Charterhouse: 13+ Entry and the Year 6 Pre-Test
Charterhouse is a leading independent school with its main entry at 13+. Its assessment starts in Year 6, so families need to plan in Year 5. This guide explains who can apply, the assessments, how offers are made and how to prepare. We update it whenever the school changes its admissions.
About the school
- A co-educational boarding and day school in Godalming, Surrey.
- Entry at 13+ (with Year 6, 7 and 8 routes), 14+ and 16+. An 11+ route is through its family of prep schools.
Who can apply
- Children registered by the school's deadline, which falls in Year 5 or early Year 6. Late registrations are not usually accepted.
- Independent schools have no catchment area. You apply to the school directly, not through your council.
- A registration fee is usually payable (often waived for families on low incomes).
Key dates (the Year 6 timetable)
- Register by: 30 September of Year 6 (Year 6 route)
- ISEB pre-test: autumn term of Year 6
- Interview and Activities Assessment: spring term of Year 6
- Offers: usually by the end of March of Year 6
The assessments
Year 6: ISEB Common Pre-Test
Online and age-standardised: Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Year 6: Interview and Activities
Group activities, interviews and a written piece at Charterhouse. The school reference is also used.
How offers are made
Offers are conditional on a positive reference on performance and behaviour in Year 8.
Scholarships and bursaries
- Academic, Art, Drama, Dance, Design Engineering, Music and Sport scholarships in Year 8.
- Bursaries to top up scholarships where there is need.
How to help your child prepare
- ISEB pre-test. It is online, multiple choice and adaptive (questions get harder or easier). Practise short, timed questions on screen in English, Maths and both kinds of reasoning.
- Plan early. The Year 6 pre-test decides most offers, so prepare steadily in Year 5 and the start of Year 6.
- Read every day. Wide reading builds the vocabulary and comprehension every entrance test needs.
- Practice material: See the ISEB guidance for families.
Common questions from parents
Is there an 11+ entry?
Children can join a Charterhouse family prep school in Year 7 and move up at 13+. One registration covers both.
Can we apply to several schools?
Yes. Many families apply to a few independent schools and grammar schools. Watch the different registration deadlines.
Official information
Always check the school's own pages before making decisions. Dates and arrangements can change each year.
How AshACE can help
AshACE runs small, live online 11+ classes in English, Maths and Reasoning from Year 4, run from Orpington, with over a decade of 11+ teaching. Our Year 6 Masterclasses include preparation for independent school entrance papers. See the classes below, or send us an enquiry.
Sources: Charterhouse official admissions pages; checked 25 September 2026.