Winchester Entrance Exam vs. Common Entrance

[Puttinontheritz]

Good morning, can someone let me know how the Winchester Entrance Exam differs to Common Entrance? Is there a big difference and should we be preparing for it? My DS is on the waiting list for Eton and has a place at Winchester for Sept 2026 so we need to be ready for both. Thanks!

I heard Winchester Entrance Exam is way harder than Common Entrance. If you son has prepared for WE, he should have no problem with CE.

Winchester Entrance is significantly harder than CE, but if he has a place at WinColl for 2026 he should be okay. I'd expect the prep school to be working through past papers so he can understand what they are asking of him and how to respond, but surely the raw material is there. I don't think many boys with places fall at the Entrance exam stage- although it's possible, it's not common because they have selected the pupils they want already.

Former prep teacher here:
Your prep school should be preparing your son for CE regarding Eton with CE past papers at the correct level.

I can't speak for other subjects but certainly the WE Latin exam is significantly harder than a CE level 2 paper. It is closer to a level 3/CASE or even GCSE paper. There are two, long unseen passages - both longer than the longest passage on CE of any level. Also, the grammar section tests depth of linguistic knowledge comprehensively. So preparation for that should also mean readiness for CE level 3+.

That said, as per @Paganina, if a school wants a boy, entrance paper scores are not very important. If the boy in question has a confirmed place in a boarding house, all should be well but I would still advise making the best effort he can on all the papers.

@tarheelbaby thank you for that good advice ,