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GCSE

GCSE examinations in 2023

This insight highlights noteworthy information regarding some GCSE subjects, the gradual return to pre-pandemic examinations, and the importance of high calibre exam preparation. Elite tutors and mentors are an excellent way to ease the stresses and anxieties surrounding GCSE examinations and produce outstanding results. For more information, please head to our hourly tuition page or contact us. 

 

Pre-Pandemic Standards Resume

 

In 2023, the GCSE examination process will undergo some significant changes. In an effort to modernise and return the process to pre-pandemic standards, the UK government has implemented a series of reforms that will affect the way that GCSEs are structured and assessed. 

 

These changes include the eradication of advanced information that was given to students who took their exams in 2022. Ofqual announced that they had decided to return to pre-covid examinations to allow students to show what they could do in exams. However, students taking GCSEs in 2023 will receive a similar level of protection in the marking process as the 2022 cohort. As a result, the 2023 cohort will be protected in grading terms if their examination performance is slightly lower than before the pandemic. Therefore, a student who would have achieved a grade 9 before the pandemic will just be as likely to get a 9 this summer, even with a dip in exam performance. 

 

Subject Information

 

After more than 90% of respondents (including students and teachers) supported the decision, formulae sheets will be provided to students sitting their exams in Maths, Physics and Combined Sciences. There has also been the decision to remove the requirement for exam boards to include unfamiliar vocabulary in GCSE modern foreign languages for the examinations in 2023. 

 

GCSE Preparation

 

For many students, the GCSE examination process can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. It is important that students are well-prepared and have the support they need to succeed. This includes access to high-quality teaching and resources, as well as the guidance of tutors, parents, and other trusted adults. 

 

In the months leading up to the GCSE examinations, it is essential that students focus on their studies and take advantage of any support and resources that are available to them. With hard work and determination, they can achieve the best possible results and set themselves up for success in the next phase of their education. 

 

At Think Tutors, we have an exceptional record of improving students’ academic performance in the run-up to their examinations. With GCSEs still a few months away, now is the perfect time to enlist the help of our private tutors and mentors. 

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors’ elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain outstanding GCSE grades. Each with over five years of experience, our tutors are adept at enhancing performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building. 

 

We provide hourly, full-time, and homeschooling tuition, ensuring that high calibre learning can take place anywhere at any time, offering either in-person or online tuition. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child feel confident and succeed in their studies. 

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School Admissions

11 Plus Assessments: The Difference Between CAT 4, ISEB, and CEM Tests

CAT 4, ISEB, and CEM assessments are all different types of standardised tests that are used to assess the cognitive abilities of children and young people. This insight provides information on all three, which are used by independent schools to determine whether a child has the intellectual ability and potential to enter their school.

 

If you would like to learn more about how Think Tutors can help your child through these assessments, please feel free to get in touch.

 

CAT 4

 

CAT 4, or the Cognitive Abilities Test 4, is a test that is designed to measure a child’s cognitive abilities in the areas of verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative and spatial reasoning. The test is suitable for children aged 7 to 16 and is often used in schools to identify children who may be gifted and talented or who may need additional support in their learning. The test is taken when the child is in Year 6 (aged 10 or 11), and along with assessing academic performance, it can also determine which child will receive scholarships or bursaries.

 

It is considered that a score between 89-111 are in the average bracket, yet the top independent schools look for scores of around 125. The test is a 72 minute timed assessment, taken under exam conditions, presented in a multiple choice question format.

 

At Think Tutors, we amplify potential and carve the path for success in all individuals. For more information regarding independent school bursaries or scholarships, please feel free to get in touch with us. Our network spans over a number of elite UK independent schools, and with a team of dedicated tutors, we can put you or your child in the best possible position to thrive.

 

ISEB

 

ISEB, or the Independent Schools Examinations Board, is an independent organization that provides a range of tests and assessments for children in independent schools in the UK. These tests include the Common Pre-Test, which is designed to assess the cognitive abilities of children aged 7 to 13, and the Common Entrance Exam, which is used to assess the academic ability of children aged 13 to 14 who are seeking to enter independent schools.

 

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is used by many independent schools such as Charterhouse, Eton, Dulwich, Harrow, Stowe and Tonbridge. All use this as a means to test children’s ability in English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning and is usually taken in Year 6. The tests are online and adaptive in a multi-choice format. To find more on the ISEB Pre-Test, please have a read of one of our previous insights here.

 

CEM

 

CEM, or the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, is a research and development organization based at Durham University in the UK. CEM provides a range of assessments and tests for children and young people, including the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), which is similar to CAT 4 but is suitable for children aged 5 to 16.

 

From September 2023 and onwards, CEM will change from a paper-based test to an online assessment. Currently, CEM assesses Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal reasoning. The papers take 45 minutes each to complete and smaller subsections within each paper are separately timed. Unlike the CAT 4 and ISEB, their questions are non-adaptive and as a consequence, are less predictable than the aforementioned. Independent schools that currently use CEM are Henrietta Barnett, St Paul’s Girls’ and Eton.

 

Overall

 

In summary, CAT 4, ISEB and CEM assessments are all different types of standardised tests that are used to assess the cognitive abilities of children and young people. While they may have some similarities, they are designed to meet different needs and are used for different purposes. It is important to understand that all schools assess their prospective pupils differently; therefore, it is wise to research your school of choice testing methods.

 

Ultimately, it is imperative that your child performs well in the respective 11+ assessments to ensure that they are given the best possible chance of a successful entry.

 

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 tutors are adept at enhancing performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building.

 

We can either provide hourly or full-time tuition, in addition to homeschooling. We can organise tuition wherever and whenever, with the option of in-person or online tuition. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child feel confident and succeed in their studies.

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University Admissions

The University of Oxford: Magdalen College

Magdalen is a mainstay near the top of the Norrington Table, with roughly 75% of its students earning a first. As such, this college is not for the academically faint of heart, as it prizes intellectual achievement. 

If you would like to find out more about the application process, or indeed have any questions about whether Magdalen College would be a good fit for you or your child, please do contact Think Tutors.

 

The Grounds:

 

Magdalen College is known for its beautiful and historic buildings, which include the Great Tower, the Chapel, and the Cloister. The Great Tower, built in the 15th century, is a prominent feature of the college and serves as a symbol of its history and prestige. The Chapel, completed in the early 16th century, is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and features beautiful stained-glass windows and intricate carvings. The Cloister, a covered walkway surrounding a courtyard, is a peaceful and quiet place for students to study or relax.

 

Admissions Statistics:

 

The college currently has 397 undergraduates and 183 graduates, making it a medium-sized college in comparison to others at Oxford. According to available data from 2019–2021, 62% of Magdalen’s intake was state-educated versus 38% from independent schools, and 55% of those admitted were female versus 45% male. Between 2019 and 2021, the college received 1,170 state applications, admitting 163 (representing a 14% success rate), as well as 530 applications from independent schools, admitting 99 (representing a 19% success rate).

 

Notable Alumni:

 

Magdalen has been home to a host of famous and influential figures. From Prime Ministers to writers, scholars, and scientists. These include Oscar Wilde, King Edward VIII, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and, more recently, figures like Martha Lane Fox, Louis Theroux, and Jeremy Hunt. The college has a strong alumni network spanning everything from finance and law to science and mathematics.

 

Inside Perspective:

 

Life at Magdalen is never dull. If you are an aesthetic enthusiast in any way, then you are certainly going to be in awe of the college’s buildings and grounds. The deer park and surrounding walk are likewise among the most pristine and pastoral places in Oxford. The student body is very active, and there are numerous benefits to being a member. However, it is important to consider that although the college is by no means unfriendly, there are smaller and quieter college communities at Oxford.

 

Should You Apply?

 

There is no professional ceiling for students who are members of Magdalen. If this idea excites you, then apply, but also be prepared to continue or develop a strong work ethic. Magdalen College is a truly unique and special place, with a rich history and a commitment to academic excellence. It is a place where students can receive a top-quality education and make connections that will last a lifetime.

 

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 university. With tutors who are experts in Oxbridge admissions, we enhance performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building. From guidance on halls, to interview practise, private tuition with us leaves no rock unturned. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child enter the Oxford college of their choice and succeed in their studies.

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Topical

AI in Education

The following insight was not written by ChatGPT…

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a powerful and transformative technology, and its impact is being felt in many different industries and fields, including education. As AI continues to advance and evolve, it is likely to have a significant impact on the way that students learn and the style of examinations that they will sit in the future. This insight aims to provide both students and parents alike realise both the positives and negatives of AI in education, including the ways in which it can be utilised to maximise learning and development.

 

Personalised Learning

 

One of the main ways that AI will change education is by providing personalised and adaptive learning experiences for students. AI algorithms can analyse a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses and create a customised learning plan that is tailored to their specific needs. This approach can help students learn more effectively and efficiently and can help them progress at their own pace.

 

AI’s ability to enhance accessibility ensures that education is accessible for all. For example, AI technology can help SEND students access and interact with educational materials, a feat that may not have been possible in the past.

 

Practise, Practise, Practise

 

Another way that AI will change education is by providing students with more diverse and engaging learning materials. AI-powered educational tools and platforms can generate a wide range of multimedia content, including interactive games, virtual simulations, and video lessons. This can make learning more fun and engaging for students and help them retain more information.

 

There are many programmes that can be used, alongside teaching, to help students practise essay or exam questions in an interactive and engaging way. Our tutors are well versed in using these effective programmes to accelerate learning and help students understand how they can be beneficial to their development.

 

Lack of Human Interaction

 

One primary drawback of AI in education is that it can replace or reduce the need for human interaction. Although a valuable asset to education, it cannot replace human interaction, which is crucial to any child’s or teenager’s growth both academically and personally. Our tutors offer unique insights, experiences, and perspectives that, alongside AI, optimise learning and potential. From London to Kuwait, Drama to Computer Science, cradle to career, at Think Tutors, every student is equipped with an elite tutor to ensure both enjoyment and progress within education.

 

Privacy

 

Finally, there are also concerns around privacy and data security with AI in education. As AI algorithms collect and analyse large amounts of data on students, it’s important to ensure that this data is handled ethically and securely.

 

To conclude

 

AI is expected to have a significant impact on the education world and the types of exams that students will take in the future. By providing personalised and adaptive learning experiences, diverse and engaging learning materials, and dynamic and adaptable exam formats, AI has the potential to transform the way that students learn and succeed. However, it is important to carefully consider the potential negatives and ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly in education.

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way for your child to have unrivalled 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.

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University Admissions

The University of Oxford: Balliol College

Balliol takes pride in consistently ranking among the top ten colleges in terms of annual academic performance (as measured by the Norrington College). This makes it an ideal destination for exceptionally bright and diligent students embarking on the next step of their education. If you would like to find out more about the application process, or indeed have any questions about whether Balliol College would be a good fit for you or your child, please do contact Think Tutors.

 

Admissions Statistics

 

According to data from 2019–2021, 67% of Balliol’s intake was state-educated versus 33% from independent schools, and 49% of those admitted were female versus 51% of males. The Balliol College acceptance rate is extremely competitive. Between 2019 and 2021, the college received 1,136 state applications, admitting 172 (a 15% success rate), and 411 independent school applications, admitting 84 (a 20% success rate).

 

Balliol College Alumni

 

As one of Oxford’s oldest colleges, Balliol has around 8,000 alumni. It is famous for producing notable Nobel Prize winners, lawyers, philosophers, prime ministers, writers, and leading academics. Current members include Boris Johnson, Richard Dawkins, and Cressida Dick. Past members include Adam Smith, Aldous Huxley, and Christopher Hitchens.

 

Inside Perspective

 

Balliol is an archetypal Oxford college. It is ancient, attractive, and very famous. Despite its class and prestige, it is certainly not an overly pretentious college, and it works hard to make sure every student feels welcome and at home. The college is possibly the most central in Oxford, which is fantastic, but it is also inundated with tourists all year. The college also boasts a number of world-class facilities, including a library, computer labs, and sports facilities.

 

Should You Apply?

 

If you are ambitious, intelligent, and hardworking, Balliol, with its enviable alumni network, could be the perfect college for you. In addition to its range of courses, Balliol also offers a number of extracurricular activities and enrichment programs, including international study trips, volunteer opportunities, and student societies. These activities provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experiences, as well as build personal connections to last a lifetime.

 

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 university. With tutors who are experts in Oxbridge admissions, we enhance performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building. From guidance on halls, to interview practise, private tuition with us leaves no rock unturned. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child enter the Oxford college of their choice and succeed in their studies.

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Homeschooling

Homeschooling and Full-Time Private Tuition

Beginning with an initial assessment, we use performance metrics to analyse a student’s ability, and create an actionable learning strategy for each student. Making sure progress is clear to all stakeholders is our absolute priority.

 

What is Full-Time Private Tuition?

 

With Think Tutors, a full-time private residential tuition is truly bespoke. We offer first-class tuition from early childhood to university admissions. We can arrange for a designated live-in tutor of your choice, a team of tutors to teach in person, or a combination of online and in-person instruction. This adaptability ensures that the students’ education is truly remarkable and that their full potential is realised.

 

Our travelling full-time tuition service exemplifies the meaning of adaptable learning; from tuition on a yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean, to understanding new cultures and maximising learning through the use of surroundings. Tuition can be provided online or in-person, with tutors able to ensure that learning remains consistent and exciting regardless of the circumstances.

 

The Benefits of Full-Time Private Tuition

 

The benefits of homeschooling for some children are extraordinary. Young elite athletes, performing artists, academically gifted students, and SEND students may appreciate the flexibility of schooling. Able to work when they are most productive; reaping the unrivalled benefits of one-to-one teaching, from either the comfort of their own home or while travelling.

 

Students who may have been bullied, illness, or travelling families may also come to thrive from this kind of education. Freedom within their learning environment allows for questions to be asked at any time, encouraging creativity and cementing understanding.

 

Our tutors all extremely welfare driven, with at least five years of private tuition experience, they understand how to exactly draw the best from their pupils. For more information about how full-time tuition could benefit your child specifically, please contact us.

 

Global Tuition

 

Our team ensures that each family has a team of tutors that can meet both their educational and personal needs, from Kuwait to Kensington, Singapore to New York, and Hong Kong to Dubai. Every student, no matter where they live, has personalised access to education. From cradle to career, Think Tutors inspires excellence at any age, in any country. Despite the fact that each family is provided a unique programme tailored to their specific needs, all of our families receive the same high-quality educational service. An initial examination ensures that each pupil’s potential is realised and strategies to achieve it are implemented, leaving no stone unturned.

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors‘ elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way for your child to have unrivalled 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.

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School Admissions

Independent School Admissions: The 11+ London Consortium

Which Schools Use the London Consortium?

 

Fourteen schools use the Consortium Test; however, more may start to use it in the years to come. Currently, the schools that use it are:

 

  • Channing, Francis Holland (Regent’s Park and Sloane Square), Godolphin and Latymer, More House, Northwood College, Notting Hill and Ealing High School, Queens College London, Queens Gate, South Hampstead High School, St Augustine’s Priory, St Helen’s, St James Senior Girls’, and St Margaret’s School.

 

What is the London Consortium 11+ Test?

 

For schools within the Consortium, it is only necessary to take one test. The test focusses on mathematics and verbal reasoning, with a particular focus on the non-verbal element. This enables the Consortium to capture students’ creative and visual intelligence in relation to problem-solving and design. It is useful as it can match candidates to the school that fits their profile the best.

When and Where do You Take the Test?

 

The test takes 100 minutes to complete and is taken in Year 6 at the candidates current school. If the candidate does not have a school, the Consortium will ensure that provision is made so that every child has an equal opportunity, regardless of context or background. The schools will administer the cognitive reasoning test on the same day, with each school following the same process.

 

What is the ‘Three Assessment’ Approach?

 

There are three elements of the process that assesses each applicant’s academic ability and potential, making the 11+ Consortium stand out from other entry routes.

 

The first is the fact it is an age standardised measure of ability. Secondly, that it involves a common reference form that schools can use to assess wider contextual information, such as more detail on academic performance, attitudes, and character. This will be obtained from the Head of the candidate’s current school. Thirdly and finally, this approach involves an interview, which further explores the skills, aptitude, and intellectual ability of each applicant.

 

The interview is an excellent opportunity for students to prepare and present their best selves to their preferred school. It covers family, favourite subjects, extracurricular activities, hobbies, achievements, and ambitions while covering character strengths and weaknesses.

 

Our tutors have a 100% success rate with school admissions, and are well equipped to prepare students for the entire process. We ensure that both confidence and ultimately performance are maximised through careful and bespoke planning.

 

What are the Deadlines to Consider?

 

Th deadline to apply for the test usually falls in November, with assessment taking place on various dates in early December. The candidate will then receive an offer by early February, by which time they will have until early March to accept or decline the offer made by the respective school.

 

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 tutors are adept at enhancing performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building.

 

We can either provide hourly or full-time tuition, in addition to homeschooling. We can organise tuition wherever and whenever, with the option of in-person or online tuition. Please contact us if you are interested in finding a tutor to help your child feel confident and succeed in their studies.

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Topical

How Private Tuition Can Help During the Christmas Break

We provide a diverse range of elite tutors and mentors that can ensure that all of our pupils feel motivated and inspired by education, from the early years to university. From math tuition to perfecting an essay technique, Think Tutors can help your family take a well-deserved break while taking care of education and learning. We can arrange for hourly or full-time private tuition to ensure that your child makes the most of the Christmas holiday.

 

GCSE Tuition

 

We understand that each child thrives with a bespoke education. It could be that a student finds that a difficult topic requires more attention, such as how to effectively analyse text in English Language or how to determine Algebra in Maths. Some may need revision sessions for an important exam or assistance with completing coursework to a high standard. The extra time available during the Christmas period allows for greater focus on these areas.

 

Understanding the pressures that a student may be challenged with, such as mock results before or after Christmas, can be eased with one-to-one tuition. We are passionate at eradicating such worries by instilling a foundation for learning that will both increase motivation, confidence and drive results. We can offer in-person or online tuition to provide a personalised service that works for the entire family.

 

A Level Tuition

 

Students completing their A-Levels are challenged by the pressures of self-study and individual learning. Although this is an important ability to master in preparation for university and life beyond school, it can be difficult to achieve without proper support and guidance.

 

We understand that examinations and coursework loom over students of all abilities. At Think Tutors, we can offer professional, elite tutors and mentors who provide specialist academic advice to alleviate stress and improve performance. With at least 5 years of tuition experience and unrivalled subject knowledge, our tutors are uniquely placed to ensure the Christmas period is as productive as possible.

 

University Tuition

 

Our tutors were educated at Oxbridge and leading Russell Group universities, thus we are acutely aware of how to guide pupils to academic excellence. With tutors covering every subject at every level, we ensure that your child has the best chance of success in coursework, dissertations, and exams.

 

With little one-on-one support available at university, students may be unsure where to turn in times of confusion and uncertainty. Our tutors ensure that students at this level can think critically and independently, instilling in all students a strong mentality and drive. Tutors and mentors are experts in their subjects, many of them researchers at the top of their fields. This enthusiasm is passed on to the students, who develop an unbreakable work ethic and desire to succeed. Students will enter the new year with a renewed sense of clarity and understanding of their course, ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors’ elite teachers or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the Christmas period. 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.

 

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University Admissions

University Applications: The Process

Although university open days are useful to make an informed decision on where you would like to attend, in depth research into the potential course, university, accommodations, and city is necessary to ensure that the final decision is the right one. For further clarification, please head to our university admissions page for more information as to how we can help provide a clear voice in the process.

 

Application

 

To start off the process, an account on the UCAS website must be created, which consists of the completion of five main areas: personal details, courses, qualifications, a personal statement, and an academic reference from a teacher, tutor, or professional contact. If your child is applying through their school, their teacher or tutor will be able to provide this.

 

Our teachers have been drawn from the UK’s elite universities and have extensive experience assisting students in their efforts to gain admission to the universities of their choice. With success in various entrance exams, essays, and interviews, Think Tutors has a wide array of tutors to give both clarity and confidence in the application process.

 

Institutional Decisions

 

Following the submission of an application to UCAS, the Track portal will keep them updated and notify them of any decisions made by their preferred institutions. It is important to note that applicants are unable to reply to any offers until a decision has been made by all of the institutions. Universities will make one of three decisions. Offer a place that is either unconditional or conditional on the grades achieved in the summer of 2023. An invitation to an interview before making a final decision is especially common in courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Education, Music, and Art. Finally, they may inform the student that their application was unsuccessful.

 

Responding to Offers

 

After receiving all five offers back from their selected universities, the applicant must then decide which should be their first and second choices. Completed through UCAS, their first choice will be their ‘firm choice’, and their second choice will be their ‘insurance choice’. This decision should not be rushed, as the deadline to do this is June 8th. It is recommended that the insurance choice be one that has lower grade boundaries than the firm choice, but the decision is entirely up to the applicant.

 

Deadlines

 

The general UCAS application deadline is January 25, 2023, at 6 p.m. UK time. However, it is no longer possible for entry into Oxbridge and courses such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine, with the 15th of October as the deadline for 2023 entry. Please contact us if you have any questions about applying to Oxford or Cambridge in 2024. Many of our private tutors and academic mentors have studied at Oxbridge and are acutely aware of what is required for a successful entry.

 

Contact Think Tutors

 

Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors’ elite teachers or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process for university. 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.

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School Admissions

Admissions Guide: Westminster School

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.