For independent secondary schools, families have two main entry points: 11+ (entering Year 7) or 13+ Common Entrance (entering Year 9 from a prep school). They lead to overlapping but different sets of schools, they are examined in different ways, and they suit different children. This guide sets out exactly how each route works, how the tests are structured, and a clear way to decide — without pretending there is one right answer for every family.
What the two routes actually are
The 11+ is the assessment most UK families recognise. For state grammar schools it is the GL Assessment (or regional variant) test that decides selective places; for independent senior schools it is a school-set or consortium exam sat in Year 6. The 13+ Common Entrance (CE) is a different animal: it is a prep-school leaving exam, set by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB), taken in Year 8 and used to confirm a place already provisionally offered years earlier. In short, 11+ is largely a competitive entry test, while 13+ CE is more often a confirmation of an existing offer.
It is worth separating out the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which many senior schools now use to sift applicants at 10 or 11 regardless of whether a child ultimately enters at 11 or 13. This online, adaptive test covers English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and increasingly acts as the first gate for both routes.
11+ entry to independent senior schools
- Test typically sat in January of Year 6, often for children in state primary.
- Many schools screen first with the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn of Year 6.
- Schools that take 11+ entry include Hampton, KCS Wimbledon, City of London Boys', Westminster Under, and Habs Boys' & Girls'.
- Content is usually English and Maths, frequently with Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, plus interview.
- Your child joins Year 7 alongside other eleven-year-olds.
The 11+ route rewards families who prepare steadily across Years 4 and 5. Because the reasoning and maths skills overlap heavily with the state grammar 11+, the same practice pays off twice. Quest Arena's free worksheets and mock papers cover exactly these four skill areas, and the revision hub lets you target weak topics without paying for a tutor first.
13+ Common Entrance
- Common Entrance itself is sat in June of Year 8, from within a prep school.
- It covers a broad subject spread: English, Maths, Science, French, History, Geography, Religious Studies, and often Latin, with further options.
- Schools that take 13+ entry include Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby, Marlborough, Wycombe Abbey and Cheltenham Ladies'.
- Most places are provisionally offered years earlier via pre-testing or registration; CE confirms the offer and sets the entry stream.
- Your child joins Year 9.
The defining feature of 13+ is breadth. A prep school teaches the full CE syllabus as its normal curriculum, so a child in that system is prepared almost automatically. A child in state primary is not, which is why the two-year prep bridge (below) exists.
11+ vs 13+ at a glance
| Feature | 11+ entry | 13+ Common Entrance |
|---|---|---|
| Year group joined | Year 7 | Year 9 |
| Main test timing | Autumn/January of Year 6 | June of Year 8 |
| Typical applicant | State primary or prep | Prep school pupil |
| Subjects tested | English, Maths, VR, NVR | Up to 11-12 subjects |
| Nature of test | Competitive entry | Confirms earlier offer |
| Common gatekeeper | ISEB Pre-Test | ISEB Pre-Test / registration |
Which path makes sense
Choose 11+ if:
- Your child is currently in state primary and you want them in an independent senior school at eleven.
- Your child is academically strong and you want maximum runway in a good school.
- You want to avoid the cost and disruption of moving schools mid-secondary.
- You are also considering state grammar schools, so the reasoning and maths practice does double duty.
Choose 13+ if:
- Your child is already in a prep school with a strong 13+ pipeline.
- You are aiming at Eton, Harrow, Winchester or another 13+-only school.
- You want extra time for your child to mature before the final decision.
The middle ground: prep school for Years 7-8
Some families switch from state primary to a prep school for Years 7 and 8 (the so-called "shell" years), then sit Common Entrance at thirteen. This works well for academically able children who missed the earlier prep intake, but it means two years of prep-school fees on top of senior-school fees, so weigh the cost carefully.
If you are undecided
Prepare for 11+. The skills transfer upward, the deadlines come first, and a strong 11+ offer can simply be accepted. If no offer lands, you can still pivot toward 13+ Common Entrance with a prep bridge. Reading our guides on the 11+ process and the key dates, and browsing the grammar school directory, will help you keep both doors open while you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Common Entrance the same as the 11+?
No. The 11+ is a competitive entry test sat in Year 6; Common Entrance is a broad prep-school leaving exam sat in Year 8 that usually confirms a place offered earlier.
Does 11+ practice help with 13+?
Yes. The English, Maths and reasoning foundations behind 11+ underpin the CE syllabus too, so early practice on our free mocks is never wasted.
Which route gets into Eton or Winchester?
Those schools remain 13+ (Year 9) entry, gated by early registration and pre-testing. For most day independents, 11+ into Year 7 is the main route.