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
What is the area of this shape? All the corners are right angles.
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, 128 cm²
How to work it out
Imagine the whole 12 cm × 12 cm rectangle: 144 cm².
The missing corner is 8 cm × 2 cm = 16 cm² (its sides are 12 − 4 and 12 − 10).
Area = 144 − 16 = 128 cm².
Why the other options are wrong
A (160 cm²): This adds the missing corner instead of taking it away.
B (48 cm²): This is the perimeter, not the area.
C (144 cm²): This is the whole rectangle; the corner that is cut out must be taken away.
D (40 cm²): This multiplies two of the shorter sides only.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which word completes the sentence with the correct spelling?
Take one spoonful of this _____ after breakfast.
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, medicine
How to work it out
Take one spoonful of this medicine after breakfast.
Think of medical: med-i-cine.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Find the next pair of letters in the series.
IB KC MD OE ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, QF
How to work it out
Follow each letter on its own.
The first letters move forward 2 each time; the second letters move forward 1.
So the next pair is QF.
Tip: write the alphabet with numbers above it.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure is the odd one out?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A
How to work it out
In each figure the number of dots matches the number of sides of the shape, except the odd one out.
Westminster 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 Westminster 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 Westminster 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 Westminster 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.