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 Plus tutors that we represent. They are predominantly based in London and work online with families based outside of London or overseas.
Alex
Alex joined Keystone in 2016 having graduated with a First Class Degree. Since starting at Keystone he has taught over 4,800 hours with more than 130 families and teaches all the way up from 11+ - A Level.
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 1,100 hours through Keystone.
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 4,100 hours, helping more than 280 families.
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.
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 3,600 hours with us and also assists with our 7+ and 8+ assessments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kathleen
Kathleen has been teaching for over 15 years in both primary and secondary schools and has taught over 3,100 hours through Keystone. She aims to instill self-confidence in her students and also help them develop creative independence.
Amy
Amy joined Keystone in 2019 and has taught over 1,600 hours helping more than 60 families. She aims to equip her students with examination and analytical skills and also to inspire them with a genuine enthusiasm for their subjects.
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.
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.
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 4,000 hours with Keystone and worked for over 150 families.
Emily
Emily is an experienced tutor who joined the team in 2017 and has billed over 2,000 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.
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 2,400 hours helping around 70 students.
Kayleigh
Kayleigh is an English Teacher with seven years of classroom experience. She is now tutoring whilst completing a PhD in English Literature.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Samara
Samara is an experienced tutor who has a logical, concise and sympathetic approach to tutoring.
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.
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.
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.
Carlos
Carlos has a first class Music degree from the University of Oxford. He specialises in 7+ to 13+ preparation as well as working with GCSE Music, History and English students.
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.
Helen
Helen has taught English and Maths up to 11+ since 2011 and also has experience preparing students for 13+. She has a patient and positive approach to teaching which helps her students to engage and find enjoyment in their learning.
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.
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.
Madeleine
Madeline is a bubbly and enthusiastic tutor who holds a first class degree in Statistics, Economics and Spanish from UCL. She has an encouraging approach to tutoring, which helps her students to find motivation to achieve their best.
Andy
Andy is a qualified English teacher having trained through the Teach First programme in 2015. He enjoys sharing his passion for English with his students and has experience working with students of varying ages and abilities.
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.
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.
Jenny
Jenny is a qualified teacher who has over twenty years experience in primary education. She enjoys making learning as engaging and fun as possible for her students.
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.
Judith
Judith is a fully qualified primary teacher who specialises in 7+ and 8+ entrance exams. Her main priority when teaching is to ensure that her students develop a genuine enjoyment for the subject and reach their full potential.
Feedback on our 8 Plus 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"We just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help over the years, and especially recently. Our son was offered a place at Westminster Under, Sussex House, The Dragon and Wetherby Prep - a 100% hit rate. I don't think it would have been possible without some help, and importantly we felt like all that talent and effort was aimed in the right direction - which is largely thanks to you! We'll doubtless be coming back to you soon for advice on Public Schools, but for now we're in the wonderful position of having our son on his way to our first choice prep school."
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Articles on 8 Plus Exams
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: How to Manage Dual US/UK University Applications
In this joint discussion hosted by ESM Prep and Keystone Tutors, ESM College Coach Rachel Edgell and Keystone's Head of Consultancy Harriet Brook meet to compare the US and UK university application processes. They’ll identify key differences between the timelines and requirements, discussing the best way to balance both processes with limited stress and maximum effect.
Webinar: Understanding Scholarships and Bursaries
Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, will be joined by Camilla Smiley, who works as an Education Consultant for Keystone, to discuss the ins and outs of Scholarships and Bursaries. They will provide you with an overview of scholarships and bursaries, and top tips for applicants.
What are the 8 Plus exams?
The 8 Plus 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!
Which schools use the 8 Plus 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 Plus exams?
Keystone Tutors has a proven track record of helping students who are approaching 8+ exams. At Keystone Tutors we recommend that 8 Plus 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 Plus 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 Plus 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 Plus 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.