Entrance Exams: 13+ and 16+

13+ (Common Entrace) and 16+ Explained
 

The 13+ (Common Entrance CE) and 16+ entrance exams are taken by students in Year 8 and 11 respectively, for entrance into select state boarding and independent schools in the U.K.

 

The CE exams typically involve content taken from the GCSE syllabuses in mathematics, english and science. Some schools may also offer verbal/non-verbal reasoning, languages and humanities tests as well. Exams are usually taken at the end of April/early May, prior to the September when students would start Year 9 at their school of choice.

 

16+ exams are taken by Year 11 students between October and December, in preparation for the start of Year 12 A-levels (or equivalent), the following year. The content for these exams is subject-specific; it depends on what the student has selected for study in Year 12 and 13. For example, Mathematics and Chemistry 16+ exams will contain questions based on the harder elements of the GCSE syllabus, as well as stretching to content covered in A-level and International Baccalaureate (IB).

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How can I help?

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I have substantial experience preparing students for the Common Entrance and 16+ exams, with some of my previous cohort gaining entry to very prestigious schools in the U.K., such as Winchester College, Westminster School and City of London School for Girls (where I taught both Mathematics and Chemistry for over two years). Furthermore, I have been an examiner for these papers too.

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Trust when I say I have a deep understanding of what content goes into these tests; I've written the questions as well as marked them!