ISEB Common Pre-Test study plan

Diagnose baseline in Mathematics and English with one timed mixed set per domain, logging every wrong answer by error type (knowledge gap, misread, careless slip, time pressure).

Rehearse the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, decimals and fractions, including negative results, to build fluent calculation without a calculator.

Apply place value and rounding to estimate answers before calculating, then compare the estimate with the exact result to catch slips.

Identify the parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction) in 30 short sentences and label each word.

Write one-sentence explanations of why each diagnosed error happened, so the error log becomes a revision tool rather than a score list.

Solve multi-step word problems involving money, measures and time, writing the calculation for each step before computing.

Convert between common units (metres and centimetres, kilograms and grams, minutes and hours) and check that answers carry the correct unit.

Practise fraction, decimal and percentage equivalence, including finding a fraction or percentage of an amount.

Correct a set of deliberately faulty sentences for subject-verb agreement, tense consistency and double negatives, stating the rule broken.

Punctuate unpunctuated passages with full stops, commas, apostrophes and speech marks, then justify each mark added.

Read two short fiction extracts and answer inference questions by quoting the exact words from the text that support each answer.

Summarise a non-fiction passage in three sentences, keeping only main ideas and discarding examples.

Define and construct synonyms, antonyms and word pairs at the level of difficulty used in verbal reasoning, working from definitions rather than guesswork.

Complete letter-shift and alphabet-sequence puzzles by writing out the alphabet and tracking positions, building speed through repetition.

Build vocabulary by recording 10 unfamiliar words per session with meaning, part of speech and an original sentence.

Solve verbal classification ('odd one out') items by naming the shared category of the majority before rejecting the misfit.

Complete analogies by stating the relationship in a full sentence (for example 'a handle is part of a door') before choosing the answer.

Practise non-verbal reasoning with rotation, reflection and paper-folding items, drawing each transformation on grid paper to verify the answer.

Work through series and matrix items by identifying the changing feature (shape, size, shading, position, number of sides) one at a time.

Time-box each reasoning set to a strict limit and record which item types consume the most time.

Construct code and cipher puzzles (letter substitution, number-to-letter mapping) and solve them under time pressure.

Solve hidden-word and letter-rearrangement items by scanning systematically rather than by eye.

Identify nets of cubes and 3D rotations by folding paper models and comparing against the printed options.

Practise 'complete the pair' and 'same/different' non-verbal items, stating the exact feature that matches or differs.

Review the error log from week 4 and re-attempt every missed item type until two consecutive correct answers are achieved.

Solve geometry questions on angles, perimeter, area of rectangles and triangles, and properties of common 2D shapes.

Interpret simple tables, bar charts and line graphs, extracting values and answering comparison questions.

Answer reading comprehension questions on longer passages, distinguishing fact from opinion and identifying the writer's purpose and tone.

Apply spelling rules for common patterns (plural forms, doubling consonants, silent letters) and proofread a passage for spelling errors.

Complete cloze and sentence-completion items by testing each option in the sentence and checking grammar as well as meaning.

Sit two full-length mixed practice papers under realistic timing, with a short break between domains as in the real test.

Review each paper the same day, categorising errors and ranking them by how often they recur.

Re-drill the three most frequent error types with targeted practice until accuracy is consistent.

Build a pacing plan for each domain, deciding how long to spend per question and when to move on.

Practise calm recovery after a hard question by skipping it, marking it and returning only if time allows.

Sit one final full-length paper under exam conditions, then review only errors already seen in earlier logs to confirm they are fixed.

Recite the rules and conversions sheet, the vocabulary notebook and the reasoning rules from memory.

Rehearse the test-day routine: equipment, timing, reading instructions carefully and checking answers within the last minutes.

Reduce volume and prioritise sleep and light review in the final days rather than new content.

Write a short confidence list of the skills now reliable, to replace pre-test anxiety with concrete evidence.