Eton College is a boys’ independent boarding school in Windsor, Berkshire, with entry at 13+. Here is how admissions work and how to prepare.
The most famous school in the world. ISEB pre-test in Year 6, then their own demanding computerised assessment. Preparation needs to start early — they receive thousands of applications for around 260 places.
Eton College uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test as part of its admissions. It is an online, adaptive test in four parts: English (40 minutes), maths (40 minutes), non-verbal reasoning (30 minutes) and verbal reasoning (25 minutes). A child sits it once, and the scores are shared with each school that asks for them.
Because the test adapts to each answer, confident accuracy matters more than speed alone, and verbal reasoning is often the section that separates strong candidates.
Eton College also sets its own assessments. Depending on the entry point, these can include written papers, reasoning tests, an interview or a group activity, and they are where the school looks most closely at how a child thinks.
For 13+ entry (joining in Year 9), many schools assess children in Year 6 or Year 7, well before they start, so the timetable is worth checking early.
Dates and requirements change from year to year, so always check the latest details on the school’s website.
My Eton College guide sets out the full process, the key dates, and a preparation plan, and my mock papers let children practise under real timings.
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Eton College takes pupils at 13+. 13+ entry means joining in Year 9.
ISEB Common Pre-Test, plus the school’s own assessments. The exact mix depends on the entry point, so check the school’s admissions page for your child’s year of entry.
Eton College is a boarding school.