13+ boys for London's top day schools

[haderrakh]

Hello, I would like to start a thread on 2019 13+ Westminster, St Paul's, City, King's Wimbeldon, Dulwich admissions. Also curious about 11+ USC and Latymer Upper.

Who is applying to these? How is it going?

My son will be sitting all of these exams in January 2020

[Westbournemum]

Hi Hadderakh.

My son will be sitting Westminster on 9th Jan, King’s on 11th Jan and City on 26th Jan. No date yet for St Paul’s.

How is everything going your end?

[haderrakh]

How have your DSs found Westminster today?

Does anyone know Westminster 13+ numbers? I think there were about 300-400 people for the exam today for 60 places/90 offers? What are your guesses?

[nylon14]

We have City on the 27th, we know of one boy that has been called in for a SPS interview for February. I thought there WUS boys there today as well, was it just 13+?

[user34254356]

Yes it was changed this year. WUS boys also attended alongside the external applicants.

[Ozo6728]

The numbers yesterday at the Westminster test seem closer to 300. They seem to be arranged in alphabetical order. We saw a boy whose surname started with “W” and his number was 250+.

My DS thought English was difficult. The questions involved critical thinking which not many boys at this age would be trained to do. Maths questions tested beyond the syllabus which I thought was unfair.

How did anyone else find the test?

[haderrakh]

@Ozo6728

Thanks for numbers, makes sense. if there are 60 WUS, then 240 external for 90 offers/60 places may not be too bad)

My son found English paper harder too but he is generally better at maths. He found English ok, which may not be a good sign. I've heard many people found maths harder

[rakushka04]

Can I add Hampton 13+ to your list?

[Westbournemum]

I called and was told by the Westminster registrar that circa 250 external boys are called back post ISEB so those numbers tally. I’m not sure how much they would over-off for the 60-70 places though.

DS has COL on 27th Jan (not 26th Jan as posted above) but the registrar there wouldn’t share numbers of boys called back post ISEB for the 40 places. Does anyone have any visibility on this?

[Ozo6728]

@haderrakh
DS just finished the KCS pre-test today. He said it was okay, which means he thinks it is quite easy although he said he didn’t have enough time to do all the VR questions.

I was told there were 270 sitting for the 13+ pre test. 90 will be called for interviews- inform by email before next Tuesday 5 pm. There are 30 places available and as usual, they will offer more places as they expect rejections from children with more than one offer.

Still no news on when the SPS interview is although I have written to them to ask for an earlier date.

Not applying for any London schools other than these 3. So if DS doesn’t get into one of these three schools, we will look outside London.

[Westbournemum]

@Ozo

For KCS interviews, is it Tues 14th or Tues 21st Jan at 5pm that they will let applicants know by?

[haderrakh]

@Ozo6728
We were there too;)

Thanks for the numbers, I haven't realised there were only 30 places at 13+! My DS found the exam harder than WUS and didn't have time to finish all 3 papers, although speed isn't normally an issue for him and he is aware of time management. He was sitting in the back though and couldnt see the clock .. Also wasn't used to flipping through the answer sheets. I vaguely remember that during the tour King's Admissions said most people don't finish the papers and that's not expected. But have also heard that King's exams are supposed to be easy and high % is expected (samples weren't hard). Will see!

[haderrakh]

@Ozo6728 we got an interview invite from SPS soon after I asked them to make it sooner. Perhaps remind them - they run interviews 2-3 days every week

[Ozo6728]

@Westbournemum Sorry Tuesday week (21 Jan) 5pm.

[Ozo6728]

@haderrakh Thanks, I will write to SPS again.
My DS also didn’t realise he had to turn the pages (Verbal Reasoning). He said he wasted about 5 minutes checking the answers on the first page before he realised there was a page 2. Don’t worry, I expect many other boys were the same.

[Westbournemum]

@Ozo6728

Thank you for clarifying dates!

Good luck to your DS and to that of @haderrakh. I heard many did not finish the VR.

[haderrakh]

@Westbournemum also curious, don't have the numbers on COL - very few from our school go there, so don't have any intelligence. I've heard COL should be slightly easier to get in than WUS but with only 40-45 places it sounds quite tough

[tt2019]

Does anyone know what the Maths and English test is about? English is a discussion about a particular topic (for/against) type of question. Maths.....? Thank you

[Mamahooni]

Hi,

Has anyone from the first batch (1st three weeks) had a reply from St.Paul's for the 13+ 2020 entry yet? DS has had his interviews and tests on the 14th of January but yet to receive a reply from the school yet. They informed us that we should receive a reply within three weeks. Feeling very anxious.

[mrsbobble]

We’ve heard. Maybe call them.

[Mamahooni]

Thanks mrsbobble. Will do that. I know this might sound silly but is there any chance they are still considering on what to decide for DS?

[Mamahooni]

Is it the usual thing to call them for results?

[mrsbobble]

I don’t know!! We got reserve list :(
Just extra nervous about other schools now. We heard on Saturday by post and interviewed at similar time. So it seems reasonable to call and say that you’ve heard others from that time have heard so you were wondering if your letter had got lost...

[Mamahooni]

Thanks mrsbobble. All the best with your other school offers. We only applied to St. Paul's so let's see what happens but will call tomorrow.

[dinosaurinmybelly]

Definitely call them Mamhooni. All the boys we know who were interviewed in the first 3 weeks received letters on Saturday. Hope it is good news for you.

mrsbobble - 2 boys from DS' school took the exam in Year 8 this year and were successful in gaining a place from the reserve list. There are solid places available on this route, so worth pursuing if SPS is your first choice.

[Mamahooni]

Thank you. We received our result today. DS is also is on the reserve list. SPS is DS first and only choice.