Keystone Tutors Blog
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Webinar: A Guide to Oxbridge
Keystone's Director in Asia, Jenny McGowan, was joined by Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, to discuss the Oxbridge application process. Their discussion covered the differences between Oxford and Cambridge, course choice, the importance of super-curricular learning, admissions tests, interviews and how to prepare effectively.
Applying to UK Universities
This video provides an overview of the application process and will be helpful for any students (and their parents) looking ahead to their UK university applications. The blog below provides further detail and there are many links to resources which students should find helpful.Occasionally there are changes to deadlines, admission test requirements etc. and this guide aims to provide a general overview.
Webinar: Choosing Schools & School Entrance Process
Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook and Director in Asia, Jenny McGowan discuss different school options for your child. They provided a fantastic insight into the entrance school landscape for any parent considering entrance options for their child.
A Guide to Cheltenham Ladies’ College Admissions
Cheltenham Ladies’ College has been educating girls for 170 years. Its GCSE and A Level results are consistently excellent and the College is regularly named the top boarding school for IB in the country. Cheltenham Ladies’ College emphasises a well-rounded education, where co-curricular pursuits and contribution to the school community are weighed equally with academic achievement. The College admits a mixture of boarders and day pupils and there are three points of entry: 11+, 13+ and 16+.
A Guide to Latymer Upper School Admissions
Latymer Upper is one of the leading co-ed day schools in the country. Founded in 1624, the Latymer Foundation celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2024. With a proud history of social inclusivity, Latymer Upper educates 1400 girls and boys from a diverse range of backgrounds, offering a rigorous and stimulating education. It prides itself on being a ‘learning school’, with a strong emphasis on innovation and combining the best of the traditional and the modern.
A Guide to the 13 Plus Common Entrance Exams
The 13 Plus Common Entrance Exam is a challenging hurdle to cross in securing a place for your child at your chosen independent school. With a rigorous syllabus covering 11 subjects, preparing for the 13 Plus effectively is vital to give your child the best chance of achieving the results they will need in the face of strong competition from other candidates.
Preparing for English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
The English Literature Admissions Test (or ELAT) is a formal English assessment now sat exclusively by students applying for single and joint-honours English courses at Oxford University. This is a ninety-minute online exam for anybody looking to study English Language and Literature, Classics and English, English and Modern Languages, or History and English.These are popular and rigorous courses but sitting the ELAT need not be a terrifying experience.
Is single sex education better than co-educational?
One of the key considerations when choosing a school for your child is whether they should be educated in a single sex or co-ed environment. Some schools cater only for boys or girls; others are co-educational throughout or in just the sixth form. Which is more suitable often depends on your own preference, the character of the individual child and the age of entry.
What is the UKiset Test and How Can You Prepare?
What is the UKiset test?The UK Independent Schools’ Entry Test (UKiset) is an adaptive computerised assessment designed for overseas students aged between 9 and 18 years old. Many UK independent schools require overseas students to take this test as part of their admissions process, as it serves as a pre-test to help schools identify the most suitable candidates and can be used to identify a candidates's strengths, weaknesses and learning preferences.
Guide to Computerised Pre-tests
In recent years, many independent senior schools that have put pre-tests in place have purposefully designed them with as little transparency as possible. It is for this reason that the tests are often computer generated and no past papers are issued. As such, no tutor can claim to have in depth knowledge or experience of the tests themselves, in their current form.
What is a good UKiset score?
What counts as a good UKiset score depends greatly on the school a candidate is applying to attend, and also varies according to the three sections of the test. The following points can act as a rough guide.
11 Plus Interview Questions
Getting ready for 11 plus interviews is a difficult but very worthwhile area of preparation for any student hoping to secure a place at the school of their choice. In the article below, Keystone’s tutors have provided a range of good advice and guidance for anyone looking to show their full potential in these challenging interviews.
11 Plus Independent Schools’ Entrance Exam Guide
If your child is planning to take the 11 plus exam, and is looking for ways to prepare this comprehensive guide is for you! Keystone’s expert tutors have helped students excel at taking the 11 Plus, and the guidance below aims to distil their best practice into a simple, practical set of top tips.
When should you start preparing for the 11 plus?
When should you start preparing for 11+? Starting 11 plus exam preparations in Lower KS2 (Year 3 or Year 4) is highly beneficial, providing ample time for children to thoroughly grasp the 11 plus syllabus within a realistic timeframe. During this stage, children can be introduced to fundamental maths concepts and problem-solving techniques, practice comprehension skills, develop their creative writing and vocabulary and familiarise themselves with various reasoning questions.
A Guide to Westminster School Admissions
Westminster School is one of the older independent schools in the UK. It was originally a charity school founded by Benedictine of Westminster Abbey. Its existence ensured its survival during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 and his daughter Elizabeth I re-founded the school in 1560. Today, Westminster educates 750 students and has two entrance points, in Year 9 and Year 12.
A Guide to Rugby School Admissions
Rugby school is a historic, well-established, co-educational school that is steeped in tradition and is probably best known as the birthplace of the sports that shares its name. The school has been educating children since 1567 and went fully co-educational in 1992. Rugby has always been at the forefront of innovation in teaching methods. The popular Extended Project Qualification was developed here, and academic facilities are outstanding, in particular for Languages and Sciences.
A Guide to Oundle School Admissions
Oundle is one of the largest co-ed boarding schools in the UK with just under 1,120 pupils, around 820 boarders and 310 day pupils, set in a Northamptonshire market town from which it takes its name. Oundle is a true all-round boarding school, with strong academic results, some of the best DT facilities in the country and fantastic sports and music. The school has three main entry points; at 11 plus,13 plus and 16 plus.
Guide to Selective Independent Schools in London
[image1h]What is a selective independent school?A selective school chooses its students on the basis of their academic ability, with a view to maintaining its own standard or reputation as an academic establishment. The best selective independent schools consistently top academic performance tables, when it comes to ranking schools according to GCSE and A Level results, and choose students who will not only perform brilliantly but contribute to the academic atmosphere of the place.
A Guide to City of London School Admissions
City of London School is set within the iconic City landscape, surrounded by instantly recognisable institutions. The buzz of the school exudes enthusiasm for the opportunities that the school provides. One of the school’s main visions is to encourage boys to be the best version of themselves, in order to make progress and flourish in the modern world. The City of London School is one of London's leading academic day schools, with over 950 boys between the ages of 10 and 18.
The Eton List Test
Eton is one of the United Kingdom’s best known and most prestigious independent schools, founded in 1440 AD by King Henry VI, and famous for having educated many British politicians, scientists, and creative talents. As such, the process of securing a place is highly competitive.Keystone have collated the answers to many commonly asked questions about applying to Eton in the article below, including some first hand insights from Josh Pull, a Keystone Director and former Old Etonian.
A Guide to Sevenoaks School Admissions
Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks is one of the leading IB schools in the UK and is also the second oldest non-denominational school in the country. Set in a 100-acre campus on the outskirts of Sevenoaks in Kent, the school boasts 30 buildings, 14 sports pitches and 12 lawns. It has a diverse international intake from 45 different countries with 21 per cent of leavers going to overseas universities. Sevenoaks has three main entry points, at 11 plus, 13 plus and 16 plus.
A Guide to the 8 Plus
The 8 Plus – like its cousins the 7 Plus, 11 Plus, and 13 Plus – is an important hurdle to overcome in gaining entry to some of the UK’s best independent schools.In the article below, Keystone Tutors cover the basics of the exam, its format, and the best ways to prepare for and succeed at this competitive assessment.
7 Plus or 8 Plus Exam?
Historically boys would sit for the 8+ and girls for the 7+. This was based around the fact that it was traditionally accepted that boys mature a little later than girls at this age. Assessing them later meant that they had more time to develop and show their true potential. However, nowadays many schools offer both 7+ and 8+ entry and as such parents have the option to consider which might be most suitable.
7 Plus Past Papers
Past papers are a great resource for anyone preparing to take an exam, no matter how young.
A Guide to the 7 Plus
[image1h]What is the 7 plus?The 7+ exam is designed for children who are in Year 2, typically around the age of six or seven. These exams are usually held in the January of their Year 2 school year and are used to assess the readiness and suitability of students for admission in Year 3 to their chosen school. The 7+ entry assessments will vary from school to school so it is important to find out how your chosen school will conduct their assessments.
A Guide to Tonbridge School Admissions
Founded in 1553, Tonbridge School is one of the oldest schools in the world. Academic standards are extremely high with boys achieving exceptional results. A full-boarding school, the extra-curricular programme can be demanding but despite this fast pace, Tonbridge is characterised as much by individual needs as by collective endeavour.
Guide to A Level Drama & Theatre Studies
In this article, experienced Theatre Studies tutor Matthew Dann, addresses some common questions and concerns around A Level Theatre Studies, including, the advantages of studying Theatre Studies at A Level, the best subject combinations, and the relevance of the subject for future studies or careers. He also explores the key components of the A Level Theatre Studies curriculum and discusses effective revision techniques and his tips for getting a top grade in the subject.
A Guide to Dulwich College Admissions
Founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, Dulwich College is a boys’ selective day and boarding school in London. Dulwich has a strong global brand with 11 outposts in other countries, including China, South Korea and Singapore. While it is certainly a very academically selective school, it also fosters an inclusive educational and social environment, and partners closely with its sister school James Allen’s Girls’ School.
A Guide to Charterhouse Admissions
Founded in 1611, Charterhouse is one of the great historic public schools of England. With four centuries of history behind it, the school is committed to being at the forefront of educational progress in the twenty-first century. Charterhouse has recently undergone huge changes, becoming fully co-educational in September 2021. The school now has the ambition to become ‘the best co-ed boarding school in the country’.
Should my child take A Levels or the IB?
When it comes to deciding on the best educational path for students post GCSE, the choice between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a topic of debate for many families. Both qualifications offer unique approaches to learning and present opportunities for children to excel academically at school and beyond.
