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 1Aim for about 60 seconds
Zain spends £8.10 and pays with a £10 note. What is the smallest number of coins Zain can get in change?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, 4
How to work it out
The change is £10.00 − £8.10 = £1.90.
Use the biggest coin that fits each time: £1 + 50p + 20p + 20p.
That is 4 coins.
Why the other options are wrong
A (3): Check the change again: one of the amounts has been missed.
B (2): Too few coins to make the change exactly.
D (5): This splits one coin into two smaller ones. Use the biggest coin that fits each time.
E (6): Use £2 and £1 coins before smaller ones.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, We bought apples, pears, plums and grapes.
How to work it out
The correct sentence is: We bought apples, pears, plums and grapes.
Commas separate items in a list, or a fronted phrase from the rest of the sentence.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Which one letter completes the word in front of the brackets and starts the word after them, in both pairs?
wav ( ) ach loath ( ) nemy
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, E
How to work it out
E makes wave and each, and loathe and enemy.
The same letter must work in all four places.
Why the other options are wrong
A (C): C does not make four real words.
B (V): V does not make four real words.
C (O): O does not make four real words.
E (K): K does not make four real words.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
The first figure changes into the second. Which option changes the third figure in the same way?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C
How to work it out
The figure turns 90° clockwise, and then turns 180°.
Harrow School 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 Harrow School?
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 Harrow School?
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 Harrow School?
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.