Wycombe Abbey School Ultimate Guide – Everything That You Need To Know

11+ Entry Requirements

Stage 1: Online ISEB Common Pre-Test

•  Candidates must arrange to take the online ISEB Common Pre-Test at their current school, a recognised UK test centre, or a local British Council Office by November.
• Wycombe Abbey’s Admissions department will provide the necessary details, and results will be automatically sent to the school.

Stage 2: Assessment Day

• The Assessment Day at Wycombe Abbey, held in November before the proposed year of entry, allows candidates to experience school life and for the school to evaluate their academic suitability.
• All candidates must attend this day at Wycombe Abbey, where they will have an individual interview, participate in small group activities, and complete entrance exams in English and Mathematics (1 hour each).
• No preparation is needed for these exams; sample questions will be provided in the autumn term.
• A reference from the candidate’s current school is also required.
• Firm offers are made in December based on performance during the Assessment Day, including exams, interviews, and group activities.
• Accepted places require a deposit to be paid by early March (date to be confirmed).

Stage 3: Scholarship Examinations

• Candidates who receive a firm offer after the 11+ Assessment Day may be invited to take the Wycombe Abbey Scholarship Examinations in January of the proposed entry year.
• The scholarship exams include English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities papers, and a Language Aptitude Test.
• Sample papers for the scholarship exams are not available.

13+ Entry Requirements

Stage 1: Online ISEB Common Pre-Test

• The first step involves taking an online Pre-Test, which must be arranged at your daughter’s current school, a recognised test centre in the UK, or a local British Council Office by October.
• Wycombe Abbey Admissions will provide the necessary details for the test, and results will be sent directly to the school.
• A reference from your daughter’s current school is required before the Pre-Test.
• The Headmistress, Deputy Head (Academic), and Director of Admissions will review the Pre-Test scores and school references.
• Selected candidates will be invited to proceed to the next stage of the assessment process.

Stage 2: Assessment Day – Selected Candidates

• The second stage is an Assessment Day for chosen candidates, offering a glimpse of life at Wycombe Abbey and evaluating academic potential and suitability.
• This Assessment Day will occur at Wycombe Abbey in January of the year your daughter is in Year 8.
• During the day, your daughter will have an individual interview with a senior staff member and complete entrance examinations.
• All candidates will take exams in English, Mathematics, Humanities, a Modern Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish, or Mandarin Chinese), and a practical Science assessment.
• Optional exams in Latin and Greek are also available.
• Entrance exam results and performance on the Assessment Day will determine firm offers, waiting list positions, and scholarships, which will be announced in January.

16+ Entry Requirements

Candidates should have achieved the equivalent of at least six GCSE/IGCSE/GCE passes at grades A*/A/9/8/7, with A*/9/8 in each chosen A-level subject. Most candidates will exceed these requirements.

Stage 1: UKiset Assessment

• Registration: After registering, candidates must arrange to take the UKiset assessment for Wycombe Abbey.
•  Test Details: The UKiset test is an adaptive online assessment that evaluates Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Numerical skills, a creative writing exercise and an English Placement Test. The test lasts two and a half hours.
• Submission Deadline: Valid UKiset test results should be submitted between January and July (in Year 10 or equivalent). 
• Test Arrangements: The UKiset team will coordinate the test schedule. Assessments can be taken at approved test centres in the UK or accredited centres/British Council offices internationally.

Stage 2: Review and Notification

• Submission: By 31 July, submit the candidate’s Summer Term report and a summary of co-curricular interests.
• Review Process: The UKiset scores and school report will be reviewed by the Headmistress, Deputy Head (Academic), Director of Sixth Form, and Director of Admissions.
• Notification: Applicants will be informed in September if they progress to Stage 3. A registration fee will be required to continue.

Stage 3: Entrance Examination and Interview

• Examinations: Candidates who meet the standards will be invited to Wycombe Abbey in November (Year 11 or equivalent) for Sixth Form Entrance examinations.
• Reference and Grades: A confidential reference and predicted GCSE/IGCSE/GCE grades from the current school will be requested.
• Interview: Candidates will have a 20-minute interview with a senior staff member.
• Subject Papers: Applicants will take exams in the four subjects they plan to study at A level. Maths and Further Maths count as one subject with one paper. Those choosing Further Maths will need an additional subject as their fourth paper. Art candidates will have a practical assessment and must bring their portfolio.
• New Subjects: Candidates must take the relevant paper for subjects not previously studied at GCSE/IGCSE/GCE level. These exams are designed to assess aptitude and will be marked accordingly.