Month: September 2022

Categories
University Admissions

Choosing Your Oxbridge College: Questions to Ask Yourself

Does the college offer the subject you want to study? 

It may come as a surprise, but not every college teaches every course. Many of the big colleges do, but some colleges prefer to be more particular in what they provide. You can easily find out which subjects are taught at which colleges by navigating the university or faculty website.

Do alumni networks and alumni benefits matter to you?

This final question may seem a little strange to be asking before you have even applied to a college, let alone been accepted to one. Nevertheless, if you do attend an Oxbridge college, you will become a member for life. As such, you will spend far more time as an alumnus than as a student. So, too, your college’s networks may be very important during the first few steps of your career. For these reasons its worth having a quick look at a college’s alumni page to see what they offer after graduation.

Does location matter to you?

Oxbridge colleges are spread throughout their respective cities. Generally speaking, newer colleges are located further away from the city centres, whereas older colleges are more centralised. The city centres are very charming, but they can also be incredibly crowded (and not just with tourists). It is also worth thinking about proximity to your department and whether you want a long or short journey to lectures.

Do you want a small, medium, or large college?

College size can vary greatly. Some are only a few hundred students, whereas others can be over a thousand. That means your year group can range from less than one hundred people to more than three times that. Small colleges are often noted for their warmth and close-knit nature, whereas large colleges can offer more variety and choice. Neither is better, but it is good to know what you want.

How important are aesthetics?

Some colleges do have genuine ‘Brideshead’ or ‘Harry Potter’ vibes (not least because the movies were filmed there), while other colleges can look less quintessentially Oxbridge. If you’re not bothered by red brick or Cotswold stone, then consider applying to a modern college. If looks matter, consider your options wisely, as some of the prettiest colleges are also the most oversubscribed.

Which facilities matter to you?

Dining rooms, libraries, chapels, common rooms, and bars are standard facilities at most colleges, but some have specific facilities that may or may not be interest to you. This is especially true if you are sporty, as some colleges have extensive and conveniently located pitches, gyms, and boat houses. This can also be applicable for music, as some colleges have extensive facilities for practice and performance.

Do you want college accommodation for all three years?

Not every college has enough housing to offer accommodation students for all three years of their degree. While first years are generally provided with on-site rooms, students sometimes have to live further afield in their second and third year in order to remain in college-owned rooms. It is also worth noting that costs and quality can vary between colleges, as do dining arrangements and kitchen facilities.

Do you have a preference regarding gender balance?

While many colleges are evenly split between genders, some colleges do have more of one gender than another. Likewise, Cambridge has several women only colleges.

Do you have a preference regarding state and public-school balance?

Some colleges are more interested in admitting state school applicants than those from public schools. If you have a preference in either direction, have a look at the admissions statistics for your college.

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. A number of our tutors and mentors are vastly experienced within Oxbridge entrance and have worked with multiple students to gain entry into their chosen college. If you are interested in finding a tutor to ensure that your child feels confident in selecting their chosen college and experiencing success in entry, please do get in touch.

 

Categories
School Admissions

Mastering The ISEB Pre-Test

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.

Categories
School Admissions

Admissions Guide: Lambrook School

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.

Categories
University Admissions

Oxford and Cambridge Entrance: A Guide to Assessments

Cambridge Law Test

The Cambridge Law Test is a paper and pen test used to measure your aptitude for law by assessing your comprehension and exposition skills. You do not have to possess prior knowledge of the law to sit the test, which lasts for one hour and is sat on the day of your interview. The Cambridge Law Test is being phased out from 2022 onwards, to be replaced by the LNAT.

LNAT

The Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) is a pre-interview admissions assessment. It tests an applicant’s abilities in reading comprehension, inductive and deductive reasoning, verbal reasoning, as well as analysis (but it does test an applicant’s intelligence or knowledge of the law). Comprised of two sections, the first consists of 42 multiple choice questions and the second is essay-based.

MAT

The Mathematics Admission’s Test is mandatory for those applying to various courses at Oxford (such as Computer Science and Mathematics). It is a subject-specific test that aims to gage the depth of an applicant’s mathematical understanding rather than the breadth of their knowledge. The MAT is designed to be approachable for all students, including those without Further Mathematics A-level or equivalent.

STEP

Achievement in the Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP) forms a part of a conditional offer to read mathematics at Cambridge (it also used in the admissions process for mathematics at Warwick and Imperial College London). STEP has two papers (entitled STEP 2 and STEP 3): the former based on A Level Mathematics and AS Level Further Mathematics), while the latter is based on A Level Mathematics and A Level Further Mathematics. Of note, STEP questions are less standard and less structured than their A Level equivalents, which is designed to distinguish between ability (or potential) and good teaching.

BMAT

The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is used by universities around the world to help select applicants for medical, dental, biomedical, and veterinary degree programmes. The BMAT tests an applicant’s ability to apply scientific and mathematical knowledge, as well as problem solving, critical thinking and written communication skills that are essential to university-level study. There are several BMAT sessions throughout the year and different universities accept different sessions, depending on their admissions cycle.

GAMSAT

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is a day-long assessment required by several universities in the UK for graduate entry medicine programmes. The test’s length distinguishes it from the UCAT and BMAT, and it can be taken as many times as one likes. The GAMSAT covers basic science, as well as general problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and writing abilities.

UCAT

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a computer-based admissions test used by many UK and non-UK universities (in collaboration with the UCAS application system and the use of academic qualifications) for entry into medical and dental schools. The UCAT assess for verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitate reasoning, abstract reasonings, and situational judgement.

CAT

Sitting the Classics Aptitude Test (CAT) is required for all those applying to study Classics at the University of Oxford. The CAT is a paper-based test, divided into three sections: the Latin Translation Test, the Greek Translation Test and the Classics Language Aptitude Test (CLAT). Each section lasts 1 hour and is sat under timed exam conditions. Which of the sections you take depends on whether you are applying for Classics I or Classics II.

ELAT

Oxford University’s English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT) is a paper-based assessment, lasting 90 minutes and sat under timed exam conditions. The ELAT is designed to test a candidate’s close reading skills, and their ability to shape and articulate an informed response to unfamiliar literary material. Applicants will be asked to write one essay comparing two provided passages, focusing on elements such as language, imagery, syntax, form, and structure.

HAT

The History Aptitude Test (HAT) is a written assessment sat by those applying for a History degree at Oxford University. Candidates are asked to offer thoughtful interpretations of a source without knowing anything about its context. The HAT is a test of skills, not substantive historical knowledge. It is designed so that candidates should find it equally challenging, regardless of what they have studied or what school examinations they are taking.

PAT

The Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) is a part of the admissions process at the University of Oxford for courses such as Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, and Physics and Philosophy. The PAT is subject-specific and lasts 2 hours, which is sat under timed conditions. It is designed for candidates who have studied the first year of A-level (or equivalent) Maths and Physics and covers similar material to that of the GCSE and A-level syllabus.

MLAT

The Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT) is required for those applying to read any modern languages-based course at the University of Oxford. The MLAT is a paper-based test which consists of 10 sections. Which sections are taken depends on the course you are applying for. There are eight individual sections for each of the following languages: Czech, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. The other two sections are: the Language Aptitude Test (LAT: for those applying for new languages as beginners and for Russian on its own), and the Philosophy test (for those applying for Philosophy and Modern Languages). The Philosophy section lasts 60 minutes while each other section is 30 minutes. Candidates are to take a maximum of two sections.

CAT

Sitting the Classics Aptitude Test (CAT) is required for all those applying to study Classics at the University of Oxford. The CAT is a paper-based test, divided into three sections: the Latin Translation Test, the Greek Translation Test and the Classics Language Aptitude Test (CLAT). Each section lasts 1 hour and is sat under timed exam conditions. Which of the sections you take depends on whether you are applying for Classics I or Classics II.

MML

All Cambridge Colleges (unless otherwise stated) requires applicants for the Modern and Medieval Languages course to sit an at-interview written assessment. This test it is designed to test your skills rather than your knowledge. The written test lasts one hour and is based on a short text in English. It will be marked by the subject experts in the College that are interviewing you according to an agreed set of criteria.

OLAT

Sitting the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT) is required for all those applying for either Oriental Studies, Classics and Oriental Studies, European and Middle Eastern Languages, or Religion and Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford. The OLAT is a paper-based test, lasting 30 minutes and sat under timed exam conditions. The OLAT is designed to assess your ability to analyse how languages work, in a way which doesn’t depend on your knowledge of any particular language, but instead looks to gauge one’s aptitude for learning a new language rapidly.

TSA

The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is a two-part test, divided into a 90-minute multiple choice component (focussing on problem-solving and critical thinking skills), and a 30-minute writing task (focussing on organising ideas in a clear and concise manner). The TSA is required for those applying to study courses such as PPE at Oxford.

Oxford Philosophy Test

The Oxford Philosophy Test is required for all candidates applying to study Philosophy and Theology at the University of Oxford. It is a paper-based test, lasting 60 minutes and sat under timed exam conditions. The Philosophy Test is designed to test a candidate’s philosophical reasoning skills. There is no expectation that you will have undertaken any formal study of philosophy, and it is not a test of philosophical knowledge.