that the prep school chooses to cover – in reality, most senior schools expect candidates to offer mathematics, English, science, geography, history, religious studies and one or two languages.

4. Who decides which papers my child should sit – and what’s the pass mark?

The senior schools can often be quite demanding about which exams are taken and even the grade boundaries – some of the more selective schools have been known to require up to 70 per cent on all papers across the board. Equally, many of them will require that applicants have sat the highest level of paper possible – depending on the subject, there are papers from level 1 (easiest) to level 3 (hardest). The school generally decides which level individual students will sit. More information on the levels and the differences in the papers can be found on the ISEB website or from your prep school.

5. How do prep schools feel about CE?

The CE has come under fire in the past for its perceived overemphasis of pure academic achievement, with many parents, teachers and headteachers feeling that it is too strenuous and unnecessarily takes up three to four years of a child’s prep school time with demanding exam preparation. There has also been a general feeling in more recent years that if one of the supposed benefits of a private prep education is a greater focus on individual development and rounded learning, then this is actually counteracted if the children are then crammed into the one-size-fits-all hole of an exam like the CE. So many prep schools have chosen to move away from the CE as the core of their curriculum, or even to stop offering it altogether. However, lots of preps that no longer offer the CE will still help pupils who are sitting it. And parents can register for their child to sit the CE exam even if it is not available at their prep (or state) school.

6. And what’s the senior school view?

At the same time, a great many senior schools already set their own internal examinations for entry and have done so for years, and as such have no need for the CE and may not even accept it. This can make it harder for schools to then justify the rigour and exam-focused reputation of the CE.

7. Is it possible to fail CE?

As the CE is marked to different criteria by the senior schools, it is actually very unusual that any applicant ever ‘fails’ – the prep schools should have a very good understanding of the requirements of the senior schools and will liaise with parents to find one that fits with the academic record and educational needs of their child. As such, it is uncommon that a child will apply to a senior school with a CE that will not pass the school’s criteria. And if a child does not get into their first choice of school (although this is becoming quite rare), their second choice could look at their CE papers and possibly take them.

8. So, if all this is true, the CE seems like a lose-lose for both the schools and the students – right?

Well, yes and no. On some level, it is undeniable that (as much as the ISEB would likely deny it) the CE has been losing favour for quite a long while. However, this has also perhaps allowed it to more naturally find its niche where it can be of more value to pupils and schools than it perhaps could as a generalised entrance exam. The schools who continue to offer and fully support the CE do so now because they know that it is the preferred syllabus and preparation of the senior schools that they usually filter their children into – these schools are also often the most academic and selective, which can allow the more rigorous academic requirements of the CE to shine with fewer worries about elitism.

Looking for information on the perfect school for your child? Why not use our find a school and suggestive search tools today. Sign up to Talk Education for free and gain access to a wide variety of benefits such as comprehensive guides and fully comprehensive expert reviews of private schools. 

TE Logo

TE Schools Advice

Choosing your child’s school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make – let our experienced team help you. We will guide you through the decision-making process and give you the confidence to make the right choice, armed with the most up-to-date insider knowledge. We are all parents ourselves – we know how hard this is, and we can make it easier for you.
read more