ISEB Pre-Test English Reading: Intensive Training

All question types

Covers every question type in the real exam

Real-exam difficulty

Questions matched to the difficulty of the real test

Real test environment

Same screens, one question at a time, real-test timing

Unlocks when you enrol

Question types shown after purchase; sets unlock one by one

Why this course

Everything needed to raise your reading comprehension score in the ISEB Common Pre-Test

Reading comprehension improves fastest with a clear approach to each kind of question and regular practice on fresh passages. The course teaches how to find the evidence, read each question precisely and avoid the most common mistakes.

Every question typeEvery question type in the real ISEB Common Pre-Test reading comprehension section is taught and practised, so nothing on the day comes as a surprise.
Real-exam difficultyQuestions are pitched at the level of the real test, so results in practice are a fair guide to the score on the day.
Real test environmentThe same screen layout, one question at a time and real-test timing, so the format feels familiar before the test.
Method before practiceEach question type starts with short method slides and fully explained questions, so pupils learn how to answer before they practise.
Instant explanationsA wrong answer shows the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation straight away, so mistakes are fixed while they are fresh.
A daily check-in routinePractice sets unlock one at a time as each one is finished, giving a clear routine and progress you can see.

How the course works

Enrol, and the full list of question types opens straight away.
Learn the method for a question type with short slides.
Work through explained questions and see why each answer is right.
Complete the practice sets with instant feedback; finishing one unlocks the next.
Come back to any question to review it at any time during your access.

Who it is for

Pupils preparing for the ISEB Common Pre-Test, usually sat in Year 6 or Year 7 for entry to UK independent senior schools.

6 months of access from the day you enrol
Works in the browser on a computer or tablet – nothing to install
Developed by Oxbridge Academy

The question types are listed in full once you enrol.

Choose a topic

Reading comprehension training for the ISEB Common Pre-Test, organised by type of text. Every unit has two levels of practice – Standard and Higher Level:

MethodSlides on how this kind of text works, the questions you will meet, a step-by-step method and the common traps.
Explained questionsOne passage worked through: after every answer you see the evidence from the text, the explanation and the method.
Practice sets (Standard)Two passages per set. Get one right and you move straight on; get one wrong and you see the correct answer, the evidence and the explanation at once. The sets unlock one at a time: finish a set and the next one opens.
Higher LevelLonger, harder passages, including classic extracts and poems, with their own method slides and explained passage. The Higher Level sets unlock once you have finished the Standard practice sets of the same unit.

The passage stays at the top of every question, so you can check the text as you answer. Finished sets show ✓ Done, so you can tick them off like a daily check-in.

StoriesStories and classic extracts: follow the plot, read the characters’ feelings and explain why things happen.11 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 110 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 210 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 310 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 410 questions · 2 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 110 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 210 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 315 questions · 3 passagesStart

Poems & Information TextsA short poem with an information text: techniques, the writer’s purpose, the order of events and the main idea.9 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 18 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 28 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 38 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 412 questions · 3 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 115 questions · 3 passagesStart

Travel MemoirsFirst-person journeys: find details fast and work out how the writer felt, and why.7 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 18 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 212 questions · 3 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 115 questions · 3 passagesStart

Letters & Non-fictionPersuasive letters, articles, diaries and speeches: follow the argument and spot how the writer persuades.7 items

StandardMethod, then practice

MethodLesson slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 4 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 18 questions · 2 passagesStart

Practice Set 28 questions · 2 passagesStart

Higher Levellonger, harder passages

MethodHigher-level slidesStart

Explained questionsOne passage · 5 questions with full explanationsStart

Practice Set 115 questions · 3 passagesStart

Provided by Oxbridge Academy
Online mock exams for UK school entrance tests