ISEB
Independent Schools Entrance Exams
The ISEB exam is computer-based entrance exam testing Maths, English, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The ISEB is used as a nationwide test for Secondary Schools Selection.
Locally, Brentwood & New Hall use the ISEB 11+ as their Entrance Exam.
WHAT IS THE ISEB COMMON PRE-TEST?
Students applying for a place at an independent senior school will be asked to sit tests by the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB).
ISEB Pre-Test is a UK wide online test for children in Year 6 making the transition from primary to selective secondary school. The test is multiple-choice and comprised of four sections:
​
-
English
-
Mathematics
-
Verbal Reasoning
-
Non-Verbal Reasoning
​
Commissioned by the GL, the exam is adaptive - meaning that the more questions the student answers correctly, the more challenging the exam becomes. They are also age-standardised.
The exams are multiple-choice format and take around two-and-a-half hours to complete. Each question must be answered, and candidates are not able to go back to previous questions.
​
-
English – 25 minutes
-
Mathematics – 50 minutes
-
Non-verbal reasoning – 32 minutes
-
Verbal reasoning – 36 minutes
Pupils can take a familiarisation test here if they wish: iseb.co.uk/cpt-ft
​​
Exams this year are due to take place on the following dates:
​
New Hall: 12th November 2022
​
Brentwood: 3rd December 2022
The four exams can be taken together or at separate times, either in the candidate’s own school or at the senior school at which he or she is entered.
​
We run ISEB Mock Exam & Interview days where students will conduct a mock examination under exam conditions and prepare for their entrance exam interviews with group and 1-1 work. This offering allows students the chance to experience exactly what it will be like on the day of their ISEB exam.
​
There will also be opportunity to provide feedback by evaluating each section of the exam to highlight areas of improvement on.
