All About Common Pre-Tests
The Common Pre-Tests are age-standardised assessments taken by pupils in Year 6 or Year 7. Many top UK independent schools use them as part of their admissions process. These tests help assess a candidate’s potential and academic attainment. ISEB commissions the tests, and GL Assessment delivers them online.
What Do the Common Pre-Tests Assess?
The Common Pre-Tests cover four subjects:
- English (25 minutes)
- Mathematics (50 minutes)
- Non-Verbal Reasoning (32 minutes)
- Verbal Reasoning (36 minutes)
These multiple-choice tests are fully adaptive. In other words, the question difficulty changes based on the student’s answers. The entire process takes around two-and-a-half hours. Students may complete all sections in one sitting or across multiple sessions. In some cases, overseas students can take the tests at approved centers.
Types of Questions
Each section includes the following question types:
- Verbal Reasoning: common words, antonyms, word combinations, letter transfer, number codes.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: shape analogies, classification, horizontal codes.
- English: reading comprehension, sentence completion, spelling, punctuation.
- Mathematics: topics based on the National Curriculum up to the end of Year 5.
Which Schools Use the Common Pre-Tests?
Many prestigious independent schools use the Common Pre-Tests during admissions. For example:
- Eton College
- Tonbridge School
- Harrow School
- Wellington College
- Westminster School
Students applying to multiple schools that use the Common Pre-Tests only need to take them once per academic year. The same set of results will be shared with all registered schools.
Registration and Administration
Parents do not need to register their children for these tests. Instead, senior schools will handle the registration and provide details to families. If a student takes the test more than once in the same year, only the first set of results will be valid.
Preparation and Familiarisation
Although ISEB states that no formal preparation is required, students benefit from understanding the question styles and test structure. In fact, feeling familiar with the process often builds confidence and reduces test anxiety. While the adaptive format limits the benefits of repetitive practice, ISEB provides a short familiarisation test to help students prepare.
Exam Conditions
Here are some key conditions students should know:
- All tests are taken online.
- Questions must be answered in order. Students cannot return to previous questions.
- Textbooks, calculators, and mobile devices are not allowed.
- Rough paper and writing tools are only permitted for working in the math and verbal reasoning sections.
Ultimately, these tests aim to give schools a consistent and fair way to assess students’ academic readiness. Therefore, understanding what to expect is one of the best ways for students to feel confident and perform well.
Reference: ISEB Official Website
