Question 1Aim for about 60 seconds
A car travels at 30 mph for 2.5 hours. How far does it travel?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, 75 miles
How to work it out
Distance = speed × time = 30 × 2.5 = 75 miles.
Charterhouse: 11 Plus entry
A independent school in Surrey, Kent & Sussex for boys and girls, with entry at 13+. Here is the test it uses, what is in it and how to prepare.
At a glance
- Type
- Independent school
- Pupils
- Mixed
- Area
- Surrey, Kent & Sussex, South East
- Entry
- 13+
- Entrance test
- ISEB Common Pre-Test
- Tested
- Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
- Competition
- Super-selective
- Prism’s suggested target
- 88% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the ISEB Common Pre-Test
An online, adaptive test in maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning used by many senior independent schools, usually taken in Year 6 or 7.
| Stage | Paper | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Test | Maths | 36 | 50 minutes |
| Pre-Test | English | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Pre-Test | Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 36 minutes |
| Pre-Test | Non-verbal Reasoning | 36 | 32 minutes |
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare
The ISEB Common Pre-Test covers maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in November.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
Practice questions in the style of the test
Written by Prism in the style of the test, not taken from any school’s papers.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
What does the word “allocate” mean?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, to give out for a particular purpose
How to work it out
- “Allocate” (verb) means to give out for a particular purpose.
- For example: The teacher allocated a job to each group.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Complete the analogy.
glove is to hand as sock is to ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, foot
How to work it out
- Say the link between “glove” and “hand” as a sentence.
- The same sentence links “sock” and “foot”.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which of the shapes below could join this group?
The group
Show the worked answer
Answer: D
How to work it out
- Every shape in the group has the same number of dots as it has sides.
- Shading and rotation change freely, so they are distractors.
Other selective schools in Surrey, Kent & Sussex
Questions parents ask
What entrance test does Charterhouse use?
Charterhouse uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Charterhouse?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 88% consistently in practice for a super-selective school. This is Prism’s own estimate, not a figure from the school, and no score guarantees a place.
When should my child start preparing for Charterhouse?
Most families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, then practise timed papers during the summer before the test, which usually takes place in November.
Preparing for Charterhouse?
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.
Start the free assessmentPrism Learning is not affiliated with Charterhouse. Details are indicative; always check admissions arrangements with the school.