Over the past few years, we have worked with countless students preparing for the Selective Schools Exam. Successfully gaining a place within a Selective School is obviously a once in a lifetime opportunity. And it can have a phenomenal impact on the educational possibilities of the lucky students who are selected. That said, Selective Schools are not the best choice for every child. Spectrum Tuition obviously encourages all of our students to strive for their potential. But we also think it’s important that parents and students give serious consideration to the difficulties that come with applying for, and even receiving a place in, a Selective School. In that spirit, here are four questions you should ask yourself if your child is considering sitting a Selective Schools Exam.

Does My Child Thrive In Competitive Environments?

For a lot of students, attending a Selective School can come as a crude shock. When they start, most Selective School students are familiar with being top of their class, and have generally found their schoolwork easy. However, once they start attending a Selective School, they suddenly find themselves surrounded by other extremely talented and motivated students. As a result, Selective Schools are often very competitive environments. Some students respond well to such environments; competition motivates them to work harder. However, some students find it overwhelming. It’s worth considering how your child responds to challenges before you sign them up for a Selective Schools Exam.

How Far Will My Child Have To Travel To Attend A Selective School?

The other things to consider is practicality. If your child does get selected to attend a selective school, how far will they have to travel? This may sounds like a silly question. But an extra hour or two of commute time each day can have a dramatic impact on your child’s ability to do their homework, participate in extracurricular activities and get a good night’s sleep.

Is My Child Ready For The Pressure Of A Selective Schools Exam?

Finally, you should also consider whether your child is ready for the pressures of a Selective Schools Exam. Students who sit the Selective Schools Exam have to tackle the most competitive challenges they have ever faced.. The exam requires students to write essays and narratives under extremely strict times limits, tackle complex logical problems, and demonstrate a familiarity with mathematical concepts that are often not taught until later years. While the exam presents an opportunity for talented and committed students, it can also be a very stressful obstacle.

This is not to say that we mean to discourage students from sitting the Selective Schools Exam; on the contrary, we at Spectrum Tuition believe that all students deserve the chance to pursue their goals. But we also think that it’s important for people to go into these exams as informed as possible about the challenges that lay ahead.

If you would like to know more about how you can help your child prepare for this exam, click here to sign up for our FREE 5 Week Selective Schools Online Course.