May 2026

Independent School 11+ Exams: How They Differ from Grammar School Tests

Grammar school 11+ exams are public, standardised, and largely transparent. Everyone knows what to expect because everyone takes the same test.

Independent school entrance exams are messier. They're part-standardised, part-bespoke, and you're also being assessed on how you present yourself in person. It's a different game.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test

Many UK independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test as a screening tool. About 60 schools are registered to use it - including Dulwich College, Caterham, Epsom College, and various day schools across the South East.

The ISEB test covers English, maths, and reasoning. Format-wise, it's similar to GL - multiple choice, timed sections, predictable question types. If your child's prepared for GL, they're halfway there.

But (and this is important) the ISEB test is used to filter applications, not make final decisions. You can pass the ISEB but still be rejected if the school prefers another candidate. And you can score lower on ISEB but get in anyway if the school likes your interview or sees something in your application.

This is different from grammar schools, where the exam score largely determines everything.

School-Specific Bespoke Exams

Plenty of independent schools run their own entrance exams. Winchester College, Harrow, Wellington, King's College London School, Latymer Upper, City of London School - they've all got custom papers.

These don't follow GL's fixed question type library. Each school designs papers to assess what they care about. Some lean heavily into written comprehension. Others test problem-solving creativity. Some are pure GL-style format.

This is why prep for independent school exams is harder to genericise. You need to hunt down past papers for the specific school you're applying to, then learn their style.

That said, most independent school papers sit somewhere on a spectrum from "GL-like but longer and harder" to "bespoke and idiosyncratic." Even if a school's papers are unique, building strong GL foundations transfers over.

The Interview Component

This is the bit that makes independent school selection different from grammar schools.

Grammar school selection is almost entirely exam-based. Interview, if it happens at all, is a formality.

Independent schools treat the interview as a real assessment. Schools want to know: can your child hold a conversation? Do they have interests beyond exam prep? Can they articulate their thinking? Are they the kind of student who'll thrive in the school's culture?

This matters because it means you can't game your way into an independent school purely on exam technique. A kid who's brilliant at timed tests but socially awkward will struggle in the interview, even if they pass the exam.

Conversely, a curious, articulate kid with moderate test scores can sometimes convince a school to overlook the lower marks.

How Independent Schools Use Test Results

Different schools weight things differently, but the formula is roughly:

Exam score (40-50%) + Interview and impression (30-40%) + School report and references (10-20%) + Extracurriculars and interests (5-10%)

So exam prep alone isn't enough. Your child needs to be genuinely interesting to talk to. Schools notice when a kid's been drilled to death and has nothing to say beyond test answers.

This is why I'd argue that independent school prep should be lighter on the drilling and heavier on the thinking. Your child should be able to explain their reasoning, discuss what interests them, and demonstrate curiosity.

Which Schools Use What

ISEB Common Pre-Test: Caterham, Dulwich College, Epsom College, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Benenden, Bryanston, Canford, Clayesmore, Sherborne, Oundle.

Bespoke exams: Harrow, Winchester College, Eton, King's College London School, Latymer Upper, City of London School, St Paul's, Godolphin and Latymer, Francis Holland, More House.

Check the school's prospectus or website. They'll tell you exactly what exam format they use and when it happens.

Prep Timeline for Independent Schools

Start looking at schools and their exam formats in Year 4. Download past papers if available - most schools publish them.

Build foundations (reading, maths fluency, logic) throughout Year 4 and Year 5.

In Year 5 (summer term onwards), start practicing the specific format. If it's ISEB, treat it like GL. If it's bespoke, work through available past papers and spot the patterns.

From autumn in Year 6, add interview prep. Not coaching them to give "right" answers, but helping them think through their interests and how to articulate them clearly.

Most schools hold exams in January of Year 6, so you need to be test-ready by Christmas.

The Interview Itself

Schools ask variations of these questions:

"Tell us about yourself." (They want to see if you're thoughtful and curious, not a resume.)

"What are you interested in?" (And they'll follow up: Why? What did you do about it? What would you do next?)

"Why do you want to come to this school?" (If you say "it's prestigious," you'll get rolled eyes.)

"What's a book you've read recently?" (And they'll ask about it. A lot of kids get caught here because they haven't actually read it.)

The trick is honesty. Schools can smell rehearsed, robotic answers from a mile off. They want real kids with real interests, not mini consultants in school uniform.

The Cost Difference

Independent schools are expensive, obviously. But the exam itself doesn't cost extra - you pay tuition, not entry fees (in most cases).

Prep, though, is pricier than grammar school prep. Independent school tutors charge more. You'll need access to more papers. And you might need interview coaching, which grammar school kids don't.

Grammar School vs Independent: Making the Choice

If you're genuinely undecided between grammar and independent, here's the honest breakdown:

Grammar school: Exam score is everything. Very fair, very transparent. Your child lives or dies by their test performance.

Independent school: More holistic assessment. Your child's personality, interests, and communication matter. But it's also more expensive and the interview adds a psychological element.

If your child is a brilliant test-taker but shy, grammar school might be kinder. If your child is interesting and articulate but a slightly wobbly test-taker, independent school gives them more rope.

And if you can afford independent school and want small class sizes and more flexibility in curriculum, that's a reasonable choice on its merits - not just "getting in" merits.

One Last Thing

If your child's applying to independent schools, don't let the interview component make you relax on exam prep. The exam still matters hugely - it filters out everyone who can't pass it. But once they're past that gate, interview and personality take over.

So the prep priority is: nail the exam first, then make them interesting.