When to Start Preparing for Common Entrance 13+ Maths: A Year 7 Parent’s Guide

By Tracy Davis · Reading time: 10 minutes

It’s the second week of September. You’re at the school gates with the rest of the Year 7 parents, watching your child disappear through the door in a uniform that still looks too big. Another parent, three children in already, calm and amused, mentions in passing that “Common Entrance prep starts now, of course”. You smile and nod. You go home. You spend the rest of the day quietly panicking, because nobody told you that Common Entrance prep starts at the beginning of Year 7, and now it’s September and you’ve already lost two weeks.

You’re not alone in this: the timing question is the first one every CE 13+ parent asks, and the answers floating around the school WhatsApp group are usually a mixture of mild panic and folk wisdom. Here’s the actual timeline, the milestones that matter at each stage, and the truth about when to start in earnest.

What this article covers

• The paper structure (Foundation, Core, Additional)
• The realistic 20-month timeline
• Year 7 milestones: what good preparation looks like
• Year 8 autumn: the consolidation term
• Year 8 spring: past papers and exam technique
• Foundation vs Core vs Additional: which to aim for
• Working with the school vs separate prep
• If you’re starting late
• FAQ
• Tracy’s take

The paper structure (Foundation, Core, Additional)

CE 13+ Mathematics is the ISEB Common Entrance qualification, sat at the end of Year 8 (typically May or June) by candidates moving from prep school into senior school at age 13. It has three ability levels, and not every candidate sits every paper.

Paper	Time	Marks	Calculator	Who sits it
Foundation Non-Calculator	60 min	100	No	Foundation candidates only
Foundation Calculator	60 min	100	Yes	Foundation candidates only
Core Non-Calculator	60 min	100	No	All Core (and Additional) candidates
Core Calculator	60 min	100	Yes	All Core (and Additional) candidates
Mental Arithmetic	10 min	40	No (no rulers/instruments)	All candidates; single common paper across levels
Additional	60 min	100	Yes	Optional stretch / scholarship; sat in addition to Core papers, not instead

The three levels in plain English:

• Foundation: entry support tier. For candidates working at primary-school level coming into the end of Year 8.
• Core: main standard. Most candidates sit this. The default for the majority of prep schools.
• Additional: scholarship-track stretch. Sat alongside Core (not instead), for candidates aiming at scholarship-track entry to academically selective senior schools.

For most families, the question isn’t “Foundation or Core”; it’s “Core, and do we add Additional?” The decision about Additional usually firms up in autumn of Year 8 based on Year 7 progress.

The realistic 20-month timeline

From the start of Year 7 to the exam at the end of Year 8 is roughly 20 months of school time (allowing for holidays). That’s plenty if used well, and tight if left until later. The honest split:

Period	Months	Focus	Time commitment outside school
Year 7 (Sep to Jul)	10 months	Consolidate primary-school maths; introduce CE 13+ content gradually	1 to 2 hours/week extra is plenty
Year 8 autumn (Sep to Dec)	4 months	Build exam technique on harder CE content; first full past paper attempt at half-term	2 to 3 hours/week
Year 8 spring (Jan to Easter)	3 months	Topic gaps closed; weekly timed past papers begin	3 hours/week
Year 8 summer (Apr to exam)	2 months	Past papers under exam conditions; mental arithmetic drilling; rest	3 to 4 hours/week, then lighter in final fortnight

The total outside-school time over 20 months works out to around 200 hours. That sounds like a lot, but spread across 20 months at 1 to 4 hours per week (lighter at the start, denser at the end), it’s a sustainable rhythm rather than a sprint.

Year 7 milestones: what good preparation looks like

The Year 7 mistake parents make is starting too hard. Year 7 is not when CE 13+ content gets drilled. Year 7 is when the foundations underneath CE 13+ are consolidated so that the harder content lands in Year 8 without resistance.

• Autumn term (Sep to Dec). Make sure the primary-school basics are solid: times tables to 12, mental arithmetic fluency (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing two-digit numbers), fractions (equivalent, simplifying, adding, multiplying), decimals, percentages, basic geometry vocabulary.
• Spring term (Jan to Mar). Begin introducing the lower-end CE 13+ content: working with algebraic expressions, basic equation-solving, ratio and proportion, basic angle properties. Keep the pace gentle; your child is also adjusting to the new school routine.
• Summer term (Apr to Jul). Continue introducing CE content. By end of Year 7, your child should be comfortable with: solving linear equations, fraction arithmetic in algebra, area and perimeter of common shapes, basic averages, simple probability.

The “are we on track?” test at end of Year 7: can your child do a Year 6 SATs paper in 45 minutes and score 80%+? If yes, the foundations are solid. If no, the spring and summer of Year 7 are for closing those primary gaps before adding the harder CE content.

Year 8 autumn: the consolidation term

Autumn of Year 8 is where most of the CE 13+ Core syllabus content gets seriously taught. The school’s pace usually steps up. Outside-school work expands to 2 to 3 hours per week.

• September. Refresh the Year 7 content. Identify any topics that didn’t quite land before summer.
• October. Add the harder algebra topics: quadratic-style equations, more complex word problems, sequence rules, simultaneous equations.
• November. Geometry block: angles in parallel lines, properties of triangles and quadrilaterals, basic trigonometry (the first encounter for most candidates).
• December (half-term week, ideally). First full past paper attempt: Core Non-Calculator + Core Calculator + Mental Arithmetic. Mark honestly. The result is a diagnostic, not a verdict.

Year 8 spring: past papers and exam technique

From January onwards, the work shifts from “learn new topics” to “consolidate and practise”. The proportion of time on past papers grows.

• January. Close the topic gaps the December mock revealed. Targeted teaching on the weakest 2 to 3 topic areas.
• February. Mental arithmetic drilling, 10 minutes daily. The mental paper is short and high-pressure; daily practice is the only thing that works.
• March (half-term). Second full mock. Compare to December. The gap is your progress signal.
• April (Easter). Final topic revisits where needed. Begin weekly full past paper attempts under timed conditions.
• May (exam month). Weekly past papers; mark together; identify recurring error patterns. In the fortnight before the exam, drop intensity. Sleep matters more than one more past paper in the final week.

Foundation vs Core vs Additional: which to aim for

The senior school your child is going to often specifies the level expected. If the senior school says “we expect candidates to sit Core and Additional”, that’s the entry expectation and you plan accordingly. If the senior school is silent on the matter, Core is the default for most candidates.

Tier	Right for	December Year 8 indicator
Foundation	Candidates whose progress through Year 7 and the start of Year 8 shows Core content is not yet within reach	December mock at Core level under 35%; significant topic gaps still present
Core	Most candidates. The standard CE 13+ entry route to academically mainstream senior schools.	December Core mock 40 to 75%; topic understanding broadly in place
Core + Additional	Scholarship-track candidates, or candidates aiming at academically selective senior schools that specifically request Additional	December Core mock 75%+; clear engagement with the harder problem-solving content

The Additional paper is the one that determines scholarship outcomes at many selective schools. It’s the paper that requires fluency rather than just competence: the questions are designed to test problem-solving and reasoning under time pressure. Add Additional only when the Core work is solid.

Working with the school vs separate prep

Most prep schools cover the CE 13+ Maths syllabus during Year 7 and Year 8. The question for parents isn’t “do we need to add prep on top?” but “what gaps does the school’s coverage leave, and how do we close them?”

• Prep schools with strong CE 13+ Maths tradition usually cover the Core syllabus comprehensively. Additional may be optional and taught in separate sessions; check.
• Schools that follow the CE 13+ syllabus less closely (often more progressive prep schools) may leave more for the family to fill in. The December mock is the reliable diagnostic of where the gaps are.
• Outside-school prep works best as: structured course or workbook for topic teaching + past papers for practice. One-to-one tutoring is the high-impact addition if there’s a specific gap that needs intensive support.

Talking to the school’s maths department in autumn of Year 7 is worth doing. Ask what coverage they plan, when past papers begin, whether Additional is taught, and what their honest read on your child’s readiness is. Schools that handle this well will be honest; the conversation tells you a lot.

If you’re starting late

“Late” in CE 13+ Maths terms usually means “after the start of Year 8”. It’s recoverable, but the plan compresses and the outside-school hours increase.

• Starting in autumn of Year 8. Eight months to the exam. Sustainable at 3 to 4 hours per week. Core is realistic from a competent primary-school baseline.
• Starting in January of Year 8. Five months to the exam. Tighter. 4 to 5 hours per week. Core is achievable but the December mock isn’t there to diagnose, so the early-March mock becomes critical.
• Starting after Easter. Six to eight weeks. Probably Foundation rather than Core, and the focus is on exam technique and mental arithmetic rather than new content.

The most common late-start scenario is a family who’s moved schools mid-Year 7 or Year 8, or who’s been working with a less syllabus-aligned prep school and only discovers the gap in late Year 7. Either way, a structured course or part-time tutoring closes the gap faster than self-study alone.

FAQ

When exactly is the CE 13+ exam sat?

Most candidates sit CE 13+ in May or June of Year 8, in a window set by ISEB and confirmed by the senior school each year. Some senior schools accept entries from earlier sittings (November of Year 8) for candidates with specific circumstances. The senior school is the authority on the exact dates.

Is CE 13+ Maths harder than Year 6 SATs?

Yes, meaningfully. CE 13+ covers content roughly equivalent to the start of GCSE territory: linear equations, basic trigonometry, simultaneous equations, more demanding word problems. A child who’s just achieved Greater Depth at Year 6 SATs is at the appropriate starting point for CE 13+ preparation; one or two years’ growth in maths content sit on top.

What if my child’s prep school doesn’t offer Additional?

Some don’t, particularly the more progressive prep schools that focus on Core. If the senior school you’re aiming at expects Additional and your child’s prep school doesn’t teach it, the gap has to be filled outside school. A structured course or tutor focused on the Additional content from autumn of Year 8 is the standard route.

Should we get a tutor from the start of Year 7?

Usually not necessary. Year 7 is when the foundations are consolidated, and the school covers most of this. Tutoring from Year 7 is appropriate if there are specific known gaps (a child who came into prep school from a state primary and has identifiable missing content, or a child with diagnosed learning differences). For most candidates, autumn of Year 8 is the earliest natural point to bring in a tutor.

Is CE 13+ becoming less important?

For some senior schools, yes: a number of selective senior schools now run their own pre-tests in Year 6 and rely less on CE 13+ for entry. For traditional prep school → senior school routes (still the majority), CE 13+ remains the standard exam. The honest answer depends on the senior school. The school’s admissions team can tell you exactly how much weight they place on the CE 13+ Maths result.

What about scholarships: when do we know if Additional is realistic?

Autumn of Year 8 is the decision point. The December mock score on Core is the most reliable indicator. If your child scores 75%+ on Core in December, Additional is realistic; spring of Year 8 then includes Additional-specific work alongside the Core practice. Below 70% on Core in December, Additional is usually too much to add on top.

How much past paper practice is enough?

Aim for 8 to 12 full timed past papers in the run-up to the exam, typically one a week from late February to the week before the exam. Doing more than that gives diminishing returns; doing fewer leaves your child under-prepared for the time pressure. Mark every paper carefully and use the results to direct the next week’s revision.

Tracy’s take

Year 7 parents worry that they’re already behind. They almost never are. The single biggest mistake I see in CE 13+ preparation is starting too hard in Year 7, drilling content that’s above the child’s level, and producing a child who associates CE 13+ with stress and failure before they’ve had a chance to engage with it on their own terms.

The right Year 7 rhythm is calm. Consolidate the primary-school foundations. Introduce CE content gradually as the school does. Don’t try to leap ahead. The exam is in Year 8; the work that earns the grade happens in Year 8. Year 7 builds the readiness for that work.

Our CE 13+ Mathematics course is built around the 20-month timeline described here: gentle Year 7 introduction, full syllabus coverage by mid-Year-8, past paper practice in the spring. It’s £247 for the standard course; £297 with three months of email Q&A; £497 for the premium bundle with four one-to-one sessions and Q&A. Whether you use a structured course or any other route, the principle holds: the work is in Year 8, the readiness is built in Year 7, and the senior school can tell you which tier they expect.