Keystone Tutors Blog
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Webinar : 11+ London Day Schools
In this webinar Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, was joined by experienced Education Consultant, Camilla Smiley, to discuss 11+ entry with a focus on London day schools. Harriet and Camilla covered all key aspects of the 11+ entry process to London schools, including advising on how and when to start preparing for 11+ assessments and interviews, and how to finalise a shortlist of schools.
Webinar: The 7 Plus and 8 Plus
In this webinar Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, was joined by one of Keystone’s most experienced Professional Tutors, Steph Kitson-Smith, to discuss 7+ and 8+ entry processes and considerations. Harriet and Steph looked to cover all key aspects of the 7+ and 8+ entry process, from registration timelines to assessments and interview formats. They advised on how and when to start preparing for assessments and interviews, and how to finalise your shortlist of schools.
English Super Curricular Activities
In a world full of distractions, there are few more satisfying ways to spend your time than immersed in a good book. But studying literature at university is about more than wiling away your days in the company of great authors; it’s a rigorous and exacting discipline that will stretch the way you think about language and about art.
How to approach Shakespeare passages at GCSE
Shakespeare’s influence is everywhere. In fact, it’s so embedded in the English speaking world that it’s hard to see where it begins or ends. Firstly, there are the words, all 1,700 of them. And not just words like ‘congreeted’ and ‘coppernose’. Some of the most common words in English were first used by Shakespeare: ‘bedroom’, for instance, and ‘eyeball’. Then there are the phrases.
How to Write a Good GCSE & IGCSE Essay
Non-fiction essay writing is a skill that can sometimes evoke powerful feelings dread in students. This article hopes to provide all students with a solid base of essay writing knowledge to help improve student confidence and skills.The advice in this article has been written to be as applicable to as many subjects as possible. When using this article, be sure to check your Exam Board’s specification for each subject.
What Are the ISEB Common Pre-Tests and How Can You Prepare?
The ISEB Common Pre-Tests are very commonly used by senior independent schools as a part of their admissions process.
Guide to the CAT4 Test
What is the CAT4 test?Made by GL Assessment, it is one of the world’s most widely use cognitive ability tests. CAT stands for Cognitive Ability Test and it is used in schools to understand developed ability (i.e. where a child is now) and likely academic potential (i.e. where a child could be).The CAT4 is used by some independent schools as a part of their admissions process, assessing a candidate’s verbal, non-verbal, mathematical, and spatial reasoning ability and academic potential.
A Guide to Oxbridge Admissions Tests
Is it getting harder to win a place at the best universities in the UK? In 2022:Oxford received 23,819 undergraduate applications for 3,271 places.Cambridge received 22,470 undergraduate applications for 4,238 places.
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.
How to Get a 9 in GCSE Chemistry
How hard is it to get a 9 in GCSE Chemistry? GCSE Chemistry can be a nerve-wracking subject as it not only involves learning the content, but being able to apply it to experiments and the use of equations. But, getting a 9 is definitely not impossible! Around 15% of students get awarded a 9 at GCSE, with grade boundaries varying each year, fluctuating between requiring around 70-80%. In papers you should be aiming for at least 80%.
10 Common Questions on Homeschooling
Homeschooling has gained immense popularity in recent years, offering families an alternative approach to education that caters to their unique needs and aspirations. This rise has come as a result of many factors, one of which is of course the pandemic, as shown in this 2022 article by the BBC. In an article published in May 2023, The Guardian cited this rise and commented on the risk of those missing out on education through a lack of homeschooling structure.
Difficulties Schools Face in Staffing Languages Teaching at A Level in the UK
The teaching of languages at A Level is facing a number of challenges in the UK.
11+/13+ Admissions Requirements for UK Boarding Schools
UK boarding schools boast a long tradition of excellence in education. There are a number of options for boarding including:Weekly boarding: Students will live at school Monday to Friday and spend weekends with their parents.Flexi boarding: Parents can choose how many nights a student spends at school or at home.Full boarding: Students live at school all the time apart from exeat weekends (designated weekends each term where students can leave) and school holidays.
Psychology Super Curricular Activities
What are super curricular activities? Every student that applies to university will know something about psychology. They may have seen a true crime documentary about a serial killer, read an article about attachment styles, or even studied the subject at GCSE or A-level. But in order to convince universities to give you an offer for undergraduate study, you will need to go above and beyond this level, exploring the subject to a greater extent.
A Level Results Day 2023: How to Prepare and What to Expect
With A level Results day almost upon us (Thursday 17th August), here is a helpful guide to ensure you are appropriately prepared.
GCSE Results Day 2023 - What You Need to Know
GCSE Results Day 2023 is almost upon us (Thursday 24th August) so we thought it might be helpful to share some top tips to help you to navigate the day.
Webinar: Assessing and Supporting Children
Keystone's Head of Elective & Homeschooling, Poppy Dundas, was joined by Sarah Warley, Founder at The Key Clinic. Together they discussed the work that Sarah and her team do at The Key Clinic, getting to the root cause of a child's difficulties in order to unlock their full potential. They discussed this in relation to homeschooling and tutoring, and the common issues seen within children.To find out more about how Keystone can support with homeschooling, do follow this link.
Webinar: 16+ Preparation
In this webinar Keystone's Director of Asia, Jenny McGowan, was joined by Oli Rose, one of Keystone's most experienced tutors, to discuss sixth-form entry and the 16+ admissions process. Jenny and Oli covered all of the key steps, from registration timelines to assessment and interview formats. They advise on how and when to start preparing for 16+ assessments and interviews, along with other application requirements including 16 plus personal statements.
The Importance of University League Tables
How important are University League Tables? University League Tables are not nearly as important as they are often believed to be. While it may be true that there are employability advantages if you attend Oxford, Cambridge, or another top institution (e.g. from the Russell Group), the biggest advantage you can give yourself is to study the right course for you at the institution that suits you best.
Guide to UK Summer Schools
Attending a summer school or summer course can be an unforgettable experience for students and is a fantastic opportunity to learn and gain new skills whilst meeting new friends. There are a huge range of summer school options available which can sometimes be quite overwhelming. We thought it would be helpful to answer some frequently asked questions and list some of our recommendations for summer schools in this article.
A Guide to the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a medical and dental course admissions test used and created by multiple universities across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It is used to assess candidates in conjunction with your UCAS application and is an important part of your application. Make sure to check the entry criteria for your desired course to see if the test is a requirement. The importance of your UCAT score varies across universities.
A Guide to the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is an alternative to the UCAT created by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing for a handful of medical, dental, biomedical, and veterinary degree programmes. There are six UK medical schools that require the BMAT; Brighton and Sussex, Imperial, Lancaster, UCL, Cambridge and Oxford. Check your course page to see if it a requirement, as the BMAT is not just for medicine! Some international universities require you to take the test too.
Webinar: Preparing for the 11+ Pre-Test
Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, will be joined by Olly Jackson, one of Keystone's professional tutors, to discuss all aspects of 11+ Pre-Tests, including what they consist of, who uses them and how to best prepare.
Webinar: How to Use the Summer Holiday to Maximise your University Application
In this webinar Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by Jenny McGowan, our Director in Asia, to discuss the sorts of preparation students can complete over the Summer Holidays of Year 12 to ensure they submit a strong UCAS application. The discussion covers how to prepare effectively with particular reference to the importance of super-curricular learning, admissions tests and the personal statement.
Children's Extra Curricular Clubs and Activities
Extra curricular activities are a great way to enrich the curriculm, and there are a range of activities that can complement an existing hobby or introduce your child to a new interest. Here is a list of recommendations of places we would suggest looking into in addition to your child’s academic lessons to enrich their learning. Please note these are not tried and tested by Keystone Tutors.
A Guide to Postgraduate Options
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to the courses and qualifications beyond undergraduate level. This can include further degrees, certificates, diplomas or professional qualifications. Postgraduate study doesn’t need to be directly connected to the course you graduated in at undergraduate level, though it is often the case, and a strong performance in your undergraduate degree can certainly help strengthen your application.
How to get a 9 in GCSE Geography
How hard is it to get a 9 in GCSE Geography? Geography is often misperceived as an “easier”, less academic subject. I think one of the main reasons for this is that it is an interdisciplinary subject. Geography touches on lots of different subject areas (science, economics, politics, sociology etc.) so the depth on knowledge required in each aspect is not to the same level as if you were studying each component subject individually.
Law Super Curricular Activities
What are ‘Super curriculars’? Super curricular activities are essentially extracurricular learning activities that are specifically related to your chosen course of study at university. They can include many different things, including experiences and academic research. Incorporating these in your personal statement, and using these experiences in your interviews, can really help improve your chances of being accepted onto your chosen law course.
History Super Curricular Activities
How do Super-curricular Activities help applicants to top Universities? Anybody can say that they have a passion for history and many people do. Most of us are interested in some aspect of the past, whether we are keen students of local history or the traditions associated with our favourite sport, or fascinated by a particular figure whom we have encountered in a book or historical drama on TV.
Top 5 Reasons to Choose Day School Over Boarding School
One of the key considerations when choosing a school for your child is between day school and boarding school. Would you like your child to be a day student, a full boarder or a weekly-boarder? To attend a day school, you would need to live nearby whereas boarding widens the geographical area for you to choose from.
