Helping your child to prepare for an online academic assessment like the ISEB or the UKiset is often a difficult and daunting task. Quality sample papers can be hard to come by and some students will be unfamiliar with the format of the questions, which means that they won’t be completely sure of what they are being asked, risking the chance of answering incorrectly and not being able to show off their skills and academic ability effectively.
However, despite preparation being hard for some, it is undoubtedly an advantage to know how to answer the types of question asked, as it will give students valuable transferable skills that will help them going forward in their lives.
For instance, many online assessments include an essay section where the student is asked to elaborate on a current, age-appropriate topic. Through practicing essay technique, or receiving guidance from a tutor, not only will they be able to answer the assessment’s question to the best of their ability, but they will also find secondary school, university homework, and exams far easier as they will know how to properly structure and plan an essay, as well as have the confidence to do so.
Partially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many top British independent schools have begun to rely more heavily on assessment tools to assist them with admissions. One reason for this is that candidates obviously do not have to be physically present at the school in order to take the test, therefore making conditions ‘Covid-friendly’. It has also meant there is less need for schools’ admissions teams to have to take the time to set and mark each paper as many of the online assessments are adaptive and auto-marking. This is beneficial to both school and student, as it cuts down the time on the decision-making process, and also eradicates any risk of discrepancies between markers.
The UK Independent Schools’ Entry test (UKiset) is one of the most widely-used online academic assessment tools by British independent schools. In the past its main candidates have tended to be international students coming from overseas schools into the British curriculum, as a means of assessing their skills in English, Maths, and non-verbal reasoning, as well as providing a method of comparison to their peers in top British independent schools. But, with growing awareness of the challenges facing young people today, and the damage that school closures have done to many a child’s confidence, it is of great benefit to understand your child’s capabilities, in order to allow them to freely develop their skills without any added stresses, even if they have been in the British curriculum all of their lives.
So how can one prepare? For something like the UKiset, one of the best places to start is to focus on fundamental English and Maths skills. Vocabulary and grammar are imperative, and students should practice verbal and spatial reasoning, as the more familiar they become with the style of the question, the easier they will find it to recognise patterns when it comes to taking the assessment.
At Gabbitas, we understand that communication is key when it comes to productive and effective preparation. Throughout the process of choosing the right tutor for your child, it is important that you take note of how they adapt to your child’s way of learning, and whether they involve your child and you in the planning of each session. This way, everyone is on the same page and your child can feel that they are in control of their own work, whilst also having the support of an expert during their sessions, and gaining the confidence to do their own out-of-session work.
For more information on academic assessment tools like UKiset and how Gabbitas can help those taking them prepare, check out this UKiset Prep FAQ with our assessment manager or get in touch with us at info@gabbitas.com.
This article from Isabel Sheehan at Gabbitas first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of School Report
