Independent School Entrance Assessments
Specialist one-to-one tuition helping students build the skills, confidence and exam technique needed for independent school entrance assessments.
"I passed the exam into Heriot's! (...) If I didn't have your help, I would've probably not passed. After all the hard work I've done with you, I think it's all paid off."
Private School Entrance Exam Preparation
At LS Tuition, we have extensive experience preparing students for Private School Entrance Exams across Scotland and England. Our tutors support children preparing for entry from Early Years (Nursery) through to S1 in Scotland, as well as 11+ Grammar School entrance in England, building the academic skills and exam techniques required for success.
We are proud to have a 100% success record, with our students gaining places at a range of leading private schools. Many of our families return to us year after year, and our parents and students are always happy to share their experiences.
A thorough initial assessment is an essential part of our preparation process. For entrance exam preparation, this assessment lasts two hours, allowing us to carefully evaluate your child’s strengths and identify areas for development across the key exam subjects, including English and Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
This comprehensive assessment enables us to create a focused and personalised preparation plan, ensuring each child receives the targeted support they need to approach their entrance exams with confidence.
To find out more or to arrange an assessment, please visit our Book a Call page.
"Just to let you know that H has been offered a place in S3 at Edinburgh Academy. I am delighted. I have recommended you to a friend whose daughter is really into her creative writing. Many thanks for all your support. I believe it made the difference for this assessment."
Our Structured Preparation Pathway
Over many years of supporting students through competitive entrance assessments, we have developed a carefully structured preparation pathway designed specifically for private school entrance exams.
This framework forms the foundation of our exam preparation programme and reflects extensive experience working with students applying to selective schools. Our work in this area originally began with preparing pupils in England for competitive grammar school entrance examinations before bringing this experience to Scotland, where LS Tuition now supports students preparing for a range of independent school entrance assessments. Over time, we have developed a strong understanding of what schools are looking for and the preparation required for students to approach these assessments with confidence.
Rather than relying on generic tutoring or short-term exam practice, our approach follows a progressive structure that develops the core academic skills, reasoning ability, and exam technique required for success.
In recent years we have also seen a growing emphasis on reasoning skills within entrance assessments. While verbal and non-verbal reasoning have long been recognised components of selective examinations in England, they have historically been less common within Scottish entrance processes. However, a number of schools have now begun introducing non-verbal reasoning papers, reflecting wider assessment trends also seen in international school systems and CAT4-style assessments.
Because these types of reasoning skills are rarely taught as part of the standard school curriculum, many students encounter them for the first time during entrance preparation. Our programme therefore includes structured development of both verbal and non-verbal reasoning to ensure that students are familiar with this style of thinking and are able to approach these questions with confidence.
Each student moves through this pathway at a pace appropriate to their individual learning needs. Lessons are carefully designed to strengthen underlying understanding, build confidence, and gradually introduce the demands of entrance examinations.
Preparation is not only about learning content. For many students, these assessments represent their first experience of a formal testing environment. Gradual exposure to assessment-style questions helps students become familiar with the format and expectations, which can make a significant difference to how confidently they approach the exam day.
Because this framework has been refined over many years of direct teaching experience, it allows us to guide each student methodically towards exam readiness while maintaining a positive and supportive learning experience.
Each student’s preparation pathway is introduced and adapted following their initial assessment, ensuring that the programme reflects their individual strengths, learning needs, and target schools.
Exam Dates Across Edinburgh
Click on each school to read more information.
No formal entrance assessment
No formal entrance assessment
No formal entrance assessment
Assessment by Appointment
November, December & January
No formal entrance assessment
No formal entrance assessment
October to April
November
November, December & January
November & January
Assessment by Appointment
Assessment by Appointment
Admission by Audition (throughout the year)
No formal entrance assessment
"2 out of 2!!! She is immensely pleased and proud of herself, as are we! She has a difficult decision to make…Thank you SO much for all of your help getting her through the assessments. The Private School Whisperer of Edinburgh strikes again!"
Exam Layout
Literacy: Comprehension, Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Talking and Listening
Maths: Numeracy and Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning
Click each exam area below for more information
Children are assessed on their ability to read and comprehend a text including all means of Literal, Inferential and Evaluative questioning. Children are assessed on their understanding and ability to use various literary devices such as simile, onomatopoeia etc.
Children are assessed on their ability to structure and write an extended text on a given topic.
Children are assessed on their ability to reason, analyse and problem solve within Literacy by way of word puzzles.
Children are assessed on their ability to share ideas on a given topic and respond to others’ ideas.
Children are assessed on their knowledge of Maths and Numeracy across the Curriculum.
Children are assessed on their ability to reason, analyse and problem solve within Maths and Numeracy by way of number puzzles.
Children are assessed on their ability to read and comprehend a text including all means of Literal, Inferential and Evaluative questioning. Children are assessed on their understanding and ability to use various literary devices such as simile, onomatopoeia etc.
Children are assessed on their ability to structure and write an extended text on a given topic.
Children are assessed on their ability to reason, analyse and problem solve within Literacy by way of word puzzles.
Children are assessed on their ability to share ideas on a given topic and respond to others’ ideas.
Children are assessed on their knowledge of Maths and Numeracy across the Curriculum.
Children are assessed on their ability to reason, analyse and problem solve within Maths and Numeracy by way of number puzzles.