Tonbridge School is a boys’ independent day and boarding school in Tonbridge, Kent, with entry at 13+. Here is how admissions work and how to prepare.
Traditional boys' boarding at its finest. ISEB pre-test followed by their own rigorous exam. They value sporting and co-curricular involvement alongside academics.
Tonbridge School 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.
Tonbridge School 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 Tonbridge School 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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Tonbridge School 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.
Both: Tonbridge School takes day pupils and boarders.