Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic information: Cheltenham College is an independent co-ed day and boarding school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Established during the Victorian period (in 1841), it boasts strong tradition in sports and has educated 14 Victoria Cross recipients. [1]
Curriculum: In the classroom, diversity underpins the educational offering, effectively providing for pupils’ academic needs through a broad syllabus and small class sizes. Subject areas range from mathematics, science and humanities to languages, art and DT, developing children’s skills in line with the school’s high academic and non-academic standards.
Co-curricular: Equally emphasising in-class and outdoor activities, Cheltenham Prep offers a relevant programme of co-curriculars, including coding, archery, equestrian, string quartets, orchestra and many other pursuits. Its site features extensive sport facilities and playing fields, such as a 25-metre swimming pool and two full size Astro Turf pitches, facilitating pupils’ welfare and athletic development. [2]
Pastoral care: Pastorally, the school supports children’s progress through active collaboration with parents. This underpins a warm and caring atmosphere, where students can unlock their potential and take risks, unafraid to make mistakes on the path of becoming resilient, confident and happy young adults. [3]
Academic rigour and independent learning are at the heart of the Cheltenham Prep offering, boosting pupils’ abilities in line with the motto Labor omnia vincit (Work conquers all). Culturally, socially and aesthetically, students feature strong awareness and ability, which helps them effectively deal with complex situations and come out stronger.
Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7LD
County: Gloucestershire
Admissions info: prepadmissions@cheltenhamcollege.org or 01242 265 639
School type: Independent co-ed day and boarding school
Open days: In the Spring and Autumn terms
8+ Exam date: On Taster Day
Open Events for Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Entry
Prep School Open Morning takes place in January and September, offering prospective families the unique opportunity to explore facilities and meet key members of staff. The tours of the campus are led by current pupils, and typically end with refreshments and informal meetings with some of the teachers. More details are available here.
Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
Following the visit, you may wish to register your child for the 8+ entrance exam. The registration form can be accessed through the school’s website and should be submitted with a payment of a non-refundable fee.
After this step, you should reach out to the school to schedule a Taster Day, during which your child will be formally assessed. If a place is offered, you will be asked to secure it with a written confirmation and a payment of a deposit.
Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships are only available to Senior School applicants. Under rare circumstances, children applying for a place in the prep department can be considered for a means-tested bursary. Please reach out to the school to learn more.
Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:
- English writing (essay)
- Cognitive Abilities Test
The English assessment examines writing skills, including spelling, punctuation and grammar. Marks will be awarded for good use of imagination, creativity, form, purpose, organisation, cohesion and sentence structure.
The CAT4 is an online test that aims to assess developed abilities via modules testing Verbal, Non-Verbal, Spatial and Quantitative Reasoning.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the Cheltenham Prep 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.
Our recommendations to help your child prepare for the Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.
Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for the Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus English assessment. They will help improve your child’s writing skills:
Writing Skills
The Complete Guide to 8+ Writing
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.
Listening
The following pack is ideal for developing listening skills ahead of the Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus entrance exam, helping your child learn how to follow instructions carefully:
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Online CAT4 Test
The following packs will significantly boost your child’s Reasoning abilities ahead of the Cheltenham Prep 8 Plus CAT4 test:
Full Practice Tests
CAT4 – Level Y – Practice Test 1
CAT4 – Level Y – Practice Test 2
CAT4 – Level Y – Practice Test 3
CAT4 – Level Y – Practice Test 4
CAT4 – Level Y – Practice Test 5
✅ Save 25% by purchasing our CAT4 Level Y Practice Tests Bundle, including all five tests. Click the button below to learn more:
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Skill Practice Tests
To boost your child’s Verbal Reasoning (Words) abilities in the lead-up to the 8+ CAT4 Level Y exam, we recommend that you use the following topic exercises:
For effective Quantitative Reasoning (Numbers) practice in the lead-up to the 8+ CAT4 Level Y exam, we recommend that you use the following skill exercises:
To enhance your child’s Non-Verbal Reasoning (Figures) abilities ahead of the 8+ CAT4 Level Y exam, we specifically recommend the following skill exercises:
To improve your child’s understanding of Spatial Reasoning (Shapes) in preparation for the 8+ CAT4 Level Y exam, we advise the use of the following topic exercises:
✅ Save 15% by purchasing our CAT4 Level Y Skill Practice Tests Bundle, including all four tests. Click the button below to learn more:
CAT4 Level Y Skill Practice Bundle - Save 15%
Don’t forget to use the code ppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £80 and 20% off orders over £200 if you don’t buy a bundle.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Cheltenham Prep 8+ past papers. The information provided about Cheltenham Prep 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 Cheltenham College:
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
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