Common Entrance (CE) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the Common Entrance (CE), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
~£200
Provider
ISEB
Validity
1 year
Available
UK
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- No formal qualification is required to sit Common Entrance, and there is no minimum score in any prior test.
- At 13+, ISEB advises that a candidate should already hold an offer from a senior school that is conditional on passing the examination.
- Candidates are normally in Year 6 for CE at 11+ and Year 8 for CE at 13+.
- Entry is normally made by the candidate's prep or junior school through the Examination and Qualification Registration Area in the ISEB Schools Hub, which requires a verified ISEB School Account.
- Where a candidate's current school does not offer CE, or the candidate attends a state school, parents can register online through the ISEB website.
- A Head's report is required for each candidate and must reach the senior school at least two weeks before the first day of the examination session. Schools may use the ISEB Head's Report Form or the ICAS Common Transfer Form.
- Subject and level choices must be settled with the senior school before the registration closing date, because papers are despatched by registered level.
- Geography candidates must have completed a fieldwork enquiry involving primary data collection, submitted by 15 October, 15 January or 15 March depending on the session.
- SEND candidates need their prep school to send the ISEB SEND report to the senior school and to agree access arrangements in advance; requests for print amendments beyond A3 enlargement must reach ISEB at least one year before the session.
Number of Questions
ISEB does not publish a fixed question count for any CE paper. The eight compulsory Core papers at 13+ carry 520 marks in total: English 100, mathematics 240, science 180. Optional 13+ papers add 50 marks in history, 40 in theology philosophy and religion, where candidates answer one question from each of two 20-mark sections out of three offered, 120 in geography including fieldwork, and 100 across the listening, reading and writing, and speaking components of a modern language.
Duration
395 minutes of examination time across the eight compulsory Core papers at 13+ (English Reading 70 minutes, English Writing 75 minutes, mathematics non-calculator 60 minutes, mathematics calculator 60 minutes, mental arithmetic 10 minutes, biology 40 minutes, chemistry 40 minutes, physics 40 minutes). At 11+ the three subjects are examined in four papers totalling 210 minutes: English Comprehension 45 minutes and English Composition 45 minutes, each including 5 minutes of reading and planning time, mathematics 60 minutes and science 60 minutes.
Question Format
Short-answer and structured questions carrying marks shown in brackets, Extended essay questions, for example the 30-mark Section B essay on the 13+ history paper, Unseen source and evidence analysis, used in history Section A and English Reading, Timed original composition, used for the 50-mark 13+ English Writing paper, Closed items including multiple choice, matching pairs and sentence completion on the Foundation science paper, Translation into and out of Latin and Classical Greek, plus transliteration between Greek and English at both Greek levels, Ordnance Survey map reading and data response on the geography paper, Spoken role play, text-based task and open conversation in modern languages, Coursework: the geography fieldwork enquiry, marked out of 40
Passing Requirement
ISEB does not set a pass mark for Common Entrance. Each senior school sets its own grade requirement and its own grade boundaries, and ISEB asks senior schools to tell prep schools what percentage range each grade represents.
How It Is Delivered
Paper-based, sat under invigilation at the candidate's own prep or junior school in almost all cases, following ISEB's Examination Regulations and Instructions to Invigilators. Scripts are dispatched to the marking senior school on the day of the examination by a secure method so that they arrive the following morning. CASE papers are usually sat at the senior school itself.
Languages Offered
English (all question papers and rubrics), French, German and Spanish papers set in the target language for the modern language options, Latin, Classical Greek and Classical Civilisation papers set in English with classical text passages
Visit the official ISEB certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Raw marks per paper, not a scaled score. Most 13+ papers are marked out of 100. The eight compulsory Core papers at 13+ total 520 marks: English Reading 50 and English Writing 50; mathematics non-calculator 100, calculator 100 and mental arithmetic 40; biology 60, chemistry 60 and physics 60. At 11+ the four papers total 230 marks: English Comprehension 25 and Composition 25, mathematics 100 and science 80. Senior schools have the option of adding a further 10 marks to the 11+ Composition paper, 5 for spelling and 5 for syntax and punctuation, so that accuracy is judged separately from content.
Score You Need
ISEB does not set a pass mark for Common Entrance. Each senior school sets its own grade requirement and its own grade boundaries, and ISEB asks senior schools to tell prep schools what percentage range each grade represents.
How It Is Calculated
Marking is criterion-referenced against ISEB mark schemes and carried out by the receiving senior school, not by ISEB. There is no equating between sessions, no item response theory and no computer-adaptive component. Scoring is compensatory within a paper, since marks accumulate question by question, but conjunctive across subjects wherever a senior school requires a minimum grade in each of English, mathematics and science. Wrong answers cost nothing beyond the marks not earned; there is no negative marking on any CE paper.
When You Get Results
There is no on-screen result. Scripts leave the examination centre for the senior school on the day of the paper. For CE at 13+ in autumn and spring, results should reach prep schools by the Thursday of the following week and parents on the Friday. For the summer 13+ session, prep schools by the Friday of the following week and parents on the Monday. For CE at 11+, prep schools by the Friday of the following week and parents on the Saturday.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the Common Entrance (CE)?
No formal qualification is required to sit Common Entrance, and there is no minimum score in any prior test.. At 13+, ISEB advises that a candidate should already hold an offer from a senior school that is conditional on passing the examination.. Candidates are normally in Year 6 for CE at 11+ and Year 8 for CE at 13+.. Entry is normally made by the candidate's prep or junior school through the Examination and Qualification Registration Area in the ISEB Schools Hub, which requires a verified ISEB School Account.. Where a candidate's current school does not offer CE, or the candidate attends a state school, parents can register online through the ISEB website.. A Head's report is required for each candidate and must reach the senior school at least two weeks before the first day of the examination session. Schools may use the ISEB Head's Report Form or the ICAS Common Transfer Form.. Subject and level choices must be settled with the senior school before the registration closing date, because papers are despatched by registered level.. Geography candidates must have completed a fieldwork enquiry involving primary data collection, submitted by 15 October, 15 January or 15 March depending on the session.. SEND candidates need their prep school to send the ISEB SEND report to the senior school and to agree access arrangements in advance; requests for print amendments beyond A3 enlargement must reach ISEB at least one year before the session..
How much does the Common Entrance (CE) cost?
The Common Entrance (CE) exam costs ~£200. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the Common Entrance (CE)?
Visit the official ISEB certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the Common Entrance (CE)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for Common Entrance (CE)?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
View Common Entrance (CE) Guide