Winchester College Admissions Tutors
Thoughtful preparation for Winchester 13+ and Sixth Form entry
Parents familiar with older admissions routes sometimes assume that getting into Winchester is primarily about preparing for a formidable set of 13+ entrance papers.
The current process is more nuanced.
Winchester now uses a combination of information from the candidate’s school, General Ability Testing, written assessment and interview when making its earlier 13+ selection decisions.
That makes the ability to think and communicate especially important.
What does Winchester look for?
Winchester provides a particularly useful description of the personal qualities it wants to see at interview.
Alongside academic potential, it refers to qualities such as:
- curiosity;
- kindness;
- integrity;
- resilience; and
- willingness to contribute to house life.
This gives families a clue about what not to do.
Trying to turn an eleven-year-old into a highly polished mini-adult misses the point.
We want the pupil to become more confident and articulate while still remaining recognisably themselves.
How does Winchester 13+ admission work?
For the principal Year 9 route, Winchester considers several sources of information.
These include:
School references
The current school provides context around the child’s academic profile and character.
General Ability Testing
Winchester uses its GAT assessment to help understand academic potential.
Writing assessment
Candidates also undertake written assessment.
Interview
Shortlisted pupils attend an interview, normally involving a senior or pastoral member of staff.
Successful candidates receive their decisions well before Year 9.
Later, in Year 8, boys sit Winchester Entrance.
Importantly, Winchester currently explains that the final results of Winchester Entrance are used as an indicator of academic progress and to support transition rather than as the hurdle on which the original offer depends.
This is a significant difference from the way many parents imagine the process works.
Preparing for Winchester's General Ability Test
Ability testing is not something we approach by endlessly repeating near-identical questions.
Familiarity helps, but the underlying aim should be stronger reasoning.
We work on:
- identifying patterns;
- processing information efficiently;
- verbal reasoning;
- numerical logic;
- dealing with unfamiliar instructions;
- accuracy under pressure.
If a pupil consistently struggles with one reasoning domain, the tutor should understand why rather than simply prescribe another hundred questions.
Winchester interview preparation
There is a strong personal element to Winchester’s interview criteria.
Preparation can explore:
- what genuinely interests the pupil;
- how they respond to setbacks;
- their relationship with their current school;
- extracurricular interests;
- boarding;
- working with other people;
- academic ideas;
- books, hobbies and projects.
A useful mock interview should occasionally surprise the child.
Real conversation does not proceed from a script.
Winchester College 16+ admissions
Winchester’s Sixth Form is now open to both boys and girls, with day and boarding routes.
The current selection process considers school references, school reports, a personal statement, CV and General Ability Testing.
Shortlisted candidates proceed to further assessment and interview.
Candidates currently complete an extended piece of writing together with an additional humanities and/or STEM assessment linked to proposed A-Level choices, as well as academic and pastoral interviews.
This gives our 16+ tutors several areas to work on:
- subject depth;
- written argument;
- academic discussion;
- personal statement thinking;
- general reasoning;
- communicating genuine academic motivation.
Is Winchester right for my child?
Winchester has a distinctive academic and residential culture.
It can be particularly suitable for a pupil who enjoys learning for its own sake and who is comfortable in an environment with strong traditions but considerable intellectual independence.
For boarding candidates, house life matters enormously.
That is why qualities such as kindness and willingness to contribute are not decorative words in an admissions brochure. They have practical importance when young people live together.
Parents should therefore ask two questions together:
Can my child meet the academic standard?
and
Would my child enjoy living and learning here?
Both matter.
Winchester Admissions FAQs
Yes, but for the main 13+ route it now comes later in the process and Winchester states that entry is not dependent on those results.
General Ability Testing is used as part of the School's assessment of a candidate's academic potential.
Yes. Interview forms part of the selection process
Winchester's Sixth Form admits both boys and girls. The principal 13+ route remains for boys.