University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details 2024
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic information: University College School, better known as UCS, is an independent day school for boys in Frognal, Hampstead. One of the most successful schools in the country, it boasts top-notch facilities and an impressive list of notable alumni, including Nobel Prize recipients, diplomats and politicians. [1]
Curriculum: The UCS Junior Branch (JB) syllabus comprehensively caters for a range of interests across both academic and non-academic domains. Accordingly, pupils develop self-discipline and impressive qualifications in the areas of mathematics, science, MFL, humanities and ICT, among others, maintaining a responsible attitude towards learning as they approach their Senior years.
Co-curricular: To balance the often rigorous in-class provision, UCS JB combines it with an array of co-curricular opportunities, including fencing, chess, cookery, Mandarin and swimming. The offering aims to maximise the impact of the learning experience, providing activities that boys genuinely enjoy doing. [2]
Pastoral care: Each form caters for approximately 20 students, ensuring that staff recognise children as individuals and address their needs in collaboration with parents. The social, moral and cultural welfare of pupils is a matter of priority, hence the responsibility for securing it is firmly embedded in the school’s renowned educational philosophy. [3]
In line with the motto Paulatim Sed Fermiter (Slowly but surely), UCS builds boys’ character and helps them develop personality traits that will ensure their future successes. These efforts are supported by an effective all-round education which shapes pupils into high-achievers, ready to take on the world and prosper.
University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Junior Branch, 11 Holly Hill, Hampstead NW3 6QN
County: Greater London
Admissions info: jbadmissions@ucs.org.uk or 0207 722 4433
School type: Independent day school for boys
Open events: In the Autumn term
8+ Exam date: January of Year 3
Pass mark: Aim for 70%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.
Open Events for University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Entry
The Junior Branch hosts Open Evenings in Autumn, welcoming prospective families on campus for an event packed with fun activities. Tours of facilities are led by current Year 6 pupils and are typically followed by an address from the Head and outside games for your child. Please reach out to the Admissions team to pre-register your attendance. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
8+ is not JB’s standard point of entry and the intake for this year group is not large. However, the school does formally assess boys who have applied for a place.
The examinations test skills across two curricular areas, and successful candidates will be invited back to attend an interview. Please note that a confidential report from your son’s current school will be obtained.
Registration includes a payment of a £150 non-refundable fee, while acceptance of a place is confirmed with a payment of a £3,500 deposit.
University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries are not available to 8+ applicants.
University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The UCS JB 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:
- English
- Mathematics
The English assessment examines comprehension skills, as well as the fluency of your child’s reading, oral and listening skills.
The Maths exam assesses problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including your child’s knowledge of times tables.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the University College School (UCS) 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Assessment
One of the best ways to prepare your child for the 8+ entrance exam is to familiarise them with the types of questions and the format of the actual exam. You can achieve this with the use of our practice tests.
Consisting of thoroughly researched and up to date questions, our practice tests will help you identify the strong and weak areas in your child’s knowledge base, and thus remove unnecessary stress from the exam preparation process.
The majority of our 8+ resources are accompanied by detailed step-by-step video tutorials for every question. These are available for free with all purchases. It’s like having a world-class tutor explain each question to your child at no extra cost!
Our practice tests are used successfully every year by hundreds of thousands of students targeting schools with a competitive entrance exam. They are age-appropriate, reflecting the demands of the actual exam.
University College School (UCS) 8 Plus (8+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 70%+ consistently in our 8+ practice tests should be on track to pass the UCS 8+ assessment.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the University College School 8 plus 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) 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for each section of the UCS Junior Branch 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the UCS Junior Branch 8+ English assessment. They will help improve your child’s comprehension skills:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension Skills
8+ English: Comprehension Pack 1
8+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
Comprehension Guide
This guide covers all the key comprehension question types in a clear, step-by-step manner so that both you and your child know exactly what to expect on exam day.
The Complete Guide to 8+ Comprehension
Mathematics
We highly recommend the use of the following packs to help develop your child’s arithmetic and problem-solving skills within the examination context of the UCS Junior Branch 8 Plus maths test:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
Listening
UCS Junior Branch is keen to find students who can listen to instructions, process information and respond accurately. This pack will help develop these key skills:
UCS 8+ Bundle – Save 30%!
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended practice resources for the University College School (UCS) 8+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
8+ UCS Junior Branch Bundle
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.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in University College School (UCS) 8+ past papers. The information provided about University College School (UCS) 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 7 entry via the 11 Plus (11+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 12 entry via the 16 Plus (16+) Exam
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