Charterhouse 13+ entry guide

Considering Charterhouse for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about 13+ entry. Learn how to apply, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

Key information for Charterhouse

• Address: Charterhouse School, Hurtmore Rd, Godalming GU7 2DX
• Age range and gender: boys and girls aged 2–18
• Type of school: independent day and boarding
• Number of students: 900+
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 13+ open days: September and June in Year 5 and Year 6
• 13+ selection criteria: ISEB Common Pre-Test, interview and activity assessment
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
• 13+ scholarships: academic, sport, music, dance, drama, art and design, design and engineering

About Charterhouse

Charterhouse is located in Godalming, Surrey. It was founded in 1611. The school offers education for boys and girls aged 13 to 18, with options for both day and boarding. Academic education is the focus, preparing pupils for top universities worldwide. As well as this, a vibrant arts program and wide range of clubs and societies ensures a well-rounded education.

Charterhouse is set in 250 acres of green space. Large playing fields, a state-of-the-art sports centre and on-site health centre make up some of the facilities. The headteacher, Dr Alex Peterken, has said ‘pupils are 'blessed with an endless variety of opportunity, both in and out of the classroom'. This 'ensures that no two Charterhouse educations are the same.' The school won Best Student Careers Programme at the Independent Schools of the Year awards in 2023.

The school is known for its strong emphasis on character development. Values such as leadership, respect, and compassion are encouraged. Each pupil is part of a House, creating a 'strong sense of identity and community', according to the school.

Dates for your diary

• Registration closes: end of September in Year 6 and Year 7
• ISEB Common Pre-Test: autumn term of Year 6
• Offers of places: March in Year 6

Charterhouse 13+ entrance exam

All children applying for 13+ entry to Charterhouse sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test. This is an exam created by the Independent Schools Examination Board which is usually taken in the autumn term of Year 6.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is taken online and consists of multiple choice questions. It is entirely adaptive, which means the questions become more difficult depending on how your child is performing. The questions span four subjects:

• Maths: questions are based on the Year 5 national curriculum – although children in Year 6 may find this section challenging. The questions range from arithmetic to multi-step problem solving.
• English: questions are split into two sections: reading comprehension, and spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Verbal reasoning: your child will be tested on their ability to reason and solve problems with written information, such as letters, words, symbols and numbers.
• Non-verbal reasoning: these questions assess your child’s logic, critical thinking and problem-solving skills using figures and diagrams. They will need to show that they can analyse and manipulate 2D and 3D figures.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test takes around 2 and a half hours to complete. Your child can sit the four subjects together or at separate times. If they are taking all four subjects on the same day, they will be allowed a short break between each section.

An assessment is required after the ISEB Common Pre-Test. This takes place at Charterhouse and includes group activities, informal interviews and written assessments.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Charterhouse

Charterhouse is a selective school, and competition for places can be high. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the selection process.

Bitesize learning

It’s important to build a good knowledge base before school entrance exams. Your child should have a good understanding of the content they’ve been taught at school before testing their knowledge with practice tests.

Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

With Atom Home, you don’t need to worry about creating a study schedule. When you enter your target schools, you’ll get a bespoke learning plan tailored to your schools’ entrance exams. Know exactly what your child needs to do each week to confidently pass.

Read widely

Entrance exams test children’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list.

Hone curiosity

Selective schools are often looking for children who are interested in learning. You can help by supporting your child’s broader learning, their intellectual curiosity, and their passion for developing an understanding of the world.

Talk to your child about the world we live in and inspire an interest in current affairs with age-appropriate journalism. It’s also a good idea to make sure they’re benefitting from a rich variety of experiences, such as visiting libraries, museums and galleries.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with their knowledge of the exam topics, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Mock tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and refine exam technique. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning, while highlighting any knowledge gaps they might want to tackle before exam day.

When you set Charterhouse as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get ISEB mock tests as part of their learning plan. Atom’s mock tests mirror the real ISEB – the curriculum, the timings, the controls and even the colours. Know what to expect on exam day.

Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.