The Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) test is a standardized assessment used by many independent schools in the United Kingdom to evaluate students for admission. Administered in the 6th and 7th grades, the ISEB exam is designed to measure the academic abilities and potential of students applying to various independent senior schools both in the UK and internationally.
This page offers free practice questions, the ISEB test is computerized and can be taken in your child's prep school or one of the senior schools you're applying for. The test is also adaptive, meaning that the difficulty increases the more your child succeeds.
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The ISEB Pre-tests cover four subjects, taking a total of approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. These subjects are:
The questions in the section are either reading comprehension (answering according to a short text) or grammar.
Text: The British Passion for Tea
Q1 Look at paragraph 1.
How long does the average British person spend making and drinking tea?
A1: The correct answer is C.
Paragraph 1 states, "On average, a British person spends about two months of their life making and drinking tea." This indicates the duration mentioned in the context of the average British person's tea habits.
Q2: The sentence below is from paragraph 3.
Britain's trade history, particularly with China and India, introduced a variety of tea blends to the country, making tea an accessible and beloved drink.
Which word is closest in meaning to 'accessible'?
A2: The correct answer is E.
In the context of the sentence, "accessible" means that tea is easily obtained or available to people. "Available" best captures this meaning, indicating that tea can be readily found and enjoyed. "Reachable," "affordable," "attainable," and "convenient" are related but do not fit as precisely in this context.
ISEB Pre-tests English Tip – Start from the Questions:
One of the most effective strategies for reading comprehension is to read the questions before the text. Reading the text first can take up a lot of time, especially since you'll need to refer back to it after reading the questions. By starting with the questions, you can often determine where the answers are likely to be found, saving time and allowing you to focus on the relevant information for each question.
Q3: Choose the word that best completes the sentence below.
It's important to _______ attention during class.
A3: The correct answer is A.
In this sentence, we need a verb in the base form to complete the phrase. Let's analyze each option:
Therefore, the correct answer is A. pay. The sentence should read: "It's important to pay attention during class."
Q4: Select the word that does not fit in the sentence once it is rearranged.
book the red very reads she quickly
A4: The correct answer is B.
First, let's identify the words and rearrange them to form a meaningful sentence. The words are: book, the, red, very, reads, she, quickly.
Possible meaningful sentence: "She reads the red book quickly." In this sentence, the words "she," "reads," "the," "red," "book," and "quickly" are necessary to create a grammatically correct and meaningful sentence. The word "very" does not fit into the sentence contextually or grammatically. So, the sentence without the unnecessary word is: "She reads the red book quickly." Therefore, the word that does not fit in the sentence is C. very.
The ISEB Common Pre Tests English section is demanding, requiring you to showcase your reading, comprehension, and interpretation abilities, along with a solid grasp of grammar. However, with thorough preparation and effective problem-solving5 techniques, your child can achieve their best performance.
Let's move on to the mathematics section.
Q5: Which of the following numbers is a multiple of 13?
A5: The correct answer is D.
While you can perform full calculations for each answer – we recommend memorizing quick mathematical calculations – especially the square of a number (X2) – for numbers up to 20.
In this instance, you can multiply 13 by 5, 10, and by itself, and then review the answers:
13 X 5 = 65
13 X 10 = 130
13 X 13 = 169
Now you can compare the numbers in the answers and see if they are an addition or subtraction of 13, 26, etc., until reaching the correct answer:
Q6: Which decimal is between 1/3 and 3/5?
A6: The correct answer is C.
When comparing fractions to decimals, it helps to convert the fractions to decimals:
1/3 ≈ 0.33, and 3/5 = 0.6
Now we can eliminate a few options:
0.25 can be eliminated as it is below 0.33.
0.40 can also be eliminated as it is below 0.33.
0.70 can be eliminated as it is above 0.6.
0.85 can also be eliminated as it is above 0.6.
Therefore, the decimal that fits between 1/3 and 3/5 is 0.55.
ISEB Mathematics Tip – Eliminate Smartly:
In multiple-choice questions, especially in calculations, you can quickly eliminate options by comparing the distractors. For example, in the last question, you can start by examining 0.3 or 0.7, and if you can rule the first for being too small, or the second for being too large, then you can rule out 0.25 and 0.85, accordingly, without wasting time examining them.
Q7: John jogs for 30 minutes every morning.
If he covers a distance of 6 kilometers in that time, what is his average jogging speed?
A7: The correct answer is D.
To determine John's average jogging speed, we use the formula:
Average speed = Total distance / Total time
First, use the given time in minutes:
Time = 30 minutes
Next, use the total distance covered:
Total distance = 6 kilometers
Now, calculate the average jogging speed:
Average speed = 6 km / 30 minutes = 1/5 = 0.2 km per minute
Therefore, John's average jogging speed is 0.2 km per minute.
Q8: A pizza is divided into 8 equal slices. What angle does 3 slices account for?
A8: The correct answer is B.
The pizza represents a circle, which is 360˚. If we divide the circle into 8 equal pieces, each piece would be 360˚ / 8 = 45˚.
Therefore, 3 pieces of pizza would account for 45˚ x 3 = 135˚.
ISEB Pre Tests Results:
The ISEB pre tests is distinctive because it does not provide a specific score or set of results. Instead, once your child completes the test, the results are sent directly to the senior schools you have applied to, and you can contact these schools for more information. Each school evaluates your child's performance differently, focusing on particular traits.
Here are some important points to consider that can impact your child's success on the test:
Q9: Which one letter completes all the words below?
__ake __ind __ite __ook
a. B
b. F
c. L
d. T
e. R
A9: The correct answer is A (the letter B).
To find the letter that completes all the given words, we try each letter in the blank and see if it forms a meaningful word.
Q10: Select the pair of words that are closest in meaning to each other.
A10: The correct answer is A.
To find the pair of words that are closest in meaning, let's analyze each pair:
Therefore, the correct answer is happy, joyful, as they are the pair of words that are closest in meaning to each other.
Q11: The first pair of words is related in some way.
Complete the second pair of words in the same way.
book : chapter tree : _________
A11: The correct answer is E.
To determine the relationship between the first pair of words and complete the second pair in the same way, let's analyze the relationship between "book" and "chapter":
Therefore, the correct answer is a branch because it represents a section or part of a tree, just as a chapter represents a section or part of a book.
ISEB Verbal Tip: Create Sentences
In the last two questions, you were given pairs of words, and to answer you had to identify the connection between the pairs. To effectively approach such questions (analogies, synonyms, antonyms, etc.), your child should be able to form a sentence that explains the relationship between the words (e.g., "a book is made of many chapters" or "furious means very angry"). To help your child develop this skill, practice reading books and paragraphs together and encourage them to interpret unfamiliar words using the context in which they appear.
Q12: Select the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in bold.
Fragile
A12: The correct answer is A.
To determine the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to "fragile," we first need to understand its definition. "Fragile" means easily broken or damaged.
Now, let's analyze each of the possible answers:
Therefore, the correct answer is A. sturdy, as it is the word that most nearly means the opposite of fragile.
Although the ISEB Common Pre Tests English and Verbal Reasoning sections may seem similar at first glance, a deeper examination reveals significant differences. The English section measures your child's understanding of written text and their proper use of English words. In contrast, the Verbal Reasoning section focuses on the meanings of words, logical connections between words, and comparisons.
Let's look at the final section of the ISEB Pre tests, the Non-Verbal Reasoning section.
Q13: Below are five figures, four of which have a code of letters.
Choose the correct letters to complete the code to the figure on the right.
A13: The correct answer is D.
Let's decipher the code from the far-left figure:
Q14: Decide which of the five options should complete the matrix in the empty slot.
a. | ![]() |
b. | ![]() |
c. | ![]() |
d. | ![]() |
e. | ![]() |
A14: The correct answer is A.
Across the rows and down the columns, the number of circles increases by one from frame to frame. For example, in the top row and the first column, the first frame contains one circle, the second frame contains two circles, and the third frame contains three circles. Look at the bottom row. The first frame contains two circles, and the second frame contains three circles. Thus, the last frame will contain four circles.
ISEB Non-Verbal Tip – Look for Common Patterns:
Most of the questions in the Non-Verbal section of the ISEB test include figures, which are connected by specific patterns, either in a matrix form, next in series, etc. In most cases, a few common rules apply in said patterns – i.e., switching geometrical shapes (with specific positions), addition/subtraction of the number of sides/figures (like in the previous example), and clockwise/counterclockwise movement. Practice many spatial questions and learn how to intuitively look for those common patterns, to be able to quickly solve most questions with ease.
Q15: Select how the following 2D picture would look, if folded into 3D.
a. | ![]() |
b. | ![]() |
c. | ![]() |
d. | ![]() |
A15: The correct answer is C.
Option 1 – If the facet at the front and the facet on the top represent facets 5 and 2 respectively, then the facet on the right should be represented by facet number 6 rather than number 4. This option is incorrect.
Option 2 – If the facet on the right and the facet on the top represent facets 5 and 4 respectively, then the facet at the front should be represented by facet number 1 rather than number 2. This option is incorrect.
Option 3 – The facet at the front, top and right hand are represented by facets 5, 6, and 1 respectively. This is the correct answer.
Option 4 – Facets 3, 4, and 5 are situated in consecutive order and therefore they could not appear alongside each other as they do in this option but rather one after the other. This option is incorrect.
A good ISEB pre tests score can vary depending on the school you are applying to, as different schools have different benchmarks. However, generally speaking:
To prepare effectively for the ISEB Pre Tests, start by familiarizing yourself with the test format through official practice papers available on the ISEB Pre Tests website.
Focus on mastering the specific syllabus content for Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Practice under timed conditions to improve time management. Regularly review your progress through mock tests and adapt your study plan based on performance analysis.
Ensure a balanced approach with steady, consistent practice.
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