ISEB Common Pre-Test exam-day guide
ISEB Common Pre-Test · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your test centre, date and arrival time
Your registration confirmation should state the exact venue, session time and what to bring. Re-read it the week before and check the provider's instructions for arrival, since late arrival may mean you cannot sit the test. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Know which device or format applies to you
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is normally taken online, either at a senior school or at an approved test centre. Confirm whether you sit it at a school, at your prep school, or remotely, and what equipment is provided versus what you must supply. Confirm the format with the provider or the school administering the test.
Bring your registration or candidate details if requested
Some centres ask for a candidate number or a printed confirmation. Check your joining instructions. Do not assume photo ID is required; confirm the identification requirements with the test centre in advance.
Prepare practical items for the room
Unless told otherwise, bring a pencil, an eraser, a sharpener and a pen. For online tests, paper and pencil may be provided for rough work; confirm what is allowed, because some tests restrict rough paper or calculators.
Do not bring a calculator or phone unless explicitly permitted
The test is designed to be taken without a calculator. Mobile phones and smart devices are normally not allowed in the test room. Check the provider's rules on personal items and where they must be stored.
Practise the question types and online interface
Familiarise yourself with the four sections: English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Use the provider's own familiarisation materials if available. Knowing how to move between questions and how answers are selected reduces avoidable errors.
Plan your journey and a backup route
Work out travel time, parking or public transport, and aim to arrive with time to spare. Identify a fallback route in case of delays. Check whether a parent or guardian must stay on site.
Protect sleep and routine in the final week
Keep a consistent bedtime, eat normally and avoid cramming late the night before. A rested candidate performs more reliably than one who has stayed up revising.
Read the provider's rules on access arrangements
If you have an approved access arrangement, such as extra time or a separate room, confirm well in advance that the centre knows about it. Do not assume it will be applied automatically; confirm with the provider.
Keep the confirmation details accessible on the day
Save the venue address, contact number and session time on a parent's phone as well as your own notes. This helps if plans change on the morning.
Plan the day
Re-read your registration confirmation and the provider's instructions. Confirm the venue, arrival time, what to bring and any access arrangements. Check travel plans and, if travelling by car, plan parking. Do one or two short practice sessions on the question types you find hardest, then stop heavy revision. Protect your sleep from this point onward.
Pack your pencil case and any permitted items. Lay out clothes and confirm the journey with whoever is taking you. Do a light review of question-type strategies only, not new content. Avoid screens late in the evening, eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time. Re-check the weather and travel information for the morning.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Arrive at the centre with time to spare, allowing for delays. Use the toilet before you go in. If you feel nervous, take a few slow breaths; some nerves are normal and help you focus. Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly and ask if anything about the format is unclear before the test begins.
Read each question carefully and answer at a steady pace. The sections are timed, so do not spend too long on one question; if you are stuck, choose your best answer and move on, and return only if the format allows it. In Non-Verbal Reasoning, look for the rule that changes across the sequence or links the figures. In Verbal Reasoning, watch for word patterns, codes and logic. Use rough paper only if permitted. Check that you have answered every question before a section ends, and keep an eye on the time remaining if it is displayed.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the invigilator or test administrator. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask before you do it.
Keep any mobile phone, smart watch or other device switched off and stored as instructed; do not bring it into the test room unless the provider explicitly permits it.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not look at anyone else's screen or paper. Any form of sharing answers is misconduct.
Confirm the rules on breaks with the provider or test centre in advance; do not assume you can leave the room during a timed section.
Check the identification and registration requirements with the test centre beforehand. Do not assume a particular document is required.
The test is scored by the senior school or schools you apply to, and results are normally shared with those schools rather than issued directly to candidates. Confirm how and when results will be communicated with the provider or the receiving school.
If you have an approved access arrangement, confirm in advance that the centre has been informed and that it will be provided on the day.
If something goes wrong on the day, such as illness or a technical problem, tell the invigilator immediately and ask the provider how the situation will be handled.