A timeline of the 13+ admissions process
A Step-by-Step Timeline
Planning a 13+ entry can feel like a marathon - registration deadlines in Year 5, pre-tests in Year 6, interviews soon after, and final exams in Year 8. This guide walks you through what happens when, with examples from leading schools.
The Big Picture
Year 4 - Early Year 5
Start exploring schools: open mornings, prospectuses, talking to your prep/primary head.
Shortlist 6–10 schools; understand boarding/day options and academic fit.
By End of Year 5
Register with schools (deadlines vary by school).
Example deadlines:
Eton: register by 31 August of Year 5 for Year 9 entry.
Harrow: register by 1 July of Year 5 (standard applicants).
Brighton College: for some cohorts, registration runs into early Year 6 (e.g., 2027/28 entry register by 1 October 2025).
Autumn of Year 6 (Sept–Nov)
ISEB Common Pre-Tests window most schools use (one sitting shared with all your senior schools).
Schools set their own deadlines, but many ask candidates to sit Oct–Nov of Year 6.
Schools also request a Head Teacher’s reference.
Spring of Year 6 (Jan–Mar)
Stage-2 assessments/interviews at many schools for those who passed the pre-test.
Timing varies by school; see snapshots below.
Late Spring of Year 6 (Apr–May)
Offers (conditional on Year 8 exams) begin to land.
Year 7
House allocation and taster/induction events. Some schools ask for an **acceptance fee by end of March of Year 7.
Year 8 (May–June)
Final confirmation exams: Common Entrance (CE) or scholarship/own-entry papers depending on the school. CE written papers are typically in early June; languages speaking/listening in May.
School-Specific Snapshots (what to expect)
Eton College (13+ Year 9)
Register: by 31 August of Year 5**.
Stage 1 (Year 6, Autumn): ISEB Common Pre-Tests in Oct–Nov + head’s report. Outcomes in December.
Stage 2 (Year 6, Spring–Summer): on-site assessment & interview; cohorts scheduled Jan–May by birth month; results in March/May/July.
After offer: Conditional place confirmed by King’s Scholarship, Common Entrance or Eton Entrance in Year 8; acceptance fee due by end of March of Year 7. (King’s Scholarship exams are held late April/early May of the entry year.)
Harrow School (13+ Year 9)
Register: by 1 July of Year 5 (standard); later is treated as “Late Applicant.”
Pre-test (Year 6, Autumn): sit ISEB 1 Oct–end Nov.
Harrow Test (Year 6, Spring): invitation-only; includes 20-min interview, computerised English/Maths/NVR (\~1 hr) and group activity (20 mins). Results late Apr/early May (A1/A2/B/C lists). Offers subject to CE or Scholarship in Year 8.
Published cohort dates show Harrow Test typically Jan–Mar for standard applicants.
Brighton College (13+ Year 9)
Process begins: in Year 6 with ISEB.
Register: UK candidates for some cycles asked to register by 1 October of Year 6 (e.g., 2027/28 entry).
Next step: successful pre-test candidates attend an Orientation Day in February of Year 6 (interviews + written English & Maths assessments).
Offers: issued early March of Year 6. Later: Year 7 taster day (October) and acceptance deadline January.
Key Exam Windows You’ll Hear About
ISEB Common Pre-Tests (shared online assessment)
Parents register via the ISEB Guardian Portal; individual schools set their own pre-test deadlines.
For 2025–26, ISEB lists: Guardian registration opens 10 June 2025; testing session opens 2 Sept 2025. (For the prior session, last tests 16 May 2025, session closed 23 May 2025.) Always check your target schools’ dates.
Common Entrance (CE) at 13+
2025–26 dates published by ISEB:
Autumn 2025: 3–7 Nov (listening/speaking and written)
Spring 2026: 26–30 Jan
Summer 2026: listening/speaking 11–16 May; written 1–5 June.
Step-by-Step: What Parents Should Do (and When)
Years 4–5: Research & Register
Visit shortlisted schools and diarise registration deadlines (end of Year 5 for Eton/Harrow; some schools accept registrations into Year 6).
2. Summer before Year 6: Admin Ready
Create an ISEB Guardian Portal account and gather any SEND/access documentation if applicable.
3. Autumn of Year 6: Sit the ISEB Pre-Tests
Agree the pre-test date with your current school (most sit Oct–Nov); share your Applicant ID with all senior schools.
4. Spring of Year 6: Interviews & Second-Stage Assessments
Expect invitations to on-site assessments/interviews (e.g., Harrow Test Jan–Mar; Eton Stage-2 Jan–May; Brighton Orientation Day Feb)
5. Late Spring of Year 6: Offers
Offers (often conditional) typically arrive late Apr–early May (Harrow) or early March (Brighton); Eton releases Stage-2 outcomes by March/May/July depending on cohort.
6. Year 7: House & Acceptance
Attend taster/house meetings; note any acceptance fee deadlines (e.g., Eton by end of March of Year 7).
7. Year 8: Final Exams
Sit CE in May/June or scholarship/own-entry papers depending on the school; places are confirmed post-results.
Useful Notes
Each school sets its own deadlines around a shared ISEB framework—always check the admissions pages for the cohort you’re targeting.
Pre-test results are shared with all your chosen schools (you sit once per academic year).
Not every school uses CE in Year 8; some set their own entrance or scholarship exams - your offer letter will clarify.
If you want, tell me your child’s current school year and target schools, and I’ll convert this into a personalised timeline with exact month-by-month to-dos for that cohort.
[1]: https://www.etoncollege.com/admissions/year-9-13/ "Year 9 (13+) Entry - Eton College"
[2]: https://www.harrowschool.org.uk/admissions/year-9-entry "Year 9 Entry - Harrow School"
[3]: https://www.brightoncollege.org.uk/college/join/how-to-apply "How to Apply | Brighton College"
[4]: https://www.iseb.co.uk/ce-case-exam-dates/ce-13-exam-timetable/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "CE at 13+ Examination Timetable"
[5]: https://www.harrowschool.org.uk/admissions/key-dates "Key Dates - Harrow School"
[6]: https://www.iseb.co.uk/assessments/common-pre-tests/ "ISEB Pre-Tests | Online admissions tests used by leading senior schools"