8 plus exams tutors in London and online
Established in 2007, Keystone Tutors is one of the UK’s leading private tutoring organisations. Here is a sample of the 8+ tutors that we represent. They are predominantly based in London and work online with families based outside of London or overseas. Below you will also find details of articles and FAQs relevant to the 8+.
Jessica
A graduate from King's College London, Jessica is an experienced entrance test tutor who joined the team in 2015 but has been teaching since 2011. She has taught over 3,600 hours with Keystone and worked for over 130 families.
Naomi
Naomi graduated with a first-class Drama degree in 2017. She has worked with young people for years and has a very encouraging and motivating tutoring approach. Naomi teaches across the age range and helps students develop confidence in their abilities.
Michael
Michael studied Classics at Oxford and subsequently completed his MA in Comparative Literature at UCL. Outside of tutoring, Michael is a keen writer and a thespian at heart.
James
James is an experienced tutor with a PhD in English and a Classics degree from Cambridge. James understands the importance of building strong relationships in order for his students to get the most out of his lessons. He has taught over 2,100 hours helping around 50 students.
Alice
Alice is an Oxford graduate with a passion for academia and learning. She enjoys working with children across the age range and can also help with Oxbridge preparation. Alice is completing a PhD in archaeology alongside her tutoring work.
Jonny
Jonny is an Oxford graduate and is currently studying for a PhD in Italian Studies at Cambridge. He teaches languages as well as English and Maths. He is a passionate actor and writer who loves to work on theatrical projects outside of tutoring.
Paige
Paige is an English graduate from Durham University who teaches from the 7+/8+ level through to A Level. She joined Keystone in 2017 and has taught over 3,700 hours, helping more than 250 families.
Amy
Amy joined Keystone in 2019 and has taught over 1,300 hours helping more than 50 families. She aims to equip her students with examination and analytical skills and also to inspire them with a genuine enthusiasm for their subjects.
Kathleen
Kathleen has been teaching for over 15 years in both primary and secondary schools and has taught over 2,500 hours through Keystone. She aims to instill self-confidence in her students and also help them develop creative independence.
Robbie
Robbie is a Professional English Tutor with a love for writing and for the theatre. He teaches from the Primary Level up to A Level. Robbie joined Keystone in 2018 and has since helped over 80 families.
Lucy
Lucy is a highly engaging tutor with a degree in English and a Masters in Acting. She believes in unlocking the joy of learning and helping her students grow in confidence. Lucy has taught over 900 hours through Keystone.
Freya
Freya is a qualified Primary Teacher who also has considerable tutoring experience. She is warm and encouraging and aims to help her students become independent learners.
Alexander
Alexander has a Masters from UCL and is an experienced tutor with a passion for teaching. He aims to instil a love of learning in all his students and is patient and enthusiastic.
Steph
Prior to joining Keystone Steph was a primary school teacher. She has a wealth of experience in working with students in Years 1 to 6. She has tutored over 3,400 hours with us and also assists with our 7+ and 8+ assessments.
Natasha
Natasha is a first-class English and History graduate with several years tutoring experience. She loves nothing more than sharing her passion for learning with her students. Natasha is an avid reader and writer and is currently working on her first novel.
Alex
Alex joined Keystone in 2016 having graduated with a First Class Degree. Since starting at Keystone he has taught over 4,400 hours with more than 110 families and teaches all the way up from 11+ - A Level.
Sarah
Sarah is a Cambridge graduate who teaches a wide variety of subjects across a range of ages. Her sessions are goal-focused as well as being engaging and fun.
Amy
Amy is an experienced tutor having worked across primary year groups in London. With a passion for theatre, she utilises both her academic background and creative skills to develop a stimulating and enriching learning environment for students.
Emily
Emily is an experienced tutor who joined the team in 2017 and has billed over 1,800 hours with us. Emily has taught in England as well as abroad. She not only helps students with 11+ and 13+ entrance exams but also with English and Spanish up to A Level.
Kira Phoenix
Kira has tutored and mentored for over a decade. As an artist, her lessons are creative and engaging. She works across the age range and with students of all abilities.
Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie is a qualified Teacher and experienced tutor. She has an MA in Educational Leadership and is passionate about helping her students develop and learn.
Sarah
Sarah is a Primary School teacher with almost 18 years of experience. She currently teaches in a central London independent school and has taught in mainstream and specialist SEN schools. Sarah is a supportive and committed tutor.
Laura
Laura is a qualified primary school teacher who is passionate about building a child's confidence and bringing enjoyment to their learning. Laura has worked with children with a range of backgrounds and learning needs.
Samara
Samara is an experienced tutor who has a logical, concise and sympathetic approach to tutoring.
Rowland
Rowland is a passionate Maths tutor who loves nothing more than enthusing his students. His other love is Music and he fits in writing pop songs alongside his teaching.
Celina
Celina has been teaching in various prep schools in London for the last seven years. She gained huge amounts of experience here preparing children for examinations and during the primary years. She now tutors online, whilst based in Munich.
William
William is a primary level tutor who worked as a Teaching Assistant at Garden House for 3 years. William uses a variety of learning techniques and helps build confidence, belief and aspiration in his students.
Eleanor
Eleanor is a charismatic and engaging tutor. At interview, we were particularly impressed by her passion for English and History and her desire to enthuse others in these subjects.
Tristan
Tristan is a highly enthusiastic and diligent tutor. He possesses strong communicative abilities which enable him to explain even the most difficult things with clarity.
Kathryn
Kathryn is a qualified Teacher with years of experience. She aims to stretch her tutees' academic ability and to equip them with the tools required to tackle exams with clarity and confidence.
Kayleigh
Kayleigh is an English Teacher with seven years of classroom experience. She is now tutoring whilst completing a PhD in English Literature.
Kate
Throughout Kate's career in teaching she has worked with students from the 7+ level up to degree level. She has a passion for English and has huge amounts of experience working with students both face-to-face and online.
Alexander
Alexander has a History degree from York as well as a Masters in Fine Art. He currently works as an artist alongside his tutoring. He has years of experience under his belt and teaches a wide range of ages and subjects.
Kristine
Kristine has been teaching for many years, with a focus on teaching English as a second language. She has worked with students of different age ranges from all over the world meaning that she works to tailor each lesson to the individuals needs and learning styles.
Katie
Katie is a first class graduate who is also a qualified teacher, obtaining her PGCE from King's College London. She is personable, diligent and well versed in the school curricula and has taught 2,500 hours through Keystone.
Rob
Rob is a primary level tutor with a range of teaching experience. He is also a linguist and a qualified lawyer. He has recently returned to tutoring as his passion lies in education.
Feedback on our 8+ tutors
"My son has enjoyed working with William and looks forward to his sessions with him. He is great at engaging my son and helps him see the goal and to help him feel he has the tools to achieve them. We feel William has been great for our son's confidence and to feel he is ready to take on the 8+. William has a lovely manner - directed but not too stern, and a kind and encouraging approach. "
Mother of a Year 2 student"The lesson was great, thanks! My daughter said she was 'amazing' (this is high praise from a quiet 7 year old)."
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Articles on 8+ exams tuition
A Guide to the 8 Plus Examinations
The 8 Plus – like its cousins the 7 Plus, 11 Plus, and 13 Plus – is an important hurdle to overcome in gaining entry to some of the UK’s best independent schools. In the article below, Keystone Tutors cover the basics of the exam, its format, and the best ways to prepare for and succeed at this competitive assessment.
How do I Know Whether My Child Should Take the 7 Plus or 8 Plus?
Historically boys would sit for the 8+ and girls for the 7+. This was based around the fact that it was traditionally accepted that boys mature a little later than girls at this age. Assessing them later meant that they had more time to develop and show their true potential. However, nowadays many schools offer both 7+ and 8+ entry and as such parents have the option to consider which might be most suitable.
Webinars from Keystone Tutors
Webinar: Applying to universities outside of the UK and US
Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Blomefield, was joined by David Hawkins, Founder of the University Guys, to discuss their tops tips on applying to universities outside of the UK and US.
Webinar: US University Applications - Q & A with a US Specialist
For this event Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Blomefield, was joined by David Feinburg, an experienced US advisor, to discuss university applications.
What are the 8+ exams?
The 8+ exams are a competitive entrance exam used by top independent schools in the UK, for entry into Year 4. Typically, students sit two exams, one in English and the other in Maths, although some schools also include a reasoning component and the academic assessments is often combined with an interview and/or a group based activity. Most English exams include English comprehension, a short creative writing piece as well as some grammar tasks. The Maths exam tends to focus on basic number operations. The tasks will have their roots in Key Stage 1 of the UK national curriculum.
The exams are typically taken in January, while your child is in year 3. However, it is important to note that the timings of the exams does differ from school to school, so do check the admissions page on their website!
Read more about the 8+ exams here.
Which schools use the 8 + exams?
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Harrodian (15 – 20 places)
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Garden House (small intake)
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Sussex House (36 places)
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Dulwich College (7+: 45 places / 8+: 6-10 places)
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King’s College School (7+: 54 places / 8+: 14 places)
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St Paul’s Junior School
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St Philip’s School (7+: 10 places / 8+: 10 places)
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Wetherby Prep (7+: 20 places / 8+: 60 places)
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Westminster Cathedral Choir School
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Westminster Under School
How can Keystone Tutors help with the 8+ exams?
Keystone Tutors has a proven track record of helping students who are approaching 8+ exams. At Keystone Tutors we recommend that 8+ tutoring is thoughtfully targeted and delivered by a tutor with knowledge of the primary curriculum, experience of working with students of this age group and detailed knowledge of the differences between each school's assessment format.
Tutors we represent have experience in supporting children to succeed at the 8+ exams, tailoring their approach to suit your child’s needs. They can focus on ensuring your child covers all the topics they will be examined on, and work to develop their confidence and speed at answering questions under time pressure. They will take your child through relevant sample papers, help them to practice and provide detailed feedback to keep you informed of their progress.
You can read more about the Keystone Approach here.
In Person Tuition for 8+ exams in London
The tutors we represent are able to deliver in-person tuition within central London. For those outside of central London we offer online tutoring.
Online Tuition for 8+ exams
The tutors we represent are well versed in delivering online tuition, using videoconferencing and an interactive whiteboard. This gives students, wherever they are in the world, access to experienced, high quality tutors who are familiar with the requirements of 8 plus exams.