Harrow School 13+ entry guide

By Atom | Jul 15, 2024, 1:41 PM

Independent schools

ISEB

Contents

Considering Harrow School 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 Harrow School

Address: Harrow School, 5 High Street, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex HA1 3HP
Age range and gender: boys aged 13 - 18
Type of school: independent boarding
Number of students: 850+
Admissions contact: [email protected]
13+ open days: 12 Saturdays a year for children in Year 5
13+ selection criteria: ISEB Common Pre-Test, second-stage entrance exam, group activity, interview and reference
Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
13+ scholarships: academic, music, art, sport, drama and DTE (Design, Technology and Engineering)

About Harrow School

Harrow School is one the UK’s most prestigious and renowned independent schools. Located in north west London, it's one of the UK’s few all-boys boarding schools for ages 13–18. It was founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter granted by Elizabeth I and quickly established a national reputation. The school now attracts pupils from all over the world.

Harrow's long history and rich traditions are integral to its identity. Harrovians (as students are known) are encouraged to uphold the school's legacy while making their own contributions. The school's famous alumni include statesmen, businessmen and artists. At Harrow, a diverse school population ‘come together on an equal footing, to be judged by their contribution alone’ — whether by their academic prowess, artistic merit or sporting ability. The Old Harrovians network provides opportunities for alumni to stay connected after school.

Harrow School occupies 324 acres made up of six conservation areas, a park, a golf course and a working farm. The school ‘has the quality of a village’ yet is 20 minutes to the centre of London by train. Its history is complemented by advanced facilities catering to disciplines such as music, science and sport. Harrovians regularly go on to the world’s top ten universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Dates for your diary

Registration closes: 1st July in Year 5 (standard applicants), 1st May in Year 6 (late applicants)
Reference requested: autumn term of Year 6
Exam 1 - ISEB Common Pre-Test: October / November of Year 6
Exam 2 - The Harrow Test: spring term of Year 6
House Master interviews: spring term of Year 6
Offers of places: April / May of Year 6

Wellington College 13+ entrance exam

Stage 1: ISEB Common Pre-Test

All children applying for 13+ entry to Harrow School 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.

Stage 2: The Harrow Test

Children who are successful in the ISEB Common Pre-Test are shortlisted for the Harrow Test. This takes place in the spring term in Year 6.

The Harrow Test consists of:

A 20-minute interview with a housemaster
A one-hour online assessment (English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
A 20-minute classroom-based group activity

Did you know? Children using Atom Home to prepare for entrance exams can take online mock tests similar to the Harrow Test!

Complete guide to the ISEB Common Pre-Test

Find out everything you need to know about the format and subjects tested on the ISEB Common Pre-Test. See example questions, answers to FAQs, and learn how to prepare.

Learn more

Atom’s top tips for applying to Harrow School

Harrow School 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 Harrow School 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.