Common Entrance at 13+ Explained
The Common Entrance, designed by Oppidan partners ISEB, is taken at 13+ for entry into senior independent schools. ISEB say:
Our trusted Common Entrance (CE) assessment at 13+ has been the transition assessment of choice for Britain’s top independent schools since 1903 and covers a wide set of subjects, providing a clear academic focus as a curriculum, with transition assessment available in over eight different subject areas for pupils in Years 7 and 8.
You can see which schools use the Common Entrance here.
How to Prepare for the Common Entrance
The 13 Plus Common Entrance exam is generally considered to be a challenging assessment for students in Year 8 who are seeking admission to top independent schools in the UK. The difficulty levels range from Level 1 to Level 3, with Level 2 being the most common level at which the papers are sat. Additionally, there is the option to take the Common Academic Scholarship exam (CASE), which identifies students with exceptional proficiency in specific subjects and may result in scholarships or reduced school fees.
How do the exams work?
The exam is typically taken in Year 8, where there is a variation in student maturity levels. There are three assessment sessions per year in November, January, and May/June, and the difficulty levels can vary based on the student's birth dates.
The core compulsory subjects tested in the 13 Plus Common Entrance are English, Maths, and Science. Students are expected to have strengths in at least two of these subjects. The core subjects are assessed at four levels of increasing difficulty: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and CASE. Level 1 assessments are generally within the grasp of most Year 7 students, while Level 2 and Level 3 Common Entrance expectations are comparable to the level of students in Year 10 (the first year of the GCSE course) in state schools. The English and Maths curricula cover ambitious topics such as Poetry Analysis and Advanced Algebra.
Is there a pass mark for the Common Entrance?
There is no official pass mark for the 13 Plus Common Entrance. Different schools may have their own minimum attainment levels, which can vary. Some schools may require a minimum of 55-60% for a pass, while others may consider scores of 60% and above as selective, and scores above 70% as very selective. Certain schools may also consider lower scores in some subjects if higher scores are achieved in other subjects. The marking of student papers is done by teaching staff in the senior school for which the student is applying, and each senior school assigns grades from A to E based on their own criteria.
What is the structure of the Common Entrance?
The structure of the 13 Plus Common Entrance exam consists of written papers in core subjects (English, Maths, Science), as well as extension subjects like Languages, History, Geography, and others. The duration of the papers can range from 40 to 90 minutes, depending on the subject. Language subjects may also include speaking assessments, and the Maths paper often includes a mental arithmetic component.
It's important to note that the specific details and requirements of the 13 Plus Common Entrance exam may vary between schools, so it's advisable to refer to the individual school's admissions information for precise information on their exam structure and expectations.
Dates and Timetable
There are three CE at 13+ examination sessions each year, in November, January and May/June.
Resources for Common Entrance
You can access useful past papers for the Common Entrance via ISEB and Galore Park.
Schools who conduct their own version of the Common Entrance will often publish specimen or past papers on their websites. A few are listed here:
Oppidan has supported many students through the Common Entrance, frequently from our partner schools including Dulwich, Eton, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey, Marlborough and Merchant Taylor’s to name a few.