Chapters
In a sense, you might say that this school likes to tantalise. Even on their website, the administrators withhold certain aspects of the school's curriculum vitae. For instance, a casual inquiry might not yield the fact that St Paul's has a girls' school as well as a preparatory school welcoming 7+ boys. That certain mystique notwithstanding, St Paul's School has plenty to offer:
- an outstanding record in competitive sports, particularly rowing and rugby
- a stellar record of academic performance as shown by students' GCSE and A-Level results
- access to the International GCSE (IGCSE) exams in science and maths
- a superior track record of enrolment in the best higher education schools
- a consistent ranking as the finest all boys' school in England
Getting into St Paul's School isn't necessarily as time-consuming and stressful as, say, getting into Eton College. But make no mistake: entry into St Paul's is competitive at every level. We aim to show you how you help prepare your son for success. Outlined below is a short guide on how to get into St Paul's School, with a focus on the maths and English test, and the interview. Although these stages are challenging, having the right preparation can greatly improve their chances of success.
Side note: James is an energetic and passionate Superprof tutor; he is a secondary school entrance specialist. He's helped students win places at top schools across London, including Westminster, St Paul’s School, Queensgate and Francis Holland. The information contained in this article is cribbed directly from his experiences. It will be an invaluable resource for getting into any top School in London.
St Paul's School Entrance Exams: the English Test
As a preamble, we should state that all Year 6 11+ candidates are required to take the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) online pre-test. This is not unusual; many schools, including Radley College, require prospective students to take some sort of entrance examination. By January, Year 6 candidates should have already taken the test. Assuming candidates are successful, they will be invited back for the second round. This is a short interview along with written examinations in English and Mathematics.
The English test for St Paul's School is a passage that tests students' reading comprehension. It requires extended written answers. Candidates will need to be able to understand a complex passage; their responses must be more detailed than a typical 11+ might give. This exam should last no more than 20 minutes. Your son will have fewer questions to answer but they will be worth more points. For example, a single question may be worth 15 marks or more.
This advanced type of testing is different than for typical 11+ papers. Standard papers for that age group are often shorter, less intensive and with questions worth one or two marks each. As a result, the St Paul's test is a lot harder to score well on. But then, we did warn you that entry into St Paul's is competitive.
How to Prepare
Your son should get used to reading higher-level passages with challenging themes, intricate language devices and vocabulary. Candidates will have to be able to write longer answers with several points, quotes and analysis to pick up all the marks – also known as ‘PEE’ (point, example, and explanation). Unlike entry exams for Haberdashers' Boys School, inference, or 'reading between the lines' is another important skill St Paul's tests on. Students will also have to be able to spot devices like metaphor and simile and comment on their effects. Asking why the writer used them is an effective way to train this skill.
Typical practice questions may include "What is your impression of the character in the story?". Alternately, you might challenge them to "Comment on language devices and how effective they are". Finally, be sure to ask them "What is your personal response to this passage and why?".
Nineteenth Century authors like Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle are ideal preparation for this test. They have challenging language and themes for an 11+ student to parse. Your son should read a few titles such as those to get used to thinking about the questions and skills above. James recommends that candidates write down any words they don't know and look them up. Practising for at least 2-3 hours a week leading up to the exam will optimise your son's chances of success.
Although prose is favoured, don't neglect to read poetry, as well. It is always possible that the ISEB could change the exam's format or, at least, its questions. Some schools, such as the City of London Boys' School are starting to ask candidates to compare passages as well. Perhaps incorporating such practice exercises into your revisions would be a good idea.
As with all exams, speed is important. It is vital to practise against the clock. In 30 minutes or less, the best candidates for entry can produce over a page (A4) of writing. As a general guide, the ISEB 11 plus papers available from Galore Park are a good starting point.
St Paul's School Entrance Exams: the Mathematics Test
The mathematics paper requires written answers; it is not in a multiple-choice format. In recent years, this exam changed from a mix of types of questions covering different maths topics; it took approximately 20 minutes to complete. Today's maths entrance exam is based on the 11+ maths syllabus. Unlike the English exam, you needn't worry about preparing at higher levels.
However, the questions are different from the usual tests. They often require multiple steps to solve and incorporate unusual wording to catch students out. They also require students to apply their knowledge in practical ways to solve problems. Students will need to be able to think quickly and confidently.
How to Prepare
You and your son should go over the most challenging areas of the 11+ maths curriculum. Elements include ratio, symmetry, and cubed and squared numbers. Naturally, the entrance exam will feature algebra, volume and nth term. Practice the ‘right’ types of questions, like the one illustrated here:
I have a swimming pool measuring 3m by 6m by 12m and a container carrying a volume of water of 2.5m cubed. It takes me 6 minutes to fill and empty the container, and I have a 14min break every hour. How long will it take me to empty the swimming pool, including breaks?
This question requires candidates to understand volume and apply it to a problem. Notice that it doesn’t mention volume in the question – the student has to spot this. There are also a number of different steps needed to get to the answer, so it is easy to make a mistake. Underlining keywords, phrases and numbers in the question and then showing the work is vital for these kinds of problems.
Speed, as well as accuracy, is important. Students should practise against the clock and leave time to go back and check for mistakes. Again, as a general guide, the ISEB 11+ papers available from Galore Park are a good starting point.
St Paul's School Entrance: the Interview
The interviews for St Paul's School are much like the ones students undergo to get into Harrow School and other boys' schools. It will consist of questions about the student and why they want to enrol in the school. The school may ask you to bring a personal item to talk about.
The interviews are generally short (up to 15 minutes). Formats may vary but they're often conducted one-on-one. Sometimes, interviewers will mix in subject-specific questions, such as a bit of mental maths or a question about the use of metaphors in literature.
Keep in mind that St Paul's School is looking for students who can think for themselves and back up their thinking with evidence. They won't accept learners who just repeat what they are taught. Students shouldn’t be afraid to have an opinion as long as they can back it up with sound reasoning.
How to Prepare
Interviews are as much about your son's personality as anything else. That concept rather negates the idea of preparation. However, James offers some helpful tips:
- Be happy and confident - remember to smile!
- Give examples – if a student says they are interested in sport, they should say what they have achieved. For example, are they on the 1st team for their chosen sport, and have they won prizes?
- Rehearse before the real thing. Get a teacher or an adult who doesn't know the student to go through some questions
- Read a newspaper - it's good to know what's going on in the world
- Be prepared to read something out loud - they may ask you to do this
- Read a book the student enjoys, and be able to talk about it – what is their favourite part of the book, or their favourite character?
- Do research into the school and be able to talk about why the student likes it - visiting and looking over the website are great things to help with this
- Choose an item the student is really interested in and can talk about it passionately - for example if the student loves a particular artist, they could take along a book about them or an example of their work
- Be honest! If the student gives incorrect information the interviewer will probably be able to tell. If the student doesn’t understand a problem or question, it’s best to tell the interviewer. They will respect the student’s honesty
- Have questions prepared for the school. This way, the student can show their enthusiasm for the school. Looking over the school website is a great way of doing this. Students could ask about facilities, school trips or sporting activities
For more information and advice, including past interviews and exam questions, please contact James M through his Superprof profile. A Cambridge graduate James has been tutoring English and Philosophy since 2005 specialising in 11+ and general primary/secondary entrance. Pro tip: James and other Superprof Admissions tutors can help your son get into Dulwich College, too.
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