Category: School Admissions

98% of students achieved grades 7-9 at GCSE, with 25 students achieving straight 9s. Outstanding grades continue at A-Level, with 70% of students achieving straight A*s and 98% of Westminster students awarded A*-B. 94% of students progressed to their first-choice university.

 

82 pupils were offered places at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, while others chose to study at UCL (University College London), Imperial, and LSE (London School of Economics) in London. 22 of their pupils went to study in America at prestigious Ivy League colleges such as Stanford, Columbia, and Yale. Popular course choices by Westminster alumni were Medicine, Mathematics, History, Languages, and Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

 

Stage 1: Registration

 

For 13 plus admissions, the school takes on around 130 boys a year, a mix of day and boarding pupils. Around half of those boys will progress from Westminster Under, with the remainder progressing from a vast range of feeder schools such as Sussex House, Hall School, and Dulwich Prep. The school makes it clear that it does not accept those who are applying for 11 plus at Westminster Under at the same time as 13 plus. The first step is to register your son when he is in Year 5, the academic year that includes his tenth birthday. This can be done on the Westminster website.

 

Entrance to the sixth form opens yearly, with the next available entrance in September 2024. At this stage, about 200 boys and girls enter the Sixth Form, with around 120 progressing internally.

 

The school encourages that you check that your child is the correct age for registration via the registration checker on their website; this is also where you can apply for 13 or 16 plus entry. Notably, entrance to the school is incredibly competitive. Tuition from one of our school admission experts can guide your child to success in both exams and interviews to study at elite private education institutions.

 

Stage 2: School Visit and Pre-Interview Tests

 

The next stage of the process is to visit the school in one of the two open days that they have yearly. Westminster highly recommends this part of the admission process as it allows parents and child alike to learn in detail what the school can offer for your child’s academic and personal development.

 

Think Tutors can help organise school visits for you and your child. With links to top independent schools, we can ensure that you have a clear idea of the school in preparation for your visit.

 

13 Plus Admissions

 

Westminster uses results from the ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board) Common Pre-tests, reports from the candidates’ present school, and a Pre-Interview test to assess a child at 13 plus. These tests are taken online, and the child is assessed on Mathematics, English and Reasoning. Think Tutors are au fait with the ISEB Common Pre-Tests and can ensure that your child has an advantage at this stage of their admission, which is critical to guaranteeing an interview.

 

16 Plus Admissions

 

For entry into the sixth form, pupils are required to sit tests in their four chosen subjects that they will undertake at A Level. Each test can take from 45 minutes to 1 hour, varying in questions and the need for subject knowledge. Tests differ from subject to subject. Examinations are taken at Westminster, typically in the first week of November.

 

Stage 3: Interviews

 

13 Plus Admissions

 

Children who have performed well in the ISEB Common Pre-Test will be contacted for an interview, usually around mid-December. In addition to an interview, this stage also includes two tests in Mathematics and English. Both these tests take 40 minutes each to complete and are taken in early January. The interview will be on a separate day in late January or early February.

 

16 Plus Admissions

 

Students who were both successful and unsuccessful at the pre-interview tests will be notified in late November. Those who performed most strongly will be invited for an interview but will be required to complete a personal statement prior to the interview. The process will include: 20-minute interviews for each subject, a 40-minute thinking skills assessment, and a general interview.

 

Stage 4: Offer of a place

 

13 Plus Admissions

 

Success in all stages will lead to an unconditional offer, made on the expectation that the boy continues his current academic trajectory and good conduct. If not immediately offered an unconditional place, the pupil may be placed on the waiting list and, when spaces become available, be promoted to an unconditional place.

 

16 Plus Admissions

 

If successful, pupils will be contacted in the first week of December. The offer will be subject to the student achieving a minimum of eight GCSE/IGCSE grades of 7, with at least four subjects scoring grades 8 (preferably in the subjects they will be studying at A Level). Furthermore, the successful students will be invited to spend a day at the school in March to become acquainted with their fellow pupils, meet existing pupils, be assigned to a House, and meet their Housemaster. Similarly, to 13 plus, some candidates will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if they are offered a place later in the year.

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process for private education. With a 100% school admission success rate, our teachers are adept at enhancing performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child feel confident and succeed in their studies.

Based in central London, St Paul’s have a long-standing reputation for both delivering a world-class education and producing students with a truly global outlook. First founded in 1509 by the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, John Colet, by 1870 it was named as one of the ‘nine great public schools’ of England. The high standards have been maintained until present day, with the school consistently achieving excellent results at both GCSE and A Level. With a focus on pursuing academic excellence, the school devotes time to consider how they can help the boys leave St Paul’s as well-rounded individuals with an understanding of the world they live in.

 

As a prestigious and highly ranked independent school, the rush to join St Paul’s school can be frantic. With just fifty-four places available at 7+ and a meagre eighteen places available at 8+, entry to St Paul’s is extremely competitive. As 7 and 8+ entry into the school is closed for 2023, parents must look ahead to 2024 to ensure that their son can have the best chance of a successful admission into the school. Junior school entrance cements a better chance of progression into the senior school at 13+, as the child is automatically registered for transfer to St Paul’s at 13+, on the condition that they have stayed at the Junior School for the full duration of their studies. The next available year for 13+ entry is 2026. Consequently, admission at an earlier entry is imperative.

 

Stage 1: Registration and References

 

The first step of the process is to register via an online registration form, expressing your interest and ambition for your child to attend. Registration will open on the 10^th October 2022 for entry into 2024 and an early registration is suggested as spaces will fill up quickly. In applying, you will be asked and required to upload a copy of your son’s passport and submit a payment of £175 in the form of a non-refundable registration fee. St Paul’s requires that both parents agree to the application, in the exception in the case of sole custody. After applying, St Paul’s will then contact your son’s current school for a reference (consent is given to St Paul’s to contact for references by applying).

 

Stage 2: Examinations

 

The assessment will be a compilation of examinations that will test your child’s current academic level and potential. Candidates will set tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. The assessment days for 2024 entry will be early December, for those sitting the 7+ entrance exams and early January, for those who sit the 8+ exams.

 

At Think Tutors, we can offer a range of tutors from all backgrounds to guide you and your child to success in the 7 and 8+ entry at any independent school, including St Paul’s. We provide tuition that is unrivalled, bespoke and attuned to each individual child and their family. Think Tutors will elevate your child’s confidence while improving their foundational knowledge and understanding.

 

Stage 3: Assessment, Interview and Offer

 

Successful boys will be invited back for half-day group assessments. The day will include a Maths and English lesson, alongside a group problem solving task. This day can be difficult for children and so preparation is vital for increased chance of success and acceptance. During this day, the parents will have the opportunity to meet with the Head of St Paul’s Juniors, Oliver Snowball. The assessment day should take place within two weeks of the written test stage and following this stage, successful applicants will be made an offer. Boys are accepted to St Paul’s Juniors on the understanding that St Paul’s will be their first choice of senior school.

 

How can Think Tutors help?

 

At Think Tutors, with the assistance of the highly qualified tutors that we can offer, your child will reach success. Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process. With a 100% success rate for school entrance, our tutors are experts at improving results through practice, comprehensive planning and confidence building. If you are interested in finding a tutor to ensure that your child feels confident and can ease through entrance exams, please contact us.

 

Your child can sit the test anywhere in the UK or overseas, which appeals to both the school and child alike. Taken in either early November or the middle of January, it provides a universal and standardised measure of assessment of a child’s current academic level and potential. Students undertaking the test are not disadvantaged because of age, as there is an element of age-weighting in the examination, in which their results are adjusted and are given a standardised age score (SAS). The average score is around 100 but for the most competitive schools, a score of 120+ is considered a good number to aim for.

 

The Pre-test comprises of four separate components: English, Mathematics, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning. The test should take two hours and fifteen minutes to complete: English and Mathematics will take 40 minutes each, Non-verbal reasoning will be 30 minutes long and Verbal reasoning 25 minutes.

 

However, a change in format at the beginning of the 2022 academic year has resulted in some confusion. At Think Tutors, we would like to shed some light on the significant changes, so that you and your child feel confident and equipped to complete the test with ease.

 

2022-2023 Format 

 

Firstly, your child now needs to be registered with ISEB rather than automatically registered by your chosen senior school. Whilst the registration process can be completed though the ISEB website, do get in touch if you would prefer guidance on the matter.

 

Children can now decide whether or not they prefer to see the timer or not, an accommodation which will reduce stress in some children immensely. Other adjustments which can be made is the change of colour and size of the font, along with the use of pencil and paper for notes and rough working throughout the whole test. No longer refined to the use in verbal reasoning and mathematics.

 

The 2022 update has seen that the test is now fully accessible to all children, with less reliance on short term memory and more emphasis on improving accessibility features. Children with SEND can be given: 25% more time within each test, a reader for the tests, supervised rest breaks and a separate exam room. Parents can apply for these arrangements when you register your child for the test though the ISEB website. Although, it is advisable to contact the school to discuss your child’s needs in advance also.

 

The format change has impacted the English component of the Pre-Test significantly. There are now two separate scores within English rather than just the one: a score for reading comprehension and one for SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar). The text that the child must read within the test has also changed from one long piece of information to several short passages. It can be read by simply scrolling rather than clicking through several pages to read the whole passage.

 

As the whole test is answerable by multiple choice questions only, the system now assess the pupils ability after each response and selects the subsequent questions level of difficulty based upon the previous answer. Mistakes are taken into consideration and therefore, the end result will still be representative of the child’s overall ability.

 

Which schools will this impact?

 

There are several schools who determine a child’s entry circumstantial upon their performance in the ISEB Pre-test. Most notably, but not exclusively: Charterhouse, City of London, Eton College, Harrow, St Paul’s, and Westminster. These highly selective and popular senior schools utilise the Pre-Test to select/de-select pupils from the entry process. If a child passes the Pre-Test, they will usually be offered a place contingent on them then passing Common Entrance at 13+.

 

How can Think Tutors help?

 

From the information provided above, there is no doubt that familiarity with the different question types, experience of the computerised interface and some knowledge of what to expect can significantly help. At Think Tutors, your child will become confident and unfazed by the process.

 

Moreover, with the assistance of the highly qualified tutors that we can offer, your child will reach success. A number of our tutors and mentors are vastly experienced within school entrance exams and have worked with children of all levels and ages. If you are interested in finding a tutor to ensure that your child excels within the ISEB Pre-test, please do get in touch.

Lambrook has recently become the topic of much discussion with Prince Williams children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis starting this academic year. All three great-grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, have followed in the footsteps of Queen Victoria’s grandsons, who were pupils of Lambrook in 1878. Noticeably, the Royals have started the school at varying ages. This is because the school encourages prospective students to start their journey from Nursery to Year 7, although the common points of entry are at years 3, 4 and 7. Entry to Lambrook is dependent on the school’s ability to meet the needs of the pupil, consequently a personal visit is required, in addition to the common entrance exams.

Stage 1: Registration and References

The first step of the process is to register via an online registration form, expressing your interest and ambition for your child to attend. After completion of the online registration form, references are requested from the candidate’s current school in order to obtain the relevant material to make a basic judgement of the character and academic level of the student. At this stage, applicants have the opportunity to declare whether they have any relevant connection to Lambrook. Although this does not guarantee entry, in our experience, students who have a Lambrookian sibling, parents as alumni or other contacts are prioritised. If there are no spaces available, a child will be placed on a waiting list. For the Pre-Preparatory school, parents are advised to register as early as possible and registration for the Preparatory school should be completed at least a year in advance.

Stage 2: Visit to the school and Interview with the Headmaster

After registering, it is required that you attend an appointment with the Headmaster Jonathan Perry and to also visit the school in person for a tour of the buildings, facilities and grounds. This allows both parties to consider whether the school is right for the child and if Lambrook can meet the needs of the pupil.

 

Relaxation is important at the interview stage, as overly rehearsed answers are obvious to the interviewer. The best way to do this is practice with somebody who knows the format and expectations of an Independent School interview. Our tutors are well-versed in the often peculiar assessment techniques included in a school interview, with many of them having been involved in the interview process itself. At this stage, our mentors have also had great success at building a natural confidence to ensure our students flourish during interviews.

Stage 3: Assessment

In the admissions process for entry into Early Years, Year 1 and Year 2, children will be assessed informally. The assessment day for the Pre-Preparatory school is usually held in January. For entry into the Preparatory school, children are not only assessed on their English, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning, but on four other criteria also: academic ability, wider interests, character and general behaviour. Mathematics is comprised of mental arithmetic, problem solving and times tables, whereas English is focussed primarily on reading, writing and oral inference, punctuation and grammar. The Non-Verbal reasoning assessment aims to discover a child’s ability to understand, interpret, problem solve and tests logic and intelligence. Assessments for entry into Year 4 take place in November, whereas entry into Year 7 is assessed in October.

 

On the condition that you have passed the assessments and have therefore been accepted into the school, you are offered a place in writing. You will then be asked for the deposit and to complete the acceptance of place form (this is the formal contract).

Contact Think Tutors

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process. With a 100% success rate for school entrance, our tutors are experts at improving results through practice, comprehensive planning and confidence building.

Pursuing independent school entrance requires a considerable level of organisation. With most families applying to three or more schools, the ISEB Pre-Test to consider, and entry points from 7 or 8 plus, to 11 plus, to 13 plus, parents are often challenged by the competing deadlines and overall intensity of the assessment process.

 

If your child is fortunate enough to reach the interview stage, a coveted place is within their grasp, but far from guaranteed. This insight will therefore consider Think Tutors’ 5 Top Tips for Independent School Interview Preparation.

What do the interviews consist of?

It is important to begin with a caveat: no two interviews are the same, even at the one school. Whilst the objectives are the same, to work out whether a student is the right ‘fit’ for a certain school, the methods are entirely different.

 

Some schools have the student prepare answers to set topics or questions, whereas others have a list of themes which they loosely stick to. Some focus on hobbies, and less on academia, whereas others are intensely focused on academic pursuits. For advice on specific schools, please contact us.

 

At the time of writing, however, interviews are mostly online, and conducted by either a housemaster, admissions staff, or teachers. With this in mind, there are a number of ways to prepare for the big day.

1. Enlist the help of a tutor

Think Tutors’ professional tutors are both experts at building confidence, and au fait with the requirements of independent schools across the UK. From Eton and Harrow to Latymer Upper, our tutors have not only been through the system themselves, but have remarkable success rates when given enough time with a student.

 

We also provide advisory services for school entrance as a whole, in a relocation context if you are based outside the UK, or if you know which schools you would like to apply for, we can create a tuition schedule to suit your family. Please enquire if you would like to find out more.

2. Consider their surroundings

It is vital for a child to be in an environment where they will be content to sit still for between half hour and an hour. Fast internet, a clear desk with comfortable chair in a well-lit room are just a few ways to help the interview go as smoothly as possible.

3. Practice conversation

Converse, rather than rehearse. Good interviewers will pick up on rehearsed answers, and try to put the interviewee off their rhythm. Students who have practiced conversing, and can easily address a topic in multiple ways, come across far better than students with precisely prepared answers.

4. Learn about the school

Interviewers will be looking for genuine enthusiasm for going to their particular school, and one of the best ways to achieve this is to learn about the school. From Wellington College’s five ‘I’s: Inspired, Intellectual, Independent, Individual and Inclusive, to Harrow’s core values: courage, honour, humility and fellowship – it is vital to be able to demonstrate a knowledge of where they are applying to.

5. Encourage students to be themselves

Finally, personality is important. Interviewees should not be afraid to talk about themselves, their hobbies, favourite subjects, and hopes and dreams when leaving school. Whilst ambition can play well, honestly in this case is always the best policy, as interviewers will want to know how your child fits into the school community.

Contact Think Tutors

If you would like to find out more about how Think Tutors can help your child gain admission to your target schools, please contact us. We also offer tuition for ISEB Pre-Test, 7 or 8 plus,  11 plus, and 13 plus.

 

Step 1: Find the perfect school

Discovering a school which is right for your child and family is a challenge. With location, extra-curriculars, reputation, co-educational vs boys or girls only, and boarding vs day school to think about, it is not simple to choose the right school. Think Tutors have a network of the best tutors and educational consultants in the UK to assist with your decision. If you have any questions about the Independent School landscape in the UK, please do get in touch.

Step 2: Enlist the help of an expert

The 7 and 8 Plus is likely the first time your child will experience the pressure of an examination. Whilst it may seem young, it is an ideal opportunity to establish lasting techniques and an attitude to performing under pressure which will help them succeed with the challenges to come.

With this in mind, the importance of finding a professional tutor is amplified. Think Tutors professional tutors are practiced at 7 and 8 plus, and have an unparalleled success rate, with 100% of our students achieving offers at one of their target schools.

After running an assessment to measure the level your child is at, our professional tutors will be able to facilitate targeted sessions, at a time and place to suit your family, which are both engaging and productive.

Step 3: Learn about your target school

There are many schools in the UK which offer entrance at 7 and 8 plus, each with different traditions, quirks, specialities and even terminology. The most successful students demonstrate a genuine interest in their target school, knowing the difference between the houses, some notable alumni, and are able to fluently answer the question: “Why our school?”.

Step 4: What is the entrance process?

The entrance process for each school is different, and if you are applying to a variety of schools there is often an intimidating array of assessment criteria to perform highly in. The top students will have techniques to tackle verbal reasoning questions, know how to score top marks in a creative writing piece, perhaps even have a copy of past exam papers to use.

Step 5: Practice

Once the above information has been established, and you have an expert tutor on-hand, the three ‘Ps’ are the only way to ensure 7 or 8 plus success – practice, practice, practice.

Contact Think Tutors

Think Tutors are specialist providers of private tuition, having helped students excel through highly challenging admissions processes. Please contact us to find out more.

There are two types of student who sit scholarship: those who already have a conditional offer to the school having passed their pretest, and are bypassing regular Common Entrance papers, and those who have not and must win a scholarship to gain entrance.

 

In my estimation, the quality, if not the quantity, of questioning is bordering on GCSE and A-level material. It can be a daunting prospect for students and requires a significant amount of preparation. They must be curious, be willing to stretch their reading, world awareness and analytical skills. It is a real journey of discovery. They must be willing to push themselves when it comes to writing essay-length answers, for subjects such as English, History, Divinity, Geography and General Papers. General or miscellaneous papers may contain anything from testing language skills, problem-solving, science, data-handling, history, culture or current affairs.

 

A tutor can come in and be a mentor and motivator in this preparation process to support both the child and parents in what can seem an isolating position; the scholarship exams take place earlier in the summer term and other children in their class are preparing for the later Common Entrance exams in the summer. Their school teachers may know nothing or little about a particular school’s scholarship papers and the preparation process; a tutor can work alongside the student, point out resources and ideas and make suggestions on what he can improve.

 

There are all manner of children sitting these exams, those who are very bright and gifted, those who work very diligently and those who are quietly confident. Expect that they will all be working hard in different areas depending on their own strengths and weaknesses. Whatever the result of their scholarship exams, they will have learnt valuable independent study skills ahead of their peers in readiness to hit the ground running at their new schools and for public exams that follow in the future.

 

To apply for and sit the scholarship exams is not a decision to be taken lightly. Explore the options, seek the advice of your child’s school and if they are willing and able, it is a worthy endeavour for their educational development.

Registration: Stage 1

The first deadline is registration is usually the end of June when a child is in Year 5, however, students can be registered for 13+ entrance at any point beforehand. It is important to note that most children who are given a place to study at 13+ have been involved with Wellington for at least three years, so the earlier a family registers, the better.

 

A professional tutor or mentor can offer considerable advantage to the student at any point during the application process. With a network of elite tutors and mentors, including Old Wellingtonians, Think Tutors can help support students at any level with all aspects of Wellington entrance – from the ISEB Common Pre-Test to the Assessment Day.

Pre-Test: Stage 2

After registering, students are expected to take the ISEB Common Pre-Test in November or October of Year 5, a standardised form of assessment for entrance into Independent Schools across the UK, references are requested to gauge a student’s academic level.

 

The Pre-Test is designed to establish a student’s academic level before admission by testing Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and English. Usually taken at the current school of the applicant, results can be accessed by all schools they are applying for, so it is important to perform well. Wellington also asks for references from current schools to gauge a student’s academic level.

 

After this stage, candidates may be long-listed, moving one-step closer to entrance which is determined by Assessment Day performance, and successful completion of schooling until Year 8.

Assessment Day: Stage 3

In accordance to Wellington’s ‘whole child’ approach, students are expected to take part in one of six in January or February of Year 6 so Wellington can assess their character. The format is subject to changing, particularly in light of COVID-19, however, recent years were structured around mock lessons, in which a senior teacher assesses a student’s performance in a classroom context.

 

Throughout the day, students are scheduled interviews with both teachers and house masters, in addition to being asked to undertake problem solving and group based tasks. Pupils who are applying for scholarships (sport, music, drama or art) also have the opportunity to showcase their skills throughout the day.

Offers and House Selection: Stage 4

In March or April of Year 6, conditional offers are granted to successful students and the process for selecting a house begins. Offer holders can visit houses, attend another open day and are encouraged to speak to current students and house masters to help them decide. In Michaelmas Term of Year 7, offer holders accept their place and confirm their choice of houses.

How do top students prepare?

Before tacking practice papers, diving into the wealth of online resources or even enlisting the help of a private tutor or mentor, the best way to start preparation is to develop an understanding of each component. To help with this, our Education Advisory team have produced this useful guide for parents.

 

With a solid knowledge of each element of the ISEB Pre-Test, practice should begin. Top students start up to twelve months before the exam, and begin to work with a private tutor to master the foundational techniques required to thrive.

 

Outside of tuition sessions, students are encouraged to work through past papers and exercises on Atom Learning or Pretest Plus to familiarise themselves with the often unfamiliar question styles. Whilst Maths and English are closely aligned with the National Curriculum, most students are challenged by the Non-Verbal and Verbal Reasoning problems, however, the top students are already accustomed to the questions, and have an armoury of techniques ready to solve them. Practice really does make perfect.

 

During the sessions, Think Tutors’ elite tutors and professional mentors are adept at identifying your child’s learning style and preparing a scheme of learning which is tailored to them. With over five years of tuition experience, our tutors and mentors are all practiced at laying the foundations for future success to ensure your child performs on the day. They will work with your child to set realistic goals, improve confidence, and ultimately, prioritise your child’s enjoyment of the process.

What is a good score?

Measuring success is, naturally, subjective. Whilst all our professional tutors have a 100% track record of grade improvement, all children are different, and the ISEB Pre-Test is often their first experience of a formal exam. Furthermore, schools have varied entry requirements, and commonly value ISEB Pre-Test results differently.

 

That being said, this insight is about nurturing the highest possible levels of success in the Common Entrance Pre-Test. When it comes to results, the scores are standardised, meaning that the average mark will always be 100. The very top students score 120 or more, and school entrance requirements typically range from 110 upwards.

Contact Think Tutors

If you have any further questions about how your child can master the ISEB Pre-Test, or would like some more information on entry requirements for schools you would like to send your child to, please get in touch. We also help with all aspects of Independent School Placements, including 7/8 plus tuition and 13 plus tuition.