University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam 2024, Year 7 Entry – Key Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
University College School, also known as UCS, is an independent day school in Hampstead, northwest London. Founded in 1830, it is a member of the Eton Group and one of the first schools to teach modern languages and sciences. Its list of notable alumni features an impressive number of novelists, historians, doctors and politicians, as well as a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. [1]
Thanks to the highly-qualified teaching staff, UCS provides a broad and relevant education, rooted in efforts to encourage not just great examination results, but also an understanding of the responsibility that comes with it. Through vigorous lessons for mathematics, humanities, philosophy and classics, among others, the school aims to maximise pupils’ potential, enabling them to surpass it on the path towards achieving their academic and non-academic goals.
Boasting an excellent reputation for drama and music, the UCS enrichment programme also features a vast number of sporting activities, including football, rugby, netball, hockey and tennis. Numerous co-curricular clubs and societies are available, complementing the school’s extensive offering in addition to trips and expeditions – organised on a regular basis to expand pupils’ cultural understanding and sensitivity. [2]
The school’s commitment to providing the best possible conditions for all-round development is reflected in the pastoral care provision. Tolerance, courtesy and respect are firmly embedded in the programme’s philosophy and championed by all members of staff, who ensure that the support is comprehensive and in cohesive relation to the academic systems. [3]
In line with the motto Paulatim Sed Fermiter (Slowly but surely), UCS allows pupils to mature at their own pace, and in return, they perform outstandingly well across a range of disciplines. Every child’s contribution is valued equally, amounting to the sense of communal endeavour which pervades the school’s vibrant, inclusive and friendly community.
University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024
Address: Frognal, Hampstead, London, NW3 6XH
County: Greater London
Admissions info: ssadmissions@ucs.org.uk or 020 7433 2117
School type: Boys’ independent day school
Number of students: 935 (approx.)
Open Day date: In the Autumn term
11+ Exam date: January 2024
Pass mark: Aim for 80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Open Events for University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Entry
UCS holds Open Evenings in September and November, welcoming prospective families for tours during which they will meet current pupils and key members of staff. The events typically commence at 5 pm with a series of talks from teachers, pupils and the Head of the school. More details are available here. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Registration for Year 7 places should be completed by the deadline in November of the year preceding entry. The registration fee is £150. Application forms can be located at the bottom of this page.
Entrance examinations take place in January, testing your child’s skills in two areas of the curriculum. Shortlisted candidates will be invited back to the school to take part in a 40-minute lesson together with a few other boys, followed by a 15-minute solo interview.
If your son performs well in both stages of the admissions process, he may receive an offer of a place, to be accepted by the deadline in March. The acceptance deposit is £3500.
University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Scholarships and Bursaries
UCS offers Music Scholarships to applicants with an aptitude for music. These are worth at 10-25% of fees and are offered following an audition and interview. In exceptional cases, the award may be valued at 50% of fees.
Bursaries are also available. They are means-tested, hence their value will depend on your financial circumstances. Please note that households with an annual gross income of over £100000 will not be considered eligible.
UCS has a reputation for providing a great number of pupils with free places. Recipients typically attend academic trips free of charge and receive a reduction of over 50% towards the cost of other trips.
University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The University College School 11+ exam consists of the following tests:
- Mathematics (1 hour and 15 minutes)
- English (1 hour and 15 minutes)
The mathematics paper will consist of three sections: Multiple-Choice, Core Mathematics and Maths Problems.
The English paper will cover two sections: Reading Comprehension (45 minutes) and Creative Writing (30 minutes). Marks will be awarded for good use of imagination, creativity, form, purpose, organisation, cohesion and sentence structure.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the University College School 11+ entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam
Our practice tests help students become familiar with the style and layout of the University College School 11+ exams, which can help boost their confidence in the lead up to the big day. They cover all the question types that could be asked in the entrance exam and can be used to identify any weaker areas that require additional work.
Once you devise a specific study schedule and a structured approach towards 11+ exam preparation, you will be able to remove unnecessary stress from the preparation process and make it more manageable for your child.
We highly recommend that students take our practice tests under timed conditions to get used to answering questions quickly and under time pressure.
Our practice tests are age-appropriate, yet still challenging, corresponding perfectly with the demands of a competitive independent school’s 11+ entrance exam. They are available for immediate download, print and use after purchase.
University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the University College School 11+ test.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the UCS 11+ exam.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
University College School (UCS) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Papers
English
To prepare for University College School’s English paper, we would highly recommend using the following practice papers, which will help to improve comprehension and writing skills, including spelling and vocabulary:
Comprehension
11+ Complete Comprehension Guide
Writing
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the University College School 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ UCS English Bundle - Save 30%
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
Mathematics: standard format
To prepare for the University College School non-multiple choice maths paper, we would highly recommend using the following practice papers:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Mathematics: multiple-choice format
For the University College School multiple-choice mathematics paper, we highly recommend the following practice papers:
Full Practice Tests
Skill Specific Practice
11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry
Masterclasses
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Mathematics section of the University College School 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
11+ UCS Maths Bundle - Save 40%
Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.
Interviews
This interview guide covers all the key concepts your child needs to be aware of for the 11+ Interview:
11+ Interviews – The Complete Guide
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in University College School (UCS) 11+ exam past papers. The information provided about University College School was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
Other entry points for University College School:
Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 4 entry via the 8 Plus (8+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 12 entry via the 16 Plus (16+) Exam
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