Keystone Tutors Blog
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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.
Gap Year Advice
What is a gap year? A gap year, sometimes known as a ‘year out’ is typically a year long break taken between completion of Year 13 (Upper Sixth) at school and the start of college/university. In the United Kingdom the practice of taking a gap year became popular in the 1970s. The year out was seen as an opportunity to gain life experience through travel and volunteering.
A Guide to the Oxford Physics Admissions Test (PAT)
This guide is for anyone applying to sit Physics or a number of STEM courses at the University of Oxford. In the sections below you can find out if you need to sit the test and how you go about doing that. There is also some advice on how best to prepare for the test and how important the test will be to your application to study at Oxford.
Guide to the London 11 Plus Consortium Entrance Exam
Parents who are interested in the top independent schools for girls that are part of the London 11 Plus Consortium need to ensure that their child is well prepared for the entrance exam the Consortium uses. In the article below, Keystone’s expert tutors have compiled a list of extensive answers to the key questions most parents ask about the Consortium and the exam itself, as well as their top tips for preparing effectively and achieving the best possible results.
Guide to A Level Economics
Choosing your A levels can be a challenging time. In the UK, we specialise at a relatively young age, meaning that choices you make at 16 will have a not-insignificant influence on your future employment prospects. But choosing your A levels shouldn’t be this daunting, so, in this article, I’ll cover some common questions many have surrounding A level Economics.
Tips for Dealing with Exam Season Anxiety
Keystone's Head of Elective and Homeschooling, Poppy Dundas, was joined by our guest expert Clare de Lotbiniere, a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Professional Tutors Jon Gale and Lara Isaac. Lara is also a trained nutritionist and together they discuss how best to get your child prepared for the upcoming exams, including dealing with exam anxiety and calming nerves, keeping motivation strong, the best foods to eat and general revision tips and tricks.
How to Get a 9 in GCSE Latin
Key findings from past examiners reports for GCSE Latin Examiners release reports talking about how well students got on in that year’s exams and highlighting common mistakes that were made. Given these examiners are the ones who make the exams, we should probably pay attention to what they have to say! We trawled through these examiners’ reports, as well as past exams, to put together a list of the top 5 areas that students often stumble on in GCSE Latin.
Webinar: How to Prepare Competitive Oxbridge Candidates
A webinar for school leaders.
Guide to IB Geography
Geography is, in its broadest sense, the study of the Earth. The study of the natural environment is referred to as physical geography, and humanity’s interactions with the environment are referred to as human geography. Overall, the study of geography helps us understand the world we live in and the different ways that people and places are connected.
A Level Revision Techniques and Skills
A Levels can be a stressful time for anyone sitting them – as well as their parents. In this short blog, I’ll discuss how best to approach A Level revision, covering how much to do, when do to it, and how best to revise, including some best practice.
GCSE Revision Techniques and Skills
How should I create a timetable for my GCSEs? Creating a comprehensive timetable is one of the most helpful things you can do to ensure success in your GCSEs. While this timetable may vary depending on other commitments, there are of course some aspects that are helpful to remember. The first is to ensure that you dedicate time to the areas you find more complex.
Webinar: US University Applications
For this event Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, was joined by Josh Davis and Sam Harris, both experienced counsellors from established US university specialists, ESM Prep.
Webinar: A Guide to Oxbridge
Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, was joined by Jenny McGowan, our Director in Asia, to discuss the Oxbridge application process. Their discussion covers the differences between Oxford and Cambridge, course choice, the importance of super-curricular learning, admissions tests, interviews and how to prepare effectively.
Guide to IB English
As part of the IB Diploma Programme, students take at least one subject from studies in language and literature. This means that for all students, some form of “IB English” is mandatory. Depending on the student, this can either be an exciting prospect or a daunting one.
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.
Webinar: Choosing Schools & School Entrance Process
Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook and Director in Asia, Jenny McGowan discuss different school options for your child. They provided a fantastic insight into the entrance school landscape for any parent considering entrance options for their child.
Guide to Common Entrance Science at 11 Plus and 13 Plus
Common Entrance Science Syllabus The Common Entrance (CE) syllabus is determined by the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) and can be found on the ISEB website. At 11+, it is expected that content in the National Curriculum for KS1 has been covered, and the majority of KS2. At 13+, both KS1 and KS2 are assumed prior knowledge.
Guide to the PBSAA
What is the PBSAA? PBSAA stands for the Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Admissions Assessment.It is a Cambridge College registered assessment that was introduced by Cambridge University in recent years, in order to help them test some of the core skills necessary to thrive there. It is designed to be challenging, so that it can help them determine who should be invited to interview. Therefore it is an integral part of the application process.
How to get a 7 in IB Economics
The IB Economics Diploma Programme at Higher Level is a rigorous part of the IB. Like any subject, it is difficult if you don’t get to grips with the basics. Below, I’ll briefly outline the course structure, followed by a focus on the final exams and the internal assessment. I’ll share some revision techniques and advice on achieving the top grade.
Guide to A Level History
What is the difference between History GCSE and A-Level? Many students who have enjoyed GCSE History choose to continue studying the subject at A-Level, making it one of the more highly ranking courses in lists of the most popular A-Levels. One of the key differences between GCSE and A-Level History is the breadth and depth of content.
How to Support Your Child at Home with Early Reading
What is the best way to teach children to read? Teaching reading requires children to master two skills; phonics and language comprehension. They need to be able to decode by blending sounds in words to read them and they need to comprehend what the word means in the given context. In school, children will be taught these two skills at the same time. Phonics is used to teach word reading. Phonics connects letters (graphemes) with the sounds they make (phonemes).
Guide to IB ToK (Theory of Knowledge)
What is IB ToK? Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is one of the core components of the IB Diploma Programme. It is mandatory for all students and the ToK requirement is central to the educational philosophy of the IB Diploma. The ToK course provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on “how we know” what we claim to know.
Guide to IB Extended Essay
What is the extended essay for IB? The extended essay is a compulsory element of the International Baccalaureate for any subject group. The components are an essay of 3500 to 4000 words and a viva voce, and these are completed over the course of a year. The key focus of the extended essay is to allow students to develop research skills into a topic of their choosing, and extend their engagement beyond the school syllabus.
How to Assess a School’s Academic Performance
We are often asked by parents which League Table is the most trustworthy and how important exam results are. Although we are firmly of the belief that a school cannot be judged on academics alone, we thought it might be helpful to answer some frequent questions regarding league tables. If you would like to know what other factors you should consider when choosing a school, please visit our blog on ‘How to Choose a British Independent School for my Child.
Webinar: Top Tips for School Entrance Interviews
In this webinar Keystone’s Director of Education, Ed Richardson, and Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, discuss school entrance interviews.
