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Original poster

Winchester College - May 2015 Entrance Exam - preparation tips

33 replies

24663664 · 23/04/2014 21:38

After much research, bolstered by very helpful and kindly provided MN intelligence, we have concluded that (for DS) whilst many UK schools are fine music indeed, Win Coll is nothing short of grand opera.

DS has a firm place at Win Coll, subject to passing the May 2015 Entrance Exams. His prep school is really great, but we want to leave nothing to chance; we have been going through some of the May 2013 papers this Easter (English and Maths) which, amazingly, DS has positively enjoyed (almost as much as, ahem, his computer games).

Any tips to help DS secure his place at Win Coll in September 2015 would be so much appreciated. He wants to be sure that even on an off day, he can still pass the difficult exams. DS is desperately keen on Win Coll and he has no second choice. Thus the stakes are high...

Only just over a year to go now...

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
abear · 24/04/2014 14:46

24663664 we are in the same position as you so reading this with interest. Latin is certainly our problem and reading this I think we may need to get a tutor as our prep doesn't typically send boys to Winchester and I think it may be the only way to bridge the gap.

summerends · 24/04/2014 14:28

Only those sitting Election can go to College, conversely some of the highest performers in Election choose exhibitions so as to stay in their selected house. The advantage of sitting Election is particularly relevant for initial maths setting as the higher sets will be predominantly those who have attempted both or one of the Election papers. Top sets for Latin and other languages contain a mixture of Election and high performers from entrance. Obviously all this changes but sometimes the very fast pace and extension work in the top sets makes it more difficult to catch later.

Don't forget that a boy does not need to be strong in all areas. If your DS is very strong in maths and sciences he may enjoy tackling the election papers.

almapudden · 24/04/2014 14:10

If he doesn't sit the Election, he won't be promoted to College!

The Latin is very tricky but it's the first section of the paper which counts most. Make sure he knows his declensions and principal parts thoroughly - the grammar section only consists of about ten questions, but it's worth 30% of the paper, so can make up for a weak second translation.

The last section of the Latin paper is not AS standard (the Election is, though!) - in grammar terms it's equivalent to CE level 3, but the passage is very long and the syntax more challenging, largely due to the length of the sentences.

If your son's prep sends boys to Winchester, Eton, KCS, St Paul's or Westminster they should be able to prepare him for the Latin without any problem, but he will need to familiarise himself with the layout of the paper if the school doesn't provide special Winchester prep sessions.

Original poster
24663664 · 24/04/2014 13:54

Thanks Summerends, an interesting, goodly and kind thought. We don't think that DS is likely to be Election material - but that does not bother him in the slightest. He just wants to get into Win Coll and tells us that even if he is bottom of the class, he still wants a place! Dedication indeed, not everyone can be top after all!

However, you have my neurones firing now. If a boy does very well in the Entrance Exams, will HM perchance boot him out of Chawker's, cover him in black and confine him to College? Would be facinated to know! Thanks again Summerends for the insights, 24663664.

OP posts:
summerends · 24/04/2014 08:18

24663664 I would have thought he and the school should be considering the Election if he is doing well in the entrance papers and enjoying them a year before he will be taking them.

Original poster
24663664 · 24/04/2014 07:09

Dear PC and HG - very helpful indeed. Synthesising what you are each saying is much helping with a strategy which will get DS into Win Coll. Thanks again, we feel much better, 24663664.

OP posts:
happygardening · 23/04/2014 23:33

Does your prep regularly send boys to Win Coll if yes then frankly I wouldn't worry they know what they are doing.
The ones to watch is the Latin the final section is AS level standard and the marking is far from generous, the last couple of questions on the maths paper and the MFL paper they are expected to know all tenses, and unlike CE you don't know exactly what will be asked in the oral. I think the boys are expected to use all tenses in the oral in a role play: I lost my train ticket yesterday and would like to purchase another ticket today for tomorrow's train. We had this book ?100 commen French verbs and all the tenses and we just went through it and a Latin vocabulary list and we just went over them all.
I think as I said before there is no pass mark you just get a grade A-D most boys get a mixture of B's, C's and D's and some get the odd A. When the results are given to the school your told approximately where they've come, top 25 etc. every year a couple fail but you'd have to do disastrously.

poppycarew · 23/04/2014 23:13

Have PMed you