WHAT ARE THE ISEB PRE-TESTS?
Preparing for Entrance Exams Advice for parents about ISEB Pre-Tests therefore not get a high mark; this is not the case. What is an age-standardised test?
An age-standardised test factors a child’s age at the time of testing into the results calculation. This means it doesn’t matter if your child takes the Pre-Tests earlier in the academic year than other children - there is no advantage to being slightly older when the tests are taken. Where will my child take the Pre-Tests?
What are the ISEB Pre-Tests and does my child need to take them?
The ISEB Pre-Tests are a set of online, adaptive, multichoice tests used by many senior schools as part of their admissions process. The tests assess children’s skills in mathematics and English, as well as their problem-solving potential through verbal and nonverbal reasoning tests. Senior schools will advise you if your child is required to take the PreTests, but if in doubt, you can always contact ISEB through our support portal. Why do senior schools use the Pre-Tests?
Senior schools use the Pre-Tests due to the accurate and reliable information they give on your child’s attainment (what they have learnt and how they apply it) and their potential (how well they can use their knowledge to solve language and code problems).
What is an adaptive test?
Adaptive tests base the questions presented to each child on the answers given in the test so far. Our adaptive testing algorithm is not only highly accurate, but also measures each child’s potential by asking questions around their ability level. These questions get harder or easier accordingly, without causing unnecessary stress like a traditional test might. Adaptive tests are also able to spot patterns of inconsistency, so if your child makes a mistake or encounters a tricky question early in the test, they can recover and still achieve a good mark. Families are sometimes concerned that if their child makes a mistake in the first few questions, they will not be given challenging questions and will
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Your child’s current school will usually act as the ‘invigilation centre’. Most senior schools that use the Pre-Tests also hold their own test days. ISEB can help if you are having trouble finding an invigilation centre. How important are my child’s Pre-Tests results?
The Pre-Tests are just one part of the admissions process for many senior schools. Schools are