A good 13+ Common Entrance tutor knows the ISEB syllabuses, builds secure maths, English and science foundations, and plans steady past-paper practice across Year 7 and Year 8. Common Entrance covers many subjects, so planning and priorities matter. This guide explains what helps.

Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company that teaches students one-to-one. Our main focus is secondary tutoring; some of our tutors also take on 13+ preparation.

Key takeaways

• Check each school’s requirements and pass marks.
• Maths and English usually matter most.
• Plan across Year 7 and Year 8.
• Past papers build familiarity.

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What is Common Entrance?

Common Entrance at 13+ is a set of exams set by ISEB and used by many independent senior schools for entry, usually taken in the summer of Year 8. See the Independent Schools Examinations Board.

Subject	Typical focus
English	Reading and writing
Maths	Number, algebra, geometry
Science	Biology, chemistry, physics
Languages	French, Latin and others
Humanities	History, geography, RS

Where do students struggle?

Area	Common problem
Maths	Multi-step problems
English	Analysing extracts
Science	Applying ideas
Languages	Grammar accuracy
Planning	Too many subjects at once

How to choose a 13+ tutor: step by step

1. Check the target schools’ requirements.
2. Identify priority subjects.
3. Check the tutor’s Common Entrance experience.
4. Ask about past-paper practice.
5. Book a trial lesson.
6. Plan Year 7 and 8.

UK families can see online tutoring in the UK and browse tutors in London.

What should a good tutor offer?

What to check	Why it matters
ISEB familiarity	Syllabus and papers
Subject depth	Accuracy
Planning	Many subjects
Encouragement	Confidence

What does a good lesson look like?

1. Quick recall.
2. One topic taught.
3. Past-paper questions.
4. Feedback.
5. Homework.

Prioritising subjects

Most families focus tutoring on the subjects with the highest weighting or the biggest gaps, often maths and English. Other subjects may only need a short revision block. A tutor can help build a plan that covers everything without overloading a 12-year-old. Schools set different pass marks, so knowing the target schools’ expectations helps decide where to focus.

Pre-tests and scholarships

Some senior schools use earlier pre-tests or offer scholarship exams, which can be more demanding. A tutor can help with problem solving and extended writing for scholarship papers, but children should also enjoy their final years of prep school.

When should preparation start?

Starting in Year 7 gives time for steady progress. In Year 8, focus on past papers.

How to tell tutoring is working

• improving past-paper scores;
• confidence in weaker subjects;
• better organised revision;
• your child stays positive.

How parents can help

• encourage reading;
• support a balanced routine;
• talk to the prep school about expectations.

Questions to ask a tutor

1. Have you taught Common Entrance?
2. Which subjects can you cover?
3. How will you plan the two years?

A sample Year 8 plan

Term	Focus
Autumn	Maths and English gaps
Spring	Science and languages
Summer	Past papers and revision

How much tutoring is enough?

One or two weekly lessons in priority subjects suits most students.

English for Common Entrance

English papers usually include comprehension of prose or poetry and a piece of writing. Strong answers find evidence, explain the writer’s choices and write with varied vocabulary and accurate punctuation. A tutor can practise comprehension with short extracts and give detailed feedback on writing, which improves both papers. Regular reading of good fiction is the best preparation and makes a noticeable difference within a few months.

Maths for Common Entrance

Maths papers test number, algebra, geometry and data, often with multi-step problems. A tutor can secure methods, teach problem-solving strategies and practise past papers under time. Many marks are lost through careless errors, so checking habits matter. Students aiming for scholarship papers also need practice with unfamiliar, more open problems.

Online lessons for 13+

Online lessons let tutors share past papers, mark answers on screen and fit around busy prep-school timetables. Families living abroad and planning a move to a UK boarding school can start preparation before they arrive. See tutoring for boarding school students.

Science and languages

Science papers test core biology, chemistry and physics with some practical and data questions, while language papers test vocabulary, grammar and comprehension. A short, focused block of tutoring before the exams is often enough for these, unless there are bigger gaps.

Tip: keep a single list of every target school’s exam dates and subject requirements.

How Tutopiya tutoring works

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online tutoring.

• A tutor matched to your child’s subject, level and exam board.
• A free first trial lesson, with no card needed.
• From 4 hours a month per subject. Each tutor sets their own rate, shown before booking.
• AI lesson analysis gives a written summary, flashcards and quiz questions after each lesson.

See online tutoring in the UK.

Common mistakes

• Every subject at once → prioritise.
• No past papers → practise.
• Overload → keep balance.
• Ignoring requirements → check schools.

Talk to us

For related guides, see key stage 3 tutoring and an online 11+ tutor. Contact our team to check 13+ tutor availability.

Summary: a 13+ tutor prioritises key subjects, follows the ISEB syllabus and builds steady past-paper practice across Year 7 and 8.

Frequently asked questions

What is 13+ Common Entrance? +

Common Entrance is a set of exams run by ISEB and used by many independent senior schools in the UK for entry at 13, usually taken in Year 8.

What subjects are tested? +

Commonly English, maths and science, plus other subjects such as languages and humanities, depending on the school. Check each school's requirements.

When should preparation start? +

Many families start structured preparation in Year 7. Some schools also use pre-tests earlier, in Year 6 or 7.

Can preparation be done online? +

Yes. Online lessons work well for maths, English, science and languages, with past papers shared on screen.

Does Tutopiya offer 13+ tutoring? +

Some Tutopiya tutors take on 13+ preparation. Contact us to check availability; the first trial lesson is free with no card required.

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