Common Entrance tutoring prepares students aged 11–13 for the entrance examinations used by independent and private secondary schools in the UK. The CE exams are set by ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board) and cover English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, French and other subjects at CE 11+ or CE 13+ level.
Common Entrance is a different beast from state school tests, it uses its own syllabus, specific question formats and is often used by highly selective schools where the pass mark can be 65–75%. Without a tutor who knows the CE syllabus specifically, students often prepare for the wrong content.
Online tutoring is now the most popular format for private tuition in the UK. Sessions take place via video call with a shared digital whiteboard, tools like Bramble, BitPaper and Google Meet with screen sharing replicate the in-person experience closely. The primary advantage is access: instead of being limited to tutors within driving distance, families can choose from every qualified specialist in the country. For subjects where availability is limited locally, UCAT preparation, Further Maths, Mandarin, Film Studies, online tutoring is often the only practical option. Research published by the Education Endowment Foundation confirms that online tutoring produces equivalent learning gains to face-to-face sessions when the tutor is experienced and the technology is reliable.