Study Timeline
How Long to Study for Common Entrance (CE)
A complete week-by-week study plan for the Common Entrance (CE) (Hard difficulty, ~95% pass rate).
14
Weeks
7
Hrs/Week
102
Total Hours
~95%
Pass Rate
Fix the target before revising anything
Week 13 to 5 hours of parent and school admin this week
- Write to the receiving senior school and ask which grade it requires in each subject and what percentage range that grade covers, since ISEB does not set a pass mark
- Confirm with the prep school which level each paper will be sat at: Foundation, Core or Additional in mathematics, Foundation or Core in English and science, Level 1 or Level 2 in French, Latin or Greek
- Confirm which session the candidate is entered for out of November, January and May/June at 13+, or November and January at 11+
- Download the ISEB specifications for every subject being sat from the CE Subject Information pages, since the current versions have applied to examinations since November 2022
- Check whether the senior school also requires the ISEB Pre-Tests, an interview or a school report
- If access arrangements may be needed, start the conversation with the senior school now, because print amendments beyond A3 enlargement need at least a year's notice
Mathematics Core non-calculator diagnostic
Week 26 to 8 hours this week
- Sit one full 60-minute non-calculator Core paper cold, with no notes, to get a baseline out of 100
- Mark it against the ISEB mark scheme and record marks lost to method versus marks lost to arithmetic
- Rebuild the four operations with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio, since these carry through both papers
- Drill the 10-minute mental arithmetic test twice, because every candidate sits it whatever their level
- Rewrite every question where working was skipped, this time showing each step
- List the three topics that cost the most marks and book them into weeks 4 and 6
English Reading paper technique
Week 36 to 8 hours this week
- Sit a full 1 hour 10 minute Core Reading paper and note where time ran out
- Practise reading the mark allocations in brackets first and budgeting minutes against them
- Work on answering in the candidate's own words rather than lifting phrases from the extract
- Take one past extract and write only the high-mark interpretation answers, three times over, comparing each attempt
- Read one substantial unfamiliar text a day: fiction, biography or quality non-fiction, since ISEB publishes no set reading list
- Check handwriting legibility on a timed answer, because the paper is marked by hand at the senior school
Science Core biology and chemistry
Week 47 to 9 hours this week
- Sit the 40-minute, 60-mark biology paper and the 40-minute, 60-mark chemistry paper on separate days
- Work through every Thinking and Working as a Scientist question in both, since these carry at least 25 percent of each paper
- Learn the ISEB command words and what each one demands, using the list in the science specification
- Practise matching answer length to the marks available and the lines provided
- Revisit 11+ science content, because the 13+ papers assume it and can examine it
- Check calculator and protractor use, both of which are allowed
English Writing paper
Week 56 to 8 hours this week
- Sit a full 1 hour 15 minute Writing paper against a past choice of titles and prompts
- Practise choosing a title in under three minutes, then planning for five
- Write one story with a clear beginning, middle and end, and one argument piece that weighs both sides and reaches a conclusion
- Mark against content, purpose, style, organisation and range of language, the four criteria named in the ISEB English specification
- Build a personal bank of precise vocabulary and vary sentence openings deliberately
- Repeat one prompt from week 3 and compare the two attempts side by side
Mathematics calculator paper and the Additional decision
Week 67 to 9 hours this week
- Sit a full 60-minute Core calculator paper and mark it out of 100
- Practise calculator discipline: entering multi-step calculations without rounding early
- Return to the three weak topics identified in week 2 and re-test them
- If the senior school wants the Additional paper, sit one 60-minute Additional paper to see how far the gap runs
- Sit the mental arithmetic test again under strict 10-minute timing
- Ask the prep school to confirm the registered level, since papers are despatched by registered level
Science physics and cross-paper weaknesses
Week 77 to 9 hours this week
- Sit the 40-minute, 60-mark physics paper and mark it against the scheme
- Drill formula questions until rearrangement is automatic, since only Foundation candidates get formulae supplied
- Redo the weakest ten questions across biology, chemistry and physics from weeks 4 and 7
- Practise reading graphs and tables under time, as these recur in Thinking and Working as a Scientist items
- Write one free-response answer per subject and check it reads as continuous prose
- Review the ISEB science teaching resources on photosynthesis experiments, models of the lung and energy
First optional subject, usually history or geography
Week 86 to 8 hours this week
- For history, sit the 60-minute paper and hold to 20 to 25 minutes on Section A and 35 to 40 on Section B
- Read ISEB's published specimen history paper, mark scheme and Section 2 essay example answer
- For geography, work through a past written paper with the Ordnance Survey map and colour resources supplied
- Practise the four geography sections in mark order: location knowledge, map reading, physical, human and environmental
- Check the geography fieldwork enquiry against the six-part mark allocation and the relevant submission deadline
- Rewrite one essay introduction and conclusion four times to cut planning time
Languages and classics
Week 96 to 8 hours this week
- For a modern language, sit the 25-minute listening test and the 60-minute reading and writing paper in one sitting
- Rehearse the speaking test at full length: 5 minutes at Level 1 or 8 minutes at Level 2
- Practise the unpredictable role-play task, choosing between two options at Level 1 and responding unprepared at Level 2
- Deliberately use the near future tense at Level 1, and the near future and perfect at Level 2, in every practice conversation
- For Latin, time the four questions across 60 minutes with the 30-mark translation given the largest share
- For Classical Greek Level 1, drill transliteration both ways until it is mechanical
Theology philosophy and religion, plus second optional subject
Week 106 to 8 hours this week
- Sit the 60-minute theology philosophy and religion paper answering one question from two of the three sections
- Practise choosing the two strongest sections in under two minutes
- Plan for five minutes and write for 25 on each answer, matching ISEB's own framing of the timing
- Sit the second optional subject in full and mark it
- Compare all optional subject scores and decide where the last fortnight of effort should go
- Confirm with the prep school that the correct optional papers have been registered
Full mock sequence in session order
Week 1110 to 12 hours this week
- Sit all eight compulsory Core papers across four days in the order the real timetable uses
- Total the marks out of 520 and compare each subject against the grade the senior school asked for
- Sit every optional paper the candidate is entered for within the same fortnight
- Log every question where time, not knowledge, cost the marks
- Practise the switch between the non-calculator paper and the calculator paper on the same day
- Give the scripts to a teacher for external marking rather than self-marking
Targeted repair of the mock
Week 128 to 10 hours this week
- Rework only the questions lost in week 11, subject by subject
- Re-sit the two weakest individual papers under full timing
- Redo the mental arithmetic test three times across the week
- Rewrite the two lowest-scoring extended answers, English Writing and the history or theology essay
- Check that every geography fieldwork mark sheet is complete before the submission deadline
- For CASE candidates, sit one 90-minute CASE mathematics paper or one 60-minute CASE paper in the relevant subject
Consolidation and pace
Week 136 to 8 hours this week
- Run short timed bursts rather than full papers: 20 minutes of mathematics, 20 of comprehension, 20 of science
- Reread every mark scheme comment from weeks 11 and 12 rather than covering new content
- Practise the opening ten minutes of each paper, since that is where pace is set
- Rehearse handwriting under speed for the two longest written papers
- Confirm the Head's report has gone to the senior school, which ISEB asks for at least two weeks before the session
- Check the timetable, the room and the equipment list with the prep school
Examination week
Week 144 to 6 hours of review this week
- Stop new content and switch to light review of formula lists, command words and vocabulary
- Lay out equipment the night before each paper, including a spare pen, pencil, ruler, protractor and a calculator for the papers that allow one
- Keep a fixed sleep and meal routine across the session, which at 13+ runs over several days
- Between papers, avoid post-mortems and move to the next subject
- Expect results to reach the prep school within about a week of the session ending
- Ask the prep school to request subject feedback from the senior school, which ISEB invites senior schools to provide
Working Full-Time Schedule
Duration: 20 weeks
Hours/week: 5 hours
Daily: ~1 hours on weeknights
Weekends: 3-4 hours Saturday + Sunday
Study during lunch breaks and commute time. Use weekends for deeper study sessions and practice tests.
Weekend-Only Schedule
Duration: 28 weeks
Hours/week: 4 hours
Saturday: 4-5 hours of focused study
Sunday: 3-4 hours of practice tests
Longer timeline but sustainable. Review flashcards on weeknights for 15-20 minutes to maintain retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to study for the Common Entrance (CE)?
Plan for 14 weeks of dedicated study at 7 hours per week (102 total hours). If studying while working full-time, extend to 20 weeks.
Can I pass the Common Entrance (CE) in 2 weeks?
It's unlikely for most candidates. The Common Entrance (CE) is rated "Hard" difficulty and typically requires 14 weeks of preparation. Rushing increases your risk of failing and paying the exam fee again.
How many hours a day should I study for Common Entrance (CE)?
Aim for 1-2 hours per day on weekdays. Quality matters more than quantity, use active recall and practice tests rather than passive reading.
Is Common Entrance (CE) hard to pass?
The Common Entrance (CE) is rated "Hard" difficulty with a pass rate of ~95%. Solid preparation over several months is recommended.
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