UKiset (United Kingdoms Independent Schools Entry Test) is a test frequently used in UK primary and secondary schools as a tool of assessing a student’s academic prowess, used around ages from 9-18. 

It is divided into three portions.

The second part of the UKiset is an English test, which will come in a multiple choice format to test language skills. This portion of the test is also adaptive. 

Some of the sample questions can be referred to here.

Practice papers: Students can familiarise themselves with the format and layout of the reading and listening test using the free online practice tests provided by Cambridge .

Reading practice: We encourage students to cultivate a reading habit and to be exposed to all kinds of texts which will naturally expand their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Reading age-appropriate books, stories, news articles, blogs, can also help a student gain more insight into different writing styles. You can refer to Keystone's reading list for Reception- Year 3 and Year 4 - Year 8 reading list.

Listening practice: We recommend that students explore audiobooks, watch the news, educational documentaries, or age-appropriate TED talks which can help improve their listening and understanding of English. 

The final section of the UKiset will judge how students write their essays. While the previous sections test how a student perceives language, this section will test how a student expresses language. The essays written will be graded based on composition, structure and ideas. Part of the grade is dependent on handwriting, so students are encouraged to keep their handwriting neat and tidy.

Different students will be expected to write in different ways, so there is no 'one true answer' of what to write. In fact, students who write on opposite sides of an argumentative essays may end up with the same marks, provided that they have given an argument for their case, logical reasoning and a solid structure.

Another pre-test to take into account is the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board), which is given to children between the ages of 10 and 12, and is likely to be used as a supplement in their applications to secondary schools, which is the UK equivalent of middle school. This test is similar to UKiset as both include assessing a student’s mathematical prowess, how they understand and express language and in general, logic-based questions. In contrast, since this test is not applied for a wider range of ages, it cannot test a student’s academic progress compared to students of their own age, and can only be taken once per academic year. Regardless, both tests hold equal merit and a good score on either is considered a suitable supplement for consideration into schools.

On a comparative basis, a student taking a UKiset would be more flexible, since it can be taken once every 6 months, and their grade may be tested against students of the same age. However, ISEB can only be taken once every academic year. In this case, several may choose UKiset because they view its report as more ‘comprehensive’.

Some independent schools may even require a report of a student’s ISEB or UKiset results attached to their application, so these results are important to the likelihood of a student getting into their preferred school.

It may be considered impossible to study for these tests the same way a student may be able to study for an academic or government entrance exam, given that most of the questions are logic-based, and there is no clear syllabus to study for, as well as nothing to memorize. There are also no past papers available, However, there are practice exercises available online at the available UKiset website, for the first two parts, which will be multiple choice.

While there are no past papers available, it is possible to generate possible questions and train students on what kind of questions will be available. Multiple choice is often hailed as the easiest and most favorable exam style by students, but under the pressure of time and several questions to finish, students may falter under pressure and pick the wrong answer.

In addition to this, several students are reported as having practiced for all three sections, but are nervous when it comes to taking the test itself, making basic mistakes such as pressing an answer without being sure of the answer, and finding out that they cannot go back and edit their previous answer, given the adaptive nature of the first two phases of the UKiset. While it may seem like an insignificant part of examination preparation, a student’s nerves can be their best friend or their worst enemy.

Our tutors will also advise additional methods on how to mentally prepare for this set of tests, giving time management tips for every phase of the UKiset. Getting stuck on one question gets you nowhere, and it is better to be mentally prepared to obtain a possibly wrong answer and continue with the test, rather than to fuss over a question for more time than it requires, and result in a low grade average. Students have also been known to be stuck at essay questions, trying to form ideas and plot out their own argument. We at Tuttee believe practice makes perfect, and it has been shown that once you have written enough argumentative essays, short stories or persuasive narratives, ideas will be easier to come by, no matter the topic and whether it has or has not been covered before.