London-based 16 Plus (16+) Exam Tutors
London-based 16 Plus (16+) Exam Tutors
What is 16+?
16+ entrance exams enable (usually) independent schools to filter their applicants for admission into the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13).
Is 16+ similar to 11+ and 13+?
In sixth form, students study a smaller number of subjects in more depth. The 16+ Admissions tests will vary for each candidate based on the subjects they wish to study at the school.
Typically, 16+ constitutes one assessment per subject plus an interview (it can be slightly different if the school has an IB programme, where they may have some mandatory assessments for all candidates. These tend to be in English and Maths).
We recommend checking the websites of the schools you’d like to apply to so that you can get a clear understanding of what is expected in the assessment. Many schools have some sample papers.
We have our own collection of past exam papers here.
How hard are 16+ exams?
These exams draw on material from the GCSE exam boards, but the way the questions are pitched and phrased may be more varied than at GCSE. Schools with a particularly prestigious academic record may ask questions in a more challenging way to differentiate between top applicants and onboard the best.
How can we help?
We know our tutors well: we interview and vet them in advance, and then track them with our clients, so we get as up-to-date a picture as possible regarding how they are performing. This allows us to achieve high-quality tutor-student matches first time.
Our private tutors, in many cases, are qualified teachers or full-time tutors, and are able to help with the admissions process to all top schools, including: Eton College, Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, St Paul’s School, Harrow, Westminster and many more.
Some information regarding what our tuition service entails:
A) Multi-tutor package – Due to the scope and depth of 16+ papers, it is important to be paired with subject-specialist tutors who know the content and paper format well. Students seeking support for the whole 16+ assessment will, therefore, be paired with several tutors, one per subject. However, support does not have to be holistic, and we can provide tutors to help with just one subject of 16+, if this is preferred.
B) Content teaching – This is to ensure your child has all the raw materials needed to be able to answer the exam questions. Thorough understanding and knowledge of the
GCSE specs are essential.
C) Exam technique practice – One needs to think like a mark scheme to know how to convert knowledge into high grades! This involves familiarisation of the exam format,
getting used to working under time pressure and exposure to all the various question types. It is good to utilise the past papers of many different schools to expand the pool of resources. Practice makes perfect!
D) Interview preparation – We don’t “rehearse” interviews, but getting children used to the setting and practising the interview process can reduce the chance they feel out
of their comfort zone on the day. The more relaxed they feel, the more readily they’ll be able to think on their feet and converse fluidly!
E) Work scheduling and routine – Our tutors work with parents to devise an effective preparation plan, establishing a routine that can lift the student to where they need to be in time for their assessment.
- The more consistent the student is with his/her practice between classes, the faster the rate of progress will be.
- We try to nurture a critical mind in our students so that they actively question their extent of understanding, pay attention to areas of weakness, and bring them up in the next class. This leads to a much more thorough understanding over the long run, as weaker foundations are always rebuilt promptly.
- Routine can enable children to work more effectively.
One of our experienced Tutors:
Aaron
Aaron is a full-time Physics and Maths tutor, graduated from Imperial College London, and UCL. He is approaching a decade of tutoring experience and has helped many students prepare for and gain admission to prestigious schools at 16+, including Winchester, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.
Aaron has a positive approach and is consistently well-received by both parents and students alike!
16+ entrance exam tuition is most commonly online, but we can provide in-person support in London, too.
We are available alongside for the duration of the private tuition in order to assist with any
queries or concerns you may have.
For more information about our process, please visit our How it Works page.
Reports
We recommend discussing reports with your tutor at the start of the collaboration to get everyone on the same page. Reports can be verbal or written and can be turned in after
each lesson or monthly, whatever is preferred.
When should I start 16+ tutoring?
This depends on several factors, including:
The target school, how your child is getting on with his/her GCSE (or equivalent) learning, how consistent they are with practice between lessons, session frequency, and how engaged the parents/guardians are in the process.
3-6 months of prep for 16+ can be appropriate for those students with a good grasp of their GCSE syllabus content, as the focus is more on exam technique. Students who need more support with syllabus content may want to start earlier, in Year 10, and this support would likely double as general GCSE support.
If in doubt, please err on the side of caution and get in touch sooner rather than later to discuss things. Top tutors are often busy and so may not have lots of availability at the moment you call, so getting in touch a few months ahead of when you are looking to commence can be the best way to guarantee sessions with your first-choice tutor.
Please feel free to give us a call, and we can discuss recommendations for you based on the nuances of your situation.
Get In Touch!
We can accommodate the full range of subjects at 16+. Please fill out the contact form below to make an enquiry or call us on 0208 133 6284 to speak to us; we’d be delighted to put you in touch with an experienced tutor or answer any questions.
Resources
We offer tutoring support for many subjects at GCSE level, which can work in tandem with 16+ prep. Please view our Private Tutoring page to learn more today.
