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HSPS (Human, Social and Political Sciences) is a course unique to Cambridge, combining the disciplines of Politics and International Relations, Social Anthropology and Sociology. Students may specialise in one of these after the first year, or can continue with a combination. The final award after three years is a Bachelor of Arts (BA). 

There are no required A-Level subjects, although obviously the content of Politics or Sociology would be helpful. Colleges generally require an A* in an essay-based subject. In practice, most successful applicants have studied English, History or a language.

Most applicants (around 80% across all subjects) are invited to interview at Cambridge. The interviewing college will ask you to send two pieces of written work in advance. It should have been completed and marked in the course of your normal schooling, and will most likely be an essay. Try to choose subject matter in a similar area to one of the HSPS components. Interviews will most likely be online, but a few colleges still hold them in person. Invitations are sent in November for interview in early to mid-December. Expect one or two of between 35-50 minutes, but potentially 3 or 4. Four colleges (Hughes Hall, King’s, Newnham and Peterhouse) also set a written assessment for HSPS, which will be peculiar to that college itself and may take place while you are on a video call. See the King’s page here for example information.

Cambridge operate a formal ‘Winter Pool’ system which runs in January and makes offers to strong but otherwise unsuccessful candidates – although some of them will be invited back for a further interview in January before that happens. This is a significant part of the Cambridge admissions process since across all courses around a fifth of offer holders receive their offer this way. If Cambridge make you an offer, it will be conditional upon achieving at least A*AA at A-Level (or equivalent). Colleges have the option to set the tariff higher, though. Most recent students achieved at least A*A*A in reality. Success rates for HSPS in recent years have been 14%, 12% and 13%. 

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. Rugby has recently started to offer the IB Diploma in the sixth form alongside A Levels. The school has two main entry points, at 13 plus and 16 plus.

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.

Engineering is one of the most diverse and dynamic degree choices available to students in the UK, offering both theoretical and vocational pathways across a broad range of specialisms. If you're considering pursuing engineering at undergraduate level, understanding the landscape of courses, entry requirements, and long-term career outcomes is essential. In this guide, we draw from expert insights to help prospective students and parents navigate the complex and exciting world of engineering degrees in the UK.

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: 11 plus,13 plus and 16 plus.

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 (CLS) is one of London's leading academic day schools, with over 950 boys between the ages of 10 and 18.

Most candidates applying to study Modern Languages at Oxford or Cambridge will have to sit a written paper as part of the admissions process, The Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT) at Oxford and the Modern and Medieval Languages Admissions Assessment at Cambridge. This blog describes the latter.

There are big differences between the two tests, from what they are testing to when they are sat.

13+ Common Entrance Reading List: Our Recommendations for children in Years 7, 8 and 9 

For many young people, the 13+ exam is one of the most significant they will take in their school career, as it is not just about entrance. The outcome sets them on a particular course for their GCSEs and, likely, their A-Levels or IB studies. Common entrance exams are designed to gauge a student’s potential for GCSEs and beyond; they therefore often require high-level skills in reading, interpretation, and analysis. In order to make sure your child is prepared for whatever is thrown at them, reading widely, consistently, and with variety is crucial.

By the time a child is eleven or so, parents have often got out of the habit of keeping track of reading and sharing books. As a tutor, I find that this is the age group for which reading frequency and interest can drop off the most, and this seems to be especially the case with boys. At this stage, young people are developing more independent interests outside of home and school. They are usually having to juggle these interests with an increased homework load, and many of them are also spending more and more time online, all of which can make it harder for them to find the time and motivation for reading. 

It might not be desirable or practical to read with your young person on a daily basis any more. What I would recommend is having an active, regular dialogue about reading. You could talk about the news, an article you have read, a novel you are into, a cartoon you saw, a blog you are aware of, a radio show that was informative…If reading (and listening to literature/high-quality shows) is part of family life, it will likely remain part of your child’s life and make it easier for you to search for books together for more focused and formal reading practice. You can also discuss interesting and difficult vocabulary together, and play word games and puzzles… 

Some reading, even if it is just for five minutes per day, will vastly improve your child’s outcomes at Common Entrance. 

Since St Paul’s Girls’ School (SPGS) first opened its doors in 1904, the school has provided an ambitious and progressive education. At all stages throughout its history, the school has combined the best elements of a classical education with a commitment to innovation and a forward-looking approach. Their academic attainment has been consistently astounding. The school welcomes all academically eligible girls, regardless of either economic or social circumstances with SPGS committing to offering transformational bursaries to 12 per cent of students, and seeking to grow this to 20 per cent.

The school has two main entry points, at 11 plus and 16 plus.

St Paul’s is an independent boy’s school set within 45 acres of open space in Barnes, South West London. The school was founded in 1509 by John Colet with the vision to provide an outstanding all-round education to prepare boys for a successful future. The school welcomes all academically eligible students, regardless of either economic or social circumstances.

What is the MLAT and do I need to take it?  

The MLAT, or Modern Languages Admissions Test, is an assessment that almost all students applying to study a modern languages course at Oxford are asked to sit. The assessment is administered by Pearson VUE and taken on a computer. It largely tests your grammar and translation skills.

Courses that require the MLAT are: 

• European and Middle Eastern Languages
• Classics and Modern Languages
• English and Modern Languages
• History and Modern Languages
• Modern Languages
• Modern Languages and Linguistics
• Philosophy and Modern Languages.

The MLAT is made up of ten sections, but you will only have to answer questions in the section(s) relevant to the language(s) you are applying to study. The Pearson VUE platform will know which course you are applying for and tailor your question paper for you.

Each section is 30 minutes long. There is a section for each of the following languages: 

• Czech
• French
• German
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish

Language sections comprise 20 multiple choice questions and 10 English translation questions. 

In addition, there is a Language Aptitude Test (LAT)--also 30 minutes--for those applying for Russian on its own or as a beginner, and courses with Polish. 

Finally, there is a 60-minute Philosophy test section for those applying for Philosophy and Modern Languages. 

Those applying to study more than one language will need to sit a maximum of two sections. You can find out which using the tables on this page. 

Candidates applying to study Modern Languages at Cambridge will instead have to sit the Modern and Medieval Languages Admissions Assessment (MMLAA), which is slightly different to the MLAT. Read our guide to the MMLAA to find out further details. 

Creative Ideas to Support Summer Learning for Secondary Aged Students 

Summer holidays provide a well-earned break for secondary-aged students, but a complete pause in learning can make the return to school in September feel overwhelming. As the summer holidays approach, many parents find themselves with more time to explore enriching, creative learning opportunities with their children. At Keystone, we believe that these moments are most impactful when they are led by your child's own interests - whether it is a favourite artist, animal, historical era, or a country they are keen to explore.  

Here are our top recommendations for secondary summer learning:

Creative Ideas to Keep Children Engaged Over the Holidays

Summer holidays are a wonderful opportunity for parents to explore enriching, creative learning opportunities with their children without the usual term-time rush. At Keystone, we believe the best summer learning happens when it aligns with your child’s own interests, whether it’s a favourite artist, animal, historical period, or a country they are curious about.

Here are our recommendations to keep your primary-aged child learning over the summer holidays.

Achieving a grade 9 in GCSE English Language requires a clear strategy, consistent habits, and a strong understanding of what the exam demands. In this article, Florence has compiled some useful insights and guidance on how best to prepare for the GCSE English Language exam along with her top tips for achieving a Grade 9. 

Super-curricular learning is where a student explores their subject beyond what is required by the school or by the exam specification. It is therefore inherently self-motivated, allowing you to explore what you find most interesting, on your own terms. It is most impressive when evidencing a genuine passion for the subject, rather than being just a hasty means of plumping out a UCAS personal statement or preparing for interview.

Philosophy is an active subject. The balance is more towards doing it than knowing it, and its very business is unresolved questions. That means the best super-curricular activities for Philosophy get you encountering and reflecting on ideas for yourself. They should leave you thinking throughout the rest of your day, long after you read or listened to or watched the material recommended below.

When it comes to writing a Modern Languages personal statement for Oxbridge, anxiety tends to run quite high. What is a personal statement, anyway? What on earth to make of the new format for 2026 entry? What are Modern Languages Admissions tutors looking for and how do I tackle the complexity of a dual subject focus in my statement? In this article, Keystone’s Modern Languages tutor Florence, breaks down everything you need to know about writing a Modern Languages personal statement for Oxbridge, including her tips for the updated 2026 format.

In the article below, Oxford alumnus and Keystone Tutor Florence outlines the best approach to take when applying to study English at Oxford. Florence is an experienced tutor who has worked across the age range, helping over 170 Keystone clients. While first completing a DPhil and then working as a research fellow at Oxford, Florence held several teaching and lecturing roles.

Securing a place to study, or ‘read’ English at Cambridge University is a challenging task. Extremely able candidates from around the world compete for a limited number of places, and it is essential to prepare for this competitive process effectively.

In the article below, Keystone Tutors provide an overview of the best approach to take, some top tips, and even an inside view on the application process from a tutor who read English at Cambridge.