Wycombe Abbey: Admissions Process for 13 Plus (13+)/Year 9 Entry
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Wycombe Abbey, an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 19, was founded in 1896 by Miss Frances Dove, who later became Dame Frances. The school is predominantly a boarding school and is rightly proud of its heritage, continuing to this day to promote the values of Dame Frances Dove: trust, encouragement and respect.
Girls at Wycombe Abbey develop a lifelong love of learning thanks to committed and inspirational specialist teachers. A broad curriculum until the end of Year 11 (UV) allows pupils to discover where their interests and strengths lie. In Year 9 (UIV), traditional subjects, such as maths, English and science, are studied, as well as non-traditional subjects, such as drama, cookery and art.
The extra-curricular programme at Wycombe Abbey is extensive, with over 50 clubs and societies on offer, including Bee Society, Rock Society and Greenpower Car Club. If a pupil has an interest that is not already covered by a club or society, they are encouraged to set one up.
Excellent pastoral care creates a happy environment in which girls can flourish. All pupils receive a booklet at the start of term that outlines what they can do when they need some extra support. The Peer Listening Service, for example, offers girls the opportunity to talk to an older pupil about any struggles they are facing, and the School Chaplain is always ready to offer support and guidance.
Wycombe Abbey: Admissions Process for 13 Plus (13+)/Year 9 Entry
Visiting Wycombe Abbey is a great way to be able to explore its impressive facilities and appreciate how much it has to offer. For 13+ (UIV) entry, the school recommends that you visit when your daughter is in Year 6 or above.
The online registration form will need to be submitted by the beginning of June when your daughter is in Year 7. A £350 non-refundable registration fee will also need to be paid.
Stage 1: All registered candidates will be asked to sit the ISEB Common Pre-test at their current school, a recognised test centre or a local British Council Office during the autumn term of Year 8 before October. (Wycombe Abbey will provide you with all the information you need.) A reference from your daughter’s current school will also be requested for Stage 1.
Candidates who perform well in the ISEB Common Pre-test and have an excellent reference from their current school will be invited to Wycombe Abbey for Stage 2 of the admissions process.
Stage 2: In January of Year 8, selected candidates will attend Assessment Day at Wycombe Abbey. They will sit exams in English, maths, humanities and a modern foreign language. They will also be interviewed and complete a practical science assessment.
Those who do well in Stage 2 will receive a firm offer, or an offer to be on the waiting list, later in January.
Offers need to be accepted by the deadline in early March, and an acceptance deposit will need to be paid too.
Please be aware that Academic awards will be allocated based on candidates’ performances in the entrance exams.
Wycombe Abbey: Scholarships and Bursaries
For 13+ (UIV) entry, Academic scholarships and exhibitions will be awarded to girls who perform well throughout the admissions process, showing great academic ability and/or promise.
Music scholarships, Music exhibitions and Choral awards are also available. Application forms need to be submitted by the start of September the year before entry. Candidates should have reached at least Grade 6 on their main instrument for a Music award and should have plenty of experience of choral singing in parts for a Choral award.
None of the awards hold much monetary value, but they do carry a considerable amount of prestige.
A limited number of bursaries are available to academically able girls who are keen to make the most of all the opportunities Wycombe Abbey has to offer but whose families are unable to afford the school’s fees. Bursaries can cover up to 100% of the fees. Applications need to be submitted by the start of September of the year preceding entry.
Wycombe Abbey: School Details and ISEB Common Pre-Test Information
School address: Frances Dove Way, High Wycombe, HP11 1PE
County: Buckinghamshire
Admissions info: [email protected] or (+44) (0) 1494 897008
School type: Independent boarding and day school for girls, with a limited number of day places
Registration deadline: Beginning of June of Year 7
Entrance assessments for Year 9: ISEB Common Pre-test, English paper, maths paper, humanities paper, MFL paper, practical science assessment and interview
To join in Year 9 (UIV), for the first stage of the assessment process, your daughter will be asked to complete an online assessment called the ISEB Common Pre-test, which assesses skills in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The test provides a universal and standardised measure of attainment, ability and potential.
You will need to register your daughter for the ISEB Common Pre-test on the official ISEB website.
Wycombe Abbey: 13 Plus (13+)/Year 9 ISEB Common Pre-Test Exam Format
The ISEB Common Pre-test assessment comprises the following areas:
- English – evaluates reading comprehension and grammar (using cloze sentences, shuffled sentences and SPaG question types).
- Mathematics – measures mathematical ability relative to the national curriculum stage.
- Verbal Reasoning – tests thinking and the ability to solve problems using words.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning – assesses thinking with shapes, space, diagrams and pictures.
In total, the four parts of the ISEB Common Pre-test take 2 hours and 15 minutes to administer and complete. There is no audio component to any of the tests.
Preparing for the Wycombe Abbey 13 Plus (13+)/Year 9 ISEB Common Pre-Test
Doing well in the ISEB Common Pre-test is crucial because a solid performance will significantly increase the likelihood of your daughter being invited to Stage 2 of the admissions process. Preparation is key to performing well.
Here at Pretest Plus, we recommend that, as part of her preparation, your daughter works her way through our ISEB Common Pre-test Practice Tests for the following reasons:
- Our Practice Tests are highly accurate, which means they offer targeted practice.
- Your daughter will become familiar with what she will face in the real test, helping her to feel more confident in the lead-up to it.
- She will gain an understanding of the speed she needs to work at and will get better at answering questions quickly and accurately.
- The answers and explanations provided with the Practice Tests will enable her to learn from any mistakes she makes. This will mean fewer mistakes are made in the actual test, which could be the difference between being invited to Stage 2 or not.
Wycombe Abbey: ISEB Common Pre-Test Practice Materials
At Pretest Plus, we believe that a little preparation can go a long way to improving a student’s confidence and performance in entrance examinations. Read on to learn more!
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If you have any questions about any of our resources, please contact us.
he information provided about Wycombe Abbey was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of possible future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
Please note that Pretest Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publishers of the ISEB Pretest or any other test publisher and Wycombe Abbey.
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