We welcome girls with a broad range of academic abilities, reflecting our belief that each child has unique talents and potential to offer. Our assessment process is designed to be as relaxed as possible, so that we can understand your daughter's potential, as much as her current levels of achievement.
St Mary's School entrance assessment process for applicants from Years 3 to 10, for whom English is an additional language
Dependant on age, applicants will take various elements of the St Mary's Online Assessment, which is a cognitive ability test.
Please refer to the table below, for the category the applicants will take:
| Age |
Mathematics |
Verbal Reasoning |
Non-Verbal Reasoning |
English |
Creative Comprehension |
| 7+ |
✓
|
✓
|
x
|
✓
|
x
|
| 8+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
x
|
| 9+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
x
|
| 10+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
x
|
| 11+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
| 12+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
| 13+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
| 14+ |
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
Please use the link below to view some example questions in each age category for the different sections applicants will be assessed on.
Sample questions for the Online Assessment
Online assessment for Reading and Listening - this is for Year 7 to Year 10 applicants only.
An additional online assessment will assess CEFR levels for each applicant in Reading and Listening. Please use the link below to try some sample questions.
Sample questions for the CEFR Assessment
Written assessment.
All applicants are required to complete an age-appropriate written assessment.
Assessments for Year 12 (age 16+)
Applicants for Year 12 take the online UKiset test; an assessment specifically designed for international applicants to British independent schools.
This test can be taken at approved test centres around the world, or in person at St Mary’s School, Cambridge. Once the test has been taken, UKiset send us a full electronic report of the results. Subject to performance in the UKiset test, students are invited to interview (usually via Zoom).
Further information on UKiset for prospective applicants to Year 12
English qualifications
Students need to have strong speaking and written, reading and listening skills to be clear, fluent and confident communicators in English.
This is required, to enable them to access the curriculum and to work collaboratively with teachers and other students, and to ensure success in public examinations.
Although we do not ask for a formal qualification before starting with us, but the following offer approximate levels:
- Joining Senior School in Year 7 and Year 8: IELTS level 4.0
- Joining Senior School in Year 9 and Year 10: IELTS level 5.0
- Joining Sixth Form: IELTS level 6.0
International applicants for whom English is a first language
Junior School entry
Dependant on age, applicants will take various assessments:
- Reception, Year 1, Year 2: An informal assessment in person or via Zoom, including puzzles, numbers and creative tasks.
- Year 3 to Year 6: An online assessment in mathematics; verbal and non-verbal reasoning; and a creative writing assessment.
Senior School and Sixth Form entry
Dependant on age, applicants will take various assessments:
- Year 7 to Year 9: written assessments in English and Mathematics
- Year 10: written assessments in English, Mathematics and Science
- Lower Sixth: written assessments in each of the proposed A Level subject options. Certain subjects require additional assessments:
- Art and Textiles: portfolio submission
- Drama and Music: written and practical assessments, in person or via Zoom.
- Modern languages: oral conversation in their chosen language(s), in person or via Zoom.
Subject to their written assessment performance, applicants are interviewed by a member of the Senior Leadership Team, either in person or via Zoom.
We make the process as relaxed as possible. This allows us to understand each girl’s potential as much as her current levels of achievement.
We are interested to hear about academic interests or achievements, extra-curricular pursuits such as sport, music and community service, plus any future aims, including university or apprenticeship aspirations – particularly if applying for A Levels at our Sixth Form.
A copy of the applicant's latest school report will be requested. References may also be requested from previous schools. If the applicant is currently attending an International or British school where the curriculum is delivered in English, a reference from that school will be requested.