Familiarisation Test FAQs

Please note, these FAQs relate to last year's Familiarisation Tests - they will be updated as required for the 2025 tests in due course.

Once bookings are open, all available sessions are shown on the website. There will be no sessions opening at a later date. There are a maximum of 160 places in each session.

To be guaranteed a space in your chosen session, early booking is recommended, it is on a ‘first-come-first-served' basis. All bookings must be made online through our booking system.

Registration Process

The email address that you use to book your ticket will be the only email address that we can use for any correspondence including dealing with any queries that you have, arrangements for the test session and any other reminders that we send out. Therefore, please make bookings for your child only, under your child's name do not book using your name.

Due to Data Protection legislation, personal details are removed on an annual basis.

The link to the booking site will be available earlier in the year on Eventbrite, follow here for updates.

The cost of the Familiarisation Tests is £60 (plus £5.71 Eventbrite fee).

During all the Familiarisation Tests, the 2 papers (verbal and non-verbal reasoning) are the same. However, your child is more than welcome to do the test more than once.

1. Arrival Time and Parking

Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the session is due to start. On your arrival, you will be directed to the appropriate section of the school building. A queue will form and your child will then be registered and escorted to the Sports Hall. Parents/carers cannot accompany their children beyond the entrance.

There will be parking available on the field.

2. Who can attend the Familiarisation Tests

Our Familiarisation Tests are open to all children, boys and girls, that are interested in experiencing the atmosphere of selection tests. Test questions are tailored for the Newstead Wood School Selection Test, however, the school is only providing the venue for the exams and is in no other way involved in running the tests.

The Familiarisation Tests are designed for children in Year 5 who will be sitting secondary school selection tests in the next school year. The Familiarisation Tests are also open to children in other year groups who would like ot experience it.

3. Duration & Pick Up

The expected overall duration is 2 hours. There are 2 papers each lasting 45 minutes, with a short break of approximately 15 minutes between the papers to allow children to go to the toilet. Please arrange the pickup at the time that will be indicated in your session. Your child must be collected by a responsible adult.

Please note that regardless of the weather, there are no indoor facilities for parents/carers, nor can we provide access to toilets or other facilities for safeguarding reasons.

No parents/carers are allowed to remain on-site or in the school facilities.

4. Format of the Test

There will be 2 papers – one for verbal and one for non-verbal reasoning, both in multiple-choice format. Children will use answer sheets to mark their responses and will have to hand over both tests papers and answer sheets at the end.

5. What to bring

Children should bring the following items:

A copy of the booking e-mail showing your child's name
A transparent pencil case or bag including two HB or B pencils, a sharpener, a soft rubber, a ruler
A bottle of water without labels
A snack for the break if you feel it is necessary (products containing nuts of any kind are not permitted in the school)

Not allowed: Mobile phones and other smart technology, calculators, dictionaries, any stationery displaying times tables

6. Results & Feedback

The results will be available within 20 working days after the session. Results will be sent by post, using the address provided at the time of booking.

There is no pass or fail mark for the Familiarisation Tests.

Results will be given in the form of a total raw score per paper, which will enable you to see how your child performed relative to other children sitting the Familiarisation Tests. The feedback will also include scores per each section of the two test papers to help you understand the potential gaps in the individual topics. The papers (test questions) are the property of the NWPA and will remain confidential therefore it won't be possible to share them.

7. Implications for School Admission

Results of these Familiarisation Tests play no part in the school admission process. These tests are run by the NWPA to give your child an opportunity to experience exam conditions as part of their preparation for sitting secondary school selection test in Year 6. The Familiarisation Tests are in no way related to the selective eligibility tests or any other school entrance exams and you must apply for those separately.

8. Cancellations and late arrivals

Cancellations of the booked places will be handled by the booking platform and will be allowed within a limited time before the test. Any late cancellations within 7 days will not be refunded.

If you arrive late after the start of the first test paper, your child cannot be allowed into the classroom as it would disturb others. NWPA will not be able to refund the booking fee.

9. Fee waiver

We have a limited number of free places available to those who would be unable to afford these Familiarisation Tests. If your child gets free school meals or their school receives pupil premium funding for your child, you can apply for a free session of the NWPA Familiarisation Test. These places are funded by the NWPA and are limited in number. Please contact the NWPA via email at least 15 days in advance of the session.

10. Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

In line with the Newstead Wood School ethos and commitment to offering the best ways to provide for the needs of very able students, we will accommodate children with special needs into one of the Familiarisation Tests session. You should book your child into one of the available sessions for students with SEN as shown on the booking website.

11. Medical Arrangements

There will be a first aider present on-site during the Familiarisation Tests. If your child needs to carry prescribed medication with them to the test you must contact the NWPA at least 15 days in advance of the test session.

12. Contact

All questions should be directed to the NWPA at the following email address: famtest@newsteadwood.co.uk.

We aim to reply within 2-3 days.