Online Test Preparation for UK Students, From 11+ to A-Levels
One-to-one online test preparation for every exam that shapes a UK school career, from grammar school entrance at 11 through to A-Levels and university admissions tests. Our online exam preparation always starts from a genuine diagnostic, matched to the exact board and format your child will actually sit.
We are recommended by parents & students
Every effective plan for 11+, GCSE or A-Level starts with one honest assessment.
The UK Exams That Matter Most
Each one plays a different role in a UK school career. Knowing which is which saves months of preparation aimed at the wrong thing.
11 Plus
Year 5–6 · Grammar Entry
The entrance exam for grammar schools and many selective independents, sat in Year 6. Formats vary by region — GL Assessment, CEM-style and school-set papers all test different things.
- English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Format depends on your local authority
- Best started in Year 5
13 Plus
Year 6–8 · Senior Independent
The route from prep school into independent senior schools, run by the ISEB rather than a national exam board. Covers the Common Pre-Test and Common Entrance in turn.
- ISEB Common Pre-Test, then Common Entrance
- Compulsory English, Maths & Science
- Scholarship papers for stronger candidates
GCSE
Year 10–11 · Key Stage 4
Sat by almost every UK student at 16, graded 9-1 across AQA, Edexcel and OCR. A grade 4 is a standard pass and a grade 5 a strong pass, with Foundation and Higher tiers in Maths and Science.
- 9-1 grading across all boards
- Foundation vs. Higher tier decisions
- Combined vs. Triple Science
iGCSE
Year 10–11 · Independent Schools
The International GCSE sits alongside standard GCSE at UK independent schools, set by Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel International, and assessed almost entirely by final written exams.
- Cambridge (A*-G) or Edexcel International (9-1)
- Little to no coursework component
- Fully recognised by UK universities
A-Levels
Year 12–13 · Sixth Form
Two-year linear qualifications that carry the most weight in a UK university application. Most students take three subjects, with A*-E grades converting into UCAS Tariff points.
- Linear exams at the end of Year 13
- AQA, Edexcel & OCR specifications
- UCAS points feed university offers
University Admissions Tests
Year 12–13 · Pre-UCAS
A separate hurdle many competitive courses add on top of A-Levels. Medicine and Law each have their own test, and several Russell Group universities now use the newer UAT-UK suite for STEM and humanities.
- UCAT for Medicine & Dentistry
- LNAT for Law
- TMUA, ESAT & TARA for STEM & humanities
GCSE or iGCSE? Understanding the Choice
Most state school families never face this decision, since their school only offers standard GCSE. Independent school families often do, because a growing number of UK independent schools teach some or all subjects as the International GCSE instead.
Both qualifications sit at the same level and both count equally with UK sixth forms, colleges and universities. The practical difference is in how each is assessed: GCSE blends final exams with a small amount of non-exam assessment in some subjects, while iGCSE is set by Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel International and marked almost entirely on the final written papers.
That exam-only structure is one reason independent schools favour iGCSE — it tends to prepare students well for the fully exam-based assessment style they'll meet again at A-Level.
Side by Side
Set by
GCSE: AQA, Edexcel or OCR · iGCSE: Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel International
Grading
GCSE: 9-1 nationally · iGCSE: Cambridge stays A*-G, Edexcel International uses 9-1
Assessment style
GCSE mixes exams with some non-exam assessment · iGCSE is almost entirely exam-based
Who typically sits it
State schools and most independents sit GCSE · Many UK independent and international schools sit iGCSE
University recognition
Both are treated as directly equivalent by UK universities and UCAS
Specific grading and assessment rules are set by Ofqual, Cambridge International and Pearson — always confirm the current specification with your child's school.
The UK Exam Timeline, Year by Year
UK exams rarely stand alone — the habits and foundations built for one stage carry directly into the next.
Year 5–6
Structured 11+ preparation for grammar school and selective independent entry, building English, Maths and the reasoning skills primary school doesn't normally teach.
Year 6–8
13+ families sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test first, then work through Common Entrance papers in Year 8 to confirm a place at their chosen senior school.
Year 9–11
Foundations for GCSE or iGCSE are laid in Year 9, with focused revision building through Year 10 and 11 toward final exams sat under AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel International.
Year 12–13
A-Level study deepens across two linear years, with UCAS predicted grades, personal statements and, for some courses, the EPQ running alongside the syllabus itself.
Year 13, Autumn
University admissions tests — UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT or TARA depending on the course — usually sit in October or November, timed to land before UCAS deadlines.
How We Deliver Effective Online Exam Preparation
Score and grade improvements come from fixing specific gaps, not from working through a generic course from the front cover to the back.
Diagnose Before Teaching
A proper diagnostic assessment first, marked against the exact board and tier your child sits. Two students with the same predicted grade often need completely different plans.
Board-Specific Past Papers
Mark schemes, question wording and formula sheets vary by exam board, so we drill from the actual GL Assessment, ISEB, AQA, Edexcel, OCR or Cambridge International papers your child faces.
Fix the Foundation
Where a grade is capped by an earlier gap in maths or comprehension, exam technique alone won't move it. We rebuild the underlying skill, which takes longer but lasts through every exam that follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What UK families ask us most often about choosing exams, timing preparation and what to expect from online tutoring.
Book Your Free UK Trial Lesson
Tell us which exam your child is working towards — 11+, 13+, GCSE, iGCSE, A-Levels or a university admissions test — and we'll match you with a UK curriculum specialist for a genuine, no-obligation diagnostic session.
Find Out Exactly Where Your Child Stands
The free session is a genuine diagnostic. We identify what's holding a grade back, confirm which exam board and tier applies, and tell you honestly how much work getting there will take.
No credit card required