13+ and 16+ Entrance Exams Explained for Parents
Introduction
The entrance exam system for top independent schools is one of the most confusing parts of a parent's education journey, and one of the highest stakes. The tests are demanding, the formats differ from school to school, and, more than anything, the whole process begins years earlier than most families expect.
This guide is for parents of children in Years 5 to 10 who are considering, or already aiming for, a place at a leading independent school. It explains the two main routes I prepare students for, 13+ and 16+, what each involves, when to start, why the maths papers matter so much, and what the interviews are really testing. My aim is to turn a confusing process into a clear plan.
First, the Three Entry Points: 11+, 13+ and 16+
Independent schools take pupils at three main ages, and it helps to know all three even if only one applies to your child:
11+ is entry into Year 7, common for many day schools.
13+ is entry into Year 9, the classic route into the traditional senior and boarding schools such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester, and many London day schools.
16+ is entry into the Sixth Form, in Year 12, where schools admit new pupils for A-Levels.
My specialism is 13+ and 16+, so those are the two I explain in full here.
The 13+ Route Explained
The word "13+" is slightly misleading, because the selection usually happens long before a child turns thirteen. It typically runs in two stages.
Stage one: the ISEB Common Pre-Test (Year 6 or 7)
Most senior schools now screen candidates with the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an online, multiple-choice assessment sat in Year 6 or Year 7, when a child is around ten to twelve. It has four sections: English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and takes about two and a half hours in total. A child usually sits it once, and the result is shared with the schools the family has registered for. A strong pre-test often leads to a conditional offer, subject to the next stage.
Stage two: Common Entrance and school assessments (Year 8)
Offers are then confirmed through assessments in Year 8. For many schools this is Common Entrance, sat in the summer of Year 8, covering English, Maths, Science, languages and humanities. Some of the most selective schools set their own papers instead, such as Eton's own entrance assessment, the Harrow Test, and Winchester's own papers. The exact route depends on the school, which is why registering early and checking each school's process matters so much.
13+ Scholarships: A Level Above
Above the standard entrance route sit the academic scholarships, and these are a different order of difficulty. The best known are Eton's King's Scholarship, Winchester's Election, and Westminster's Challenge. They are sat in Year 8, usually in late April or early May, and only a handful of places are awarded each year, around fourteen King's Scholars at Eton, for example.
These papers are deliberately set well beyond the school curriculum, and at their hardest they push towards a level of thinking closer to A-Level than to Year 8. They reward genuine mathematical and intellectual depth, not memorised content, which is exactly why they take dedicated, early preparation.
The 16+ Route Explained
The 16+ route is entry into the Sixth Form, and most top London schools assess applicants in late October or November of Year 11, the year before entry. The important thing to understand is that schools fall into three broad types, and knowing which is which is half the preparation:
Subject-paper schools. These set written papers in the actual A-Level subjects a candidate intends to study. Schools such as St Paul's, St Paul's Girls', Westminster, King's College School Wimbledon, North London Collegiate, City of London (Boys and Girls), Hampton, Latymer Upper, Haberdashers' Boys' and Dulwich College sit in this group. A Maths or Economics applicant sits a subject paper in that subject.
Reasoning and interview-led schools. These set little or no written subject paper and instead assess thinking, reasoning and articulacy. Highgate is interview-led with no written paper, Godolphin and Latymer assesses at interview alongside a cognitive-abilities test, and UCS Hampstead uses a thinking-and-reasoning assessment with a short writing task.
Boarding schools. Eton, Harrow and Winchester take a small number of Sixth Form entrants through a combination of online cognitive tests, Maths and general written papers, and academic and pastoral interviews.
Most of these schools also offer academic scholarships and generous means-tested bursaries at 16+, so it is always worth asking.
Free download: my 16+ Entrance Tests guide (2027 entry)
I have put together a school-by-school breakdown of exactly what a Maths or Economics applicant sits at each of the top London schools, with test dates, format, gender intake, fees and scholarship provision on a single sheet. Enter your details below and I will send it to you.
Why the Maths Paper Decides So Much
Across both 13+ and 16+, the mathematics paper is very often where places are won and lost. There are two reasons. First, maths is the most objective measure a school has, so it carries weight. Second, these papers are set to separate candidates, which means they go beyond the school syllabus in style.
A "beyond curriculum" question does not use content a child has never met. It takes familiar material and presents it in an unfamiliar way: a multi-step problem, an unusual setup, a question that rewards spotting the efficient route rather than grinding through a method. This is a trainable skill, and it is a different skill from scoring well in ordinary school maths. A child who is strong at school maths but has never seen these papers can be caught out, and that is nothing to worry about. It simply needs the right preparation.
What the Interviews Actually Assess
Interviews at these schools are not a test of how much a child has memorised. They are looking at how a child thinks. Assessors want to see curiosity, the willingness to reason a problem out loud, genuine interest in a subject, and how a candidate responds when handed something they cannot immediately answer.
The strongest interviewees are not the most rehearsed. They are the ones who can think on their feet, stay composed under a hard question, and show that they find ideas genuinely interesting. That composure and habit of reasoning aloud can be developed, and it is a large part of what good preparation builds.
When Should Preparation Start?
Earlier than most families think, but not so early that it becomes pressure for its own sake.
For 13+: because the pre-tests arrive in Year 6 or 7, the best time to begin building foundations is Year 5 or 6. Scholarship preparation, where relevant, then continues through Years 7 and 8.
For 16+: because the tests fall in the autumn of Year 11, preparation through Year 10 and into Year 11 is the sensible window.
Later starts are workable with a more intensive schedule, but early, steady preparation removes the pressure and gives a child time to build the reasoning skill these tests reward.
How to Check the Current Requirements
One warning that matters: test formats, dates and requirements change between cycles. A school that set a written paper last year may use an interview this year. Always confirm the current process directly with each school's admissions office before you register, and do not rely on last year's information.
If the choice of school itself is what you are wrestling with, which schools genuinely fit your child, and how to plan the route, that is a question I also help families with through my education consultancy, separately from exam preparation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting too late, and discovering the pre-tests are months away, not years.
Preparing for the wrong format, for example drilling written papers for an interview-led school.
Treating the maths paper as ordinary school maths, rather than the unfamiliar, problem-solving style it actually is.
Over-rehearsing a child for interview until they sound scripted, which assessors see straight through.
Relying on last year's requirements instead of confirming the current ones with the school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 13+ really a separate entry point, or is it just 11+ and 16+?
13+ is very much a real and major route. It is entry into Year 9 and the classic path into traditional senior and boarding schools such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester, as well as many London day schools. There are three entry points in all: 11+, 13+ and 16+.
What is the ISEB Common Pre-Test?
It is an online, multiple-choice assessment sat in Year 6 or 7, covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Many senior schools use it as the first stage of 13+ selection, with offers confirmed later through Common Entrance or the school's own papers in Year 8.
When do 16+ entrance tests happen?
Most top London schools test in late October or November of Year 11, the year before Sixth Form entry. Dates vary by school and change between cycles, so always confirm directly with the admissions office.
Which subject matters most?
Mathematics very often decides outcomes, because it is the most objective measure and the papers are set beyond the ordinary syllabus in style. Strong, well-prepared maths gives a candidate a real advantage.
When should we start preparing?
For 13+, ideally Year 5 or 6, because the pre-tests come early. For 16+, through Year 10 and into Year 11. Later starts work with an intensive schedule, but earlier preparation removes the pressure.
Do you prepare children for 11+?
My specialism is 13+ and 16+, where I focus on the mathematics papers, reasoning assessments and interviews. For 11+ I would point families elsewhere.
How I Can Help
Entrance exams reward exactly what I train: deep mathematical foundations, unfamiliar problem-solving, and composure under time pressure. I prepare candidates for the Mathematics papers, reasoning assessments and interviews at 13+ and 16+, and many of my students attend the very schools these exams lead to, so I know the standard required at the door.
If your child is preparing for a 13+ or 16+ place and you would like a clear, structured plan, message me on WhatsApp or fill in the form and I will reply within 24 hours. You can read more on my 13+ and 16+ entrance exam preparation page.