What are pre-tests?
Pre-tests are set by some independent senior schools to help determine a pupil's suitability for entry, ahead of the 13+ Common Entrance exam. The tests can be computerised, multiple-choice exams in English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning and may sometimes also include an interview with the child.
Success in pre-tests doesn't necesarily guarantee entry, as pupils will also need to pass the Common Entrance exam at 13+. Those who fail the pre-test are unlikely to be accepted at the school, even if they are successful in the 13+ Common Entrance exam.
Pre-tests can be helpful in that they can help to focus pupils' study, particularly if there are areas where improvement is required to pass Common Entrance. For parents, pre-tests can help to guide more realistic expectaions of their child's likelihood of gaining entry into their preferred school at 13+ and, if necessary, to widen the choice to include schools which are more suited to their ability.