13+ Exam Papers: Introduction
The 13+ Common Entrance Exam is an hour-long exam (average, per subject) that tests a candidate’s suitability for admission to schools in the UK. 13+ Exam papers are typically written in Year 8 for entrance in Year 9. Students are tested mainly in three subjects, English, Maths and Science.
Table of contents
- 13+ Exam Papers: Introduction
- 13+ Exam Papers Level of Difficulty
- 13+ Exam Papers Pass Marks
- 13+ Exam Subjects
- How to Prepare for the 13+ Exam Papers?
- How to Prepare for the 13+ Interview?
- Conclusion
Common times for the conduct of the 13 Plus exam papers are:
- For schools using the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) Papers – The first week of June
- For London day schools – Mid to late January
The above are typical but there are many schools that have their own time period for conducting the test.
Students need to register with their intended school two to three years before Year 9. They enter a period of pre-testing, where they will have to appear for a series of tests. Students who pass will then be made a firm offer, on the condition that they pass the 13+ Common Entrance Test.
13+ Exam Papers Level of Difficulty
The 13+ exam papers are quite challenging. There are three levels of difficulty. Students usually appear for the level 2 exam.
The Level 2 and 3 exams are challenging and the expectations are typically the same as for students in Year 10. This is especially true of English and Maths.
13+ Exam Papers Pass Marks
There is no official pass mark for the 13+ Common Entrance Exam. However, schools may set their own minimum marks for acceptance. Even those marks may be variable, with allowances being made for those who score higher in other subjects. So if a student scores low in English but very high in Maths and Science, he or she may still be considered for admission to the school.
In general, we can consider 60% as a minimum requirement for admission. This means that candidates should aim to attain at least 60% overall in the 13+ entrance exam papers if they hope to gain admission to a good school.
You should note, however, that schools grade the papers, which are graded from A to E. Each school has its own criteria for awarding the grade based on the marks obtained by the candidate.
13+ Exam Subjects
The 13 Plus Exam consists of written papers. The papers are for core subjects as well as extensions.
The core subjects are:
- English
- Maths
- Science
Extended subjects are:
- Languages
- History
- Geography, etc.
Each paper lasts from forty to ninety minutes.
There is also a speaking component, the interview, details of which are covered further in this article.
How to Prepare for the 13+ Exam Papers?
Sample papers, 13+ past papers and online exam papers are the best way to prepare for the 13+ Exam. There are several 13 plus exam papers with answers free download available on the internet. Some are available as free downloads and others may have to be purchased.
It is important to approach test preparation as if one were taking the actual test. For this purpose, the following tips are handy:
- Set aside a time of day to take the test. Check the duration of the sample paper and set aside exactly that amount of time.
- Inform friends and family that you are not to be disturbed at the time of the test preparation
- Prepare materials such as sharpened pencils, working pens, rulers, etc. beforehand.
- Use a timer set to the exact duration of the exam. Stop writing as soon as the timer goes off.
Specific tips for the English paper:
- Read widely and from a large number of sources. Include fiction, non-fiction, journals, travelogues, etc. in your reading material. Ensure that the reading material is at or even slightly above the recommended reading for the 13+ age range.
- Practice answering questions on passages that you read. Answers should explain points of the passage and provide evidence of assertions whenever necessary.
- Keep a record of unknown words and phrases that you come across in your reading. Discuss these with an adult and make notes on the words and phrases. Try and use the new words appropriately in everyday conversation.
- For the composition section:
- Practise structuring your ideas so you tell a story – introduction → build-up → problem → resolution → ending.
- Practise the formation of paragraphs. Learn to separate ideas using paragraphs and to break up longer ideas into smaller ones.
- Practise using appropriate figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc.
- Use appropriate vocabulary.
- Check your spelling and grammar.
- Practise writing clearly and neatly.
How to Prepare for the 13+ Interview?
The interview tests-core and extended aspects of the candidate, including:
- Family:
- Family activities at home
- Family outings
- Parents’ occupations
- School:
- Favourite subject
- Which teacher is your favourite and why
- Describe your school
- Experiences in commuting to and from school
- Least liked subject(s) and why
- Extracurricular activities:
- Favourite sports
- What are you looking forward to in your new school? (This shows the need to thoroughly research the school to which you hope to gain admission).
- Reading habits – kind of fiction books, kind of non-fiction literature, favourite authors, etc.
- Hobbies
- Non-curricular achievements – sports and other trophies earned outside the school system
- Personal strengths
- Weaknesses
- Describe a picture
- Mental maths
- Poem analysis
To prepare for the interview, have an adult conduct mock interviews of you. Preferably, try and get your parents or guardians to request someone you don’t know to conduct the mock interviews. That way, you’ll be prepared to face an interview with the actual examiner, who is bound to be someone you don’t know!
Conclusion
The 13+ Common Entrance Exam is an important exam for one seeking admission to a school in Year 8. The exam is quite advanced in terms of syllabus and approach. As a candidate, you need to start preparing a year or more in advance. Ideally, a preparation time of two years will help prepare you to face the exam confidently.
English, Maths and Science are the core subjects tested in the 13+ Exam. In addition, other subjects such as languages, geography, history, civics, etc. are also tested. Language subjects have a speaking assessment in the form of an interview. As a candidate, you should be prepared, however, to answer questions on geography and history as well. The idea of the exam is to test the all-round suitability of the candidate and not merely how much he or she has prepared for a particular test.
Make sure you apply for the correct level of testing, as several subjects have different levels. Once you apply and register, use past papers, sample papers and 13 plus exam papers free of that level and above to prepare for the exam. Solved papers are available for you to check your answers. Avoid the temptation to simply read through the solved papers, however. Instead, practise taking the exam as if it were the actual exam, then check your answers against the solved papers.
Once you have identified areas in which you are weak, concentrate your preparation on those areas but don’t neglect the others. Your aim should be to practise all aspects of the examination.
