Decision guide
13+ or 16+ entry?
The two routes are different entry points, not alternatives for the same year. This guide shows what each leads to and what the schools we have checked ask for.
| 13+ | 16+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Leads to | Year 9, often boarding schools | The sixth form, for A-Level or IB |
| Entry steps | Set by each school; see the 13+ page | Set by each school; see the 16+ page |
Taken from the test provider's own pages. Details change: check with the school or the test provider.
Checked 2026-10-14
A child can aim at both. A free assessment shows where they are now so we can plan the years in between.
Some of our tutors
Ms Vionnet
Entrance Exams · IB ToK & Extended Essay · GCSE, IGCSE
Currently studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Durham University; previously an Academic Scholar at Cheltenham Ladies' College with first-hand knowledge of the entrance examination process.
Mr Neil
English & English Literature — HKDSE, GCSE, iGCSE, IB, A-Level
A registered teacher in both Hong Kong and the UK with nearly 28 years of experience teaching literature and language in top-level schools in both places.
Mr Michael
Mathematics & Further Maths — iGCSE, GCSE, A-Level
Teaching for over fourteen years, he was awarded the IMA prize at Cardiff University for the highest-scoring degree average of his year, later completing an MSc in mathematics and PhD research in computational mathematics.