Marlborough College Entrance Exams

How entry to Marlborough College works

Marlborough 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.

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.

At 16+ (Sixth Form entry), students are usually assessed in the autumn of Year 11 with a mix of reasoning tests, subject papers and interviews, and offers are normally conditional on GCSE results. There is more on this on my 16+ entry page.

Dates and requirements change from year to year, so always check the latest details on the school’s website.

How I help children prepare for Marlborough College

• 1:1 online lessons in English comprehension and writing, maths and reasoning (verbal and non-verbal), with the exam technique for each
• Practice matched to Marlborough College’s assessments and mock papers under real timings
• Interview practice, so children can talk about themselves and their interests with confidence
• Ash’s Exam Zone app for daily practice between lessons
• The Exam Hub for 16+ reasoning tests, school-style papers and full mock reports

My Marlborough College guide sets out the full process, the key dates, and a preparation plan, and my mock papers let children practise under real timings.