Kings Tutors – Our Guide to Common Entrance Exams

March 23, 2021

• Advice for Parents
• / Common Entrance
• / Effective Revision

The move to senior school can be a daunting challenge for any young child, and the Common Entrance exams can serve to heighten this stress. For many, this will be the first taste of external school exams which truly count towards a child’s future. Here at Kings Tutors we work with a number of families to support them through this process, and that’s why we have compiled this guide to surviving the Common Entrance exams!

1. Know your syllabus

Whilst it is the teacher’s job to understand and teach the intricacies of a given syllabus, it can be immensely beneficial for a child to read and digest exactly what they need to know. There are a number of excellent ISEB guides which can help with this understanding, and we would recommend getting your hands on one of these online. The last thing you want is a surprise topic or question with unfamiliar words which can throw a child during their exam.

1. Work on exam technique

As mentioned, this will be the first taste of external exams for many children, and it is therefore an essential introduction to essay writing and structure, and to working out the ways in which the examiners want you to approach each question. This is something your school should be able to help with, but if you require additional assistance then we are more than happy to help here at Kings.

1. Know your entry requirements

Whilst there is no official pass mark for the Common Entrance, every school will set their own individual pass marks for their prospective students. It is important to know the requirements for your schools of choice, so that you can set achievable targets to work towards.

1. Should my child be entered for a scholarship?

The decision to enter a child for an academic scholarship is difficult, and should be carefully considered with the advice form your child’s school. It is important that parents understand the academic rigour of these tests. If an academic scholarship is not right for your child, parents may consider one of the many other scholarships schools offer, in art, drama, sport or music. Our tutors have a great deal of experience with assessing children’s suitability for scholarships, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you require any further assistance.

1. Plan your child’s revision carefully

One of the more difficult aspects of adjusting to external exams is creating a revision timetable which targets all the subjects in enough detail. It is essential that students don’t focus too much on one area, and by doing so neglect others. An effective and carefully thought through revision timetable can help ensure that all subjects are targeted with enough depth.

We know how difficult the common entrance exams can be, and we wish every child taking them the very best of luck. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team if you have any questions or queries regarding the Common Entrance.