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Marlborough College 13+ entry

Marlborough College’s 13+ entrance test is built on the ISEB Common Pre-Test, taken online and on paper. It tests maths, English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and a piece of writing.

Who sits it. Children in Year 6, for a place in Year 9 in September 2028: the date is not yet published.

Marlborough College · Co-educational independent school · WiltshireAdmissions (the school’s website)

Checked against the sources below on 22 September 2026. Dates and arrangements change: the school’s own admissions page is always the final word.

How Remelia helps with this test

What Remelia covers, in full

Covered

  • Maths
  • English
  • Reading
  • The last fortnight

In part

  • The writing

Not covered

  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • The interview
  • The test itself
  • Printable English papers

Each exam plan is dated from your child’s year group: Remelia works to the sitting for the September they start Year 7. For a school without a plan, choose “Not sure yet” and Remelia teaches the Key Stage 2 curriculum with no exam date.

Key dates

When it is sat.

The dates the school has published, in order. Where a day is not yet published, the guide says so.

  1. September 2024

    For Year 9 in September 2027, sat in Year 6. Registration closes 9 October 2024. Source
    ISEB Pre-Test window September to December of Year 6 (autumn 2024 for 2027 entry); assessment day at the College in January of Year 6. Registration closes 9 October of Year 6. A smaller cohort is assessed in Year 7.

  2. Not yet published

    For Year 9 in September 2028, sat in Year 6. The date is not on the pages read. Source
    Same cycle expected in Year 6 (autumn 2025); no dated timetable on the page.

Remelia and this exam

What Remelia covers, and what it does not.

Choose the school when you set your child up, or later in Controls, and this is the plan.

What Remelia covers

Key Stage 2 maths and English to the end of Year 5, counted towards the exam; the writing, in part.

  • Maths

    The Key Stage 2 objectives for Years 3 to 5, in the order your child’s school teaches them, counted towards the exam.

  • English

    Grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary questions most days, Years 3 to 5, counted towards the exam.

  • Reading

    From the autumn of Year 5, a weekly reading day: one unseen passage and 9 questions on it, from a bank of 130 passages.

  • The writing In part

    Short timed pieces that a grown-up marks at home with ticks: one a fortnight from the spring of Year 4, one a week from the autumn of Year 5. They practise part of what the exam’s writing asks; they are not its paper, and they are not counted towards the exam.

  • The last fortnight

    In the last 14 days before the exam date the plan works to, sessions are shorter and nothing new is introduced. The plan works to September of Year 6; until the school publishes the day for your child’s year, that date is an estimate.

Not covered

Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, the interview and the test’s own format.

  • Verbal reasoning

    Remelia does not teach verbal reasoning.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    Remelia does not teach non-verbal reasoning.

  • The interview

    A conversation with the school, which an app cannot practise.

  • The test itself

    Remelia practises the content, not the ISEB Common Pre-Test’s own screens, papers or timings: the familiarisation materials, where there are any, show those.

  • Printable English papers

    The printable practice papers in the parents’ app are maths only.

The exam

What the school says.

Each line links to the page it comes from. A line marked Inferred is read from the page, which does not say it in so many words; the note under it says how.

Who sets it
ISEB Common Pre-Test. Source
How it is taken Inferred
Online and on paper. Source
The ISEB Pre-Test is online; the assessment day writing task is at the College.
What it tests
Maths, English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and a piece of writing. Source
The papers
Not found on the pages read: how long it is, how many papers and what kind of questions. Source
ISEB Pre-Test components are set by ISEB; the College publishes no paper list.
How places are decided
The test and an interview. Three elements: ISEB Pre-Test, school reference, assessment day performance. Offers at the end of the Lent Term of Year 6. Source
Practice and familiarisation
Nothing found on the pages read. Source
Interview
Yes. Source
What has changed Inferred
Quest Assessments publishes a co-branded Marlborough College 13+ assessment (English 30, VR 10, maths 20, NVR 10 minutes, computer-based), while the College’s own 13+ page still names the ISEB Pre-tests. A move from the ISEB Pre-Test to Quest may be under way; not confirmed by the College. Source Source

Sources

Where every line comes from.

Every page our research read for this exam, with the date it was checked; under each, the words it quoted from it.

  1. 13+ Entry — Marlborough College checked 22 September 2026
    The page’s words

    “Assessment will be based on three key elements: 1. The ISEB Pre-tests – taken at your child’s current school between September to December of Year 6 (Year 7). 2. A reference from your child’s current school ... 3. Your child’s performance on assessment day . This will take place at the College in the January of Year 6 (or February of Year 7). ... There will be a short writing task, some informal and enjoyable interactive group activities and an interview.”

  2. Guidance for the Marlborough College Quest assessment — Quest Assessments checked 22 September 2026
    The page’s words

    “13+ entry 4 subjects over 70 minutes: English (30 minutes) Verbal Reasoning (10 minutes) Maths (20 minutes) Non-Verbal Reasoning (10 minutes)”

Remelia is not affiliated with the school or the test providers. All schools and exams

Start with a short check.

On the first day, a starting check finds where your child is. Choose the school at set-up, or later in Controls, and the plan works towards this exam.

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