ISEB Common Pre-Test Preparation,
Online Practice & Mock Tests






Atom is partnered with leading independent schools







How Atom turns revision into ISEB exam day success
Weekly revision plan
Weekly revision plan
A clear plan, built around your target independent schools.
Tell Atom which independent schools you’re applying to, and we’ll create a clear, personalised, weekly plan all the way to exam day. Everything your child needs is covered, so they’ll never have to wonder what to work on next.
Unlimited ISEB mock tests
Unlimited ISEB mock tests
Practice with realistic tests.
Practice as often as needed with unlimited ISEB mock tests aligned to your child’s exam. Each test has new questions, so they can keep improving without seeing the same content again.
Instant marking
Instant marking
Just like a great tutor, Atom gives instant, exam-aligned feedback.
After any practice or mock test, your child sees results straight away, with recommended help sheets and videos for topics they found tricky.
Check they’re on track
Check they’re on track
Feel confident that preparation is working.
Track your child’s progress and ensure they’re on course for exam success. See how their performance compares with previously successful applicants to their target independent school.




Atom's ISEB mocks = no surprises on test day
The most accurate ISEB mock tests on the market.
Our mock tests mirror the real ISEB. The curriculum, the timings, the controls and even the colours. Familiarity equals confidence.






Three Steps to ISEB success
Learn
Your child gets a personalised exam prep plan for their target school
As your child learns, questions adapt to build confidence steadily
3000+ flashcards, 2000+ helpsheets, 600+ videos and topic lesson library
Track
See how your child compares to successful applicants at their target school
Identify your child's strengths and gaps across all ISEB exam topics
Get targeted practice recommendations based on their performance data
Test
Mock tests mirroring real ISEB papers, specific to your target school
Unlimited ISEB practice tests to build exam-day confidence
Instant results and detailed explanations help them learn from every mistake
Free ISEB resources to help you get started
The ultimate ISEB guide
How to choose the right independent school
Guide to senior school interviews
Bursaries explained
Applying to UK schools from abroad
Atom or Century Bond? How to choose
Non-verbal reasoning guide
The ISEB Pre-Test explained
What is verbal reasoning?
Free ISEB resources to help you get started
The ultimate ISEB guide
The ultimate ISEB guide
How to choose the right independent school
Guide to senior school interviews
Bursaries explained
Applying to UK schools from abroad
Atom or Century Bond? How to choose
Non-verbal reasoning guide
The ISEB Pre-Test explained
What is verbal reasoning?
Exam Prep
Start ISEB exam preparation. Mock tests not included.
Exam Prep Plus
Complete ISEB exam preparation, with unlimited mock tests.
Exam Prep
Start preparing for 11+ grammar and private school exams.
Exam Prep Plus
Boost preparation for 11+ grammar and private school exams.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board) Common Pre-Test is an online exam used by many independent senior schools as part of their admissions process.
The test adapts to your child’s ability as they work through it. As they answer questions correctly, the questions gradually become more challenging, helping schools build a clearer picture of your child’s abilities across key areas.
Atom helps your child prepare by familiarising them with the exam format, question styles and pace.
Learn more about what the ISEB Common Pre-Test involves in our guide.
The ISEB test is scored using a standardised age score (SAS). The SAS adjusts results according to your child’s age, ensuring that younger and older children are assessed fairly.
There isn’t a set pass mark for the ISEB; each senior school sets its own admissions criteria. As a general guide, selective schools often look for children performing within the top 25% of their age group. For the most competitive independent schools, a good standardised age score to aim for is 120 or above.
Your child’s score is shared with all the senior schools you’ve applied to. Schools don’t usually share these results with parents, but they use them to decide whether to move your child to the next stage of the admissions process.
This next stage may include a school interview, further assessments, or a school-specific entrance exam.
Because requirements vary between schools, understanding what comes next — and how to prepare — can make a real difference. If you’d like personalised advice, you can chat with one of our Education Experts via LiveChat in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
A balanced, structured approach works best when preparing for the ISEB exam.
Your child should feel confident with core maths and English skills before moving on to exam-style practice. This provides a strong foundation and helps practice sessions feel productive rather than overwhelming.
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning aren’t part of the national curriculum, so regular practice at home is important. Introducing these question types early helps your child become familiar with the format, reducing pressure later on.
By exam day, the goal is for your child to focus on problem-solving, not on figuring out what the questions are asking.
Learn more about what the ISEB Common Pre-Test involves in our guide.
The ISEB Common Pre-Test assesses four subjects:
- Maths: 40 minutes
- English (reading comprehension and SPaG): 40 minutes
- Non-verbal reasoning: 30 minutes
- Verbal reasoning: 25 minutes
Each section is designed to assess your child’s underlying skills rather than rote learning, which is why becoming familiar with the question styles is so important.
Find out more about what's included in the ISEB in our guide.
We've mirrored everything – the curriculum, question types, timing and scoring. We want to help you and your child have an exam day with no surprises! If they practise mock tests on Atom, they'll know exactly what to expect.
Atom fits around your family’s routine. Your child can learn anytime, anywhere — before school, after dinner or at the weekend.
Short, regular practice works best. It helps build good habits and gives our algorithm enough information to personalise the work for your child.
We recommend 20–30 minutes a day, a few days each week. As the exam approaches, your child may choose to spend a little longer on Atom to feel fully prepared.
No — Atom is designed for children to use independently. It’s simple to navigate, and the helpsheets and videos guide your child as they learn new skills and grow in confidence. You can still stay involved by checking their progress and scores anytime.
No other platform brings together smart adaptive learning, teacher-written content and expert guidance all in one place. And you’re never on your own — our friendly team is here to help by LiveChat, phone or email.
You can also join our parent webinars for honest, helpful tips on exam prep and school admissions.
As well as fun features like coins to collect and worlds to explore, our algorithm works hard behind the scenes. Atom continually adjusts question difficulty to match your child’s learning style and pace, keeping them challenged without feeling demotivated.
Yes. Atom adapts to every student's current level. You'll get clear feedback on what's going well and exactly where to focus next, so you can make steady, meaningful progress toward your goals.
We’ve matched everything to the real exam — the curriculum, question types, timing and scoring. Our goal is for exam day to feel calm, familiar and free from surprises.
With Atom, you can access unlimited practice papers for your child, including ISEB, CAT4, or Quest, with instant marking and progress tracking to keep them on track.
By practising with Atom’s online and downloadable tests, your child will know exactly what to expect, helping them feel confident and ready.
Find out more about our Unlimited paper tests on Atom.
Looking for
ISEB advice?
We’re here to support you through your child’s ISEB journey.
Whether you want help building a revision plan, understanding ISEB exam content, or checking key dates, our team is happy to help.
