3 do's and don'ts if you are preparing for the UCS 4+ Assessment.
/Having prepared hundreds of boys to be very successful in their UCS 4+ Assessment over the last 15 years, I know a lot about this school. I still teach boys who go there and therefore I get quite a lovely insight into the school. UCS is an excellent school and my students are very happy and thriving there.
There are many misconceptions when it comes to preparing for UCS at 4+ so I am going to shed some light on a few of these.
Do this if you are preparing for the UCS 4+ Assessment (2026 entry)
Be aware that there are only 32 places available at 4+
When I think about how many boys I’ve prepared over the years and how much success we’ve had as a company, it fills me with so much pride. With such few places and with so much competition, getting into UCS at 4+ is incredibly challenging.
Visit the school
Book a tour of the school. It is vital that you visit the school and make sure that you love the school before applying your son for a place there.
Be aware that UCS will tell you not to prepare for their ‘play date’ assessment and be prepared to completely ignore this.
If you’ve never prepared for a 4+ Assessment and you are told this, you are highly likely to just do what you are told. Do not do this.
Don’t do this if you are preparing for the UCS 4+ Assessment (2026 entry)
Leave it until the last minute to start preparing for it.
I don’t know why but UCS is the one school that many of my clients leave way to late to start preparing for. This school needs 9-12 months of thorough Assessment preparation if you want your son to have the highest chances for success. Trust me on this.
Believe that it will be a ‘playdate’ Assessment.
This is the biggest source of frustration in parents that I speak to after the fact. They believed this and sent their child in to ‘play’ and they were not successful.
It is NOT a PLAYDATE.
Assume that your child can do everything that they are asked to do.
Don’t assume - check. Don’t assume - Practise with them every single day for a VERY… LONG. … TIME before their Assessment.
We will prepare your son to have the highest possible chances for success in his UCS 4+ Assessment.
