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ISEB Pre-Test practice that adapts like the real test
Online practice for all four ISEB Pre-Test sections: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Every answer changes the next question, just like the real test, and every test ends with an age-standardised score and a worked solution for every question.
Independent practice in the style of the ISEB Common Pre-Test — not affiliated with or endorsed by ISEB.
About the ISEB Common Pre-Test
What is the ISEB Pre-Test?
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is an online test that many independent senior schools use to assess children applying for entry, usually sat in Year 6 or Year 7. Schools see the results; parents usually do not.
Four tests
English (about 40 minutes), Mathematics (about 40 minutes), Verbal Reasoning (about 25 minutes) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (about 30 minutes): roughly 2 hours 15 minutes in all. They can be sat together or on different days.
It adapts as your child answers
After every answer the test chooses the next question: harder after a right answer, easier after a wrong one. Two children can see different questions, and a child cannot go back to change an answer.
Age-standardised scores
Each test gives a standardised age score, where 100 is average and the score takes the child’s age in months into account. English and Maths follow the National Curriculum to the end of Year 5.
The four tests at a glance
| Test | What it covers | Time |
|---|---|---|
| English | Reading comprehension (fiction, non-fiction and poetry), spelling, punctuation, grammar, cloze and shuffled sentences | 40 min |
| Mathematics | Number, calculation, fractions, decimals and percentages, measurement, geometry, statistics, problem solving | 40 min |
| Verbal Reasoning | Word meanings, analogies, codes, letter and word puzzles, logic | 25 min |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | Patterns, sequences, matrices, codes, rotation and reflection, 3D and spatial reasoning | 30 min |
| All four | About 2 hr 15 min |
What’s in our ISEB practice
- 20 full practice sets, each with all four tests, timed like the real thing.
- Truly adaptive: every answer changes the next question, just like the real Pre-Test, with no going back.
- An age-standardised score for every test, plus “better than about X% of children the same age”.
- English: 60 original reading passages (fiction, non-fiction and poetry), spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, cloze sentences and shuffled sentences.
- Verbal Reasoning: 20 question types, from synonyms and analogies to letter codes, moving letters and word logic.
- Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning: 21 question types including matrices, codes, cube nets, fold and punch, block counting, 2D views and 3D rotation.
- Topic practice: practise any one question type at Level 1, 2 or 3.
- A worked solution for every question and a topic-by-topic breakdown.
- Free printable PDFs of every set, with answer keys, for practice on paper.
Tips for the ISEB Pre-Test
- Practise on a computer or tablet: the real test is on screen, so get used to reading passages and choosing answers on a screen.
- Answer every question: there is no penalty for a wrong answer, and a sensible guess is better than leaving it.
- Check before moving on: once an answer is given it can’t be changed, so read every option first.
- Don’t worry if questions feel hard: in an adaptive test, harder questions usually mean your child is doing well.
- Little and often: short practice on one question type at a time builds speed, then try a full timed set.
Questions parents ask
Is this the official ISEB test?
No. These are independent practice tests written in the style of the ISEB Common Pre-Test. We are not connected to ISEB. The real test can only be sat once a year, through a school or test centre.
Why does it matter that the practice is adaptive?
Because the real Pre-Test is adaptive. Children who practise only on fixed papers are often surprised when questions get harder as they do well. Our tests change after every answer, so your child gets used to how the real test feels.
How is the age-standardised score worked out?
From how hard the questions were that your child answered correctly, adjusted for their age in months, on a scale where 100 is average. It is our estimate to help you see where your child is, not an official ISEB score.
Can we print the tests?
Yes. Every set comes with free printable PDFs, with answer keys and worked solutions. The real test is on screen, so we recommend doing most practice online and using the PDFs for extra practice.
What year group is it for?
Children in Year 6 or Year 7 preparing for the ISEB Common Pre-Test for 11+ or 13+ entry to independent schools.
Try a free sample first
Every ISEB test has a free sample, so your child can try it before you buy.