UKiset is an adaptive online entry test taken in English designed to support admission into the UK independent education system. It is a smarter way to test a student’s ability to cope in an English speaking school. It measures their underlying abilities in core skills (such as language, mathematics and problem solving) and aptitude for learning. UKiset is a standardized assessment that can be used to identify a candidate’s strengths, weaknesses and learning preferences.
DC English School is an authorised Testing Centre for the UKiset in Japan.
DC English Schoolは、日本におけるUKisetの認定試験センターです。
DC English Schoolは、日本におけるUKisetの認定試験センターです。
UKiset measures four skills: Non-Verbal Reasoning (solving problems using pictures, diagrams and patterns) Verbal Reasoning (the ability to work with words and language) Mathematics (working with numbers, value, and sequences) English skills (grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening and creative writing).
The evaluation has been designed to look at what kind of thinking a student finds easy or difficult. It does this by looking at underlying processing skills in verbal (language questions, problem solving with words), non-verbal (solving problems using shapes, pictures and logic) and mathematics (looking at number, value, quantity and sequence concepts) reasoning. These skills underpin how easily a student can access the content taught in all school subjects.
Section one: Reasoning
This part looks at a candidate’s learning potential in quantitative, non-verbal and verbal reasoning. A student’s score is standardized for their age and compared to British students in the same year group. For students with English as their second language, the verbal reasoning section will be more difficult than for a British student. Therefore UKiset provides two averages: one overall average and one excluding the verbal score, so schools can see a candidate’s potential when language is not a factor. This part of the assessment also provides predictive analysis on what the candidate might go on to achieve at GCSE and beyond.
Section two: The Cambridge English Placement Test (CEPT)
This is a multiple-choice test that measures a candidate’s English level in reading and listening. It helps schools to assess how easily the candidate will be able to access the UK curriculum.
Section three: English essay
This is a piece of expressive writing on a topic given to the candidate on the day of the test. The topic will be age appropriate. It is a handwritten essay and will be sent to the school to be marked by them. It will demonstrate the candidate’s ability to express their opinion and communicate in written English.
Key Facts about UKiset
– Results are available 2 business days after the test takes place
– UKiset can be taken all over the world at an authorised test centre, or in the UK at our head office, and at some selected schools
– Schools request UKiset Profiles because they provide credible information on an applicant’s academic potential and suitability for their learning environment
Who can take UKiset?
UKiset is designed for students aged between 9 years 6 months and 17 years 11 months. The test results compare the candidate’s intelligence and capabilities against their British peers in the UK curriculum and specifically in the independent sector. UKiset also assesses their level of academic English using a Cambridge English assessment and provides schools with their current CEFR level.
A student may take UKiset because:
1. They want to apply to a British independent school
2. They want to enter a language school or International study centre in the UK For their own knowledge, they want to know how they compare to British students of the same age They want to set an objective to see how they progress over the year before entering an educational institution that communicates in English
3. Their English teacher would like to set targets to be achieved every six months to ensure the student achieves their very best
There is no pass mark or fail in the UKiset, and it does not measure learned knowledge. The purpose of the test is to understand potential, rather than just academic ability. Preparing for the UKiset tests is not like preparing for standard entrance exams. There is no syllabus of content, and we cannot recommend “direct preparation” for the test.
The tests have a mixture of Reading, Math (or Numerical / Quantitative Reasoning), Verbal Reasoning, Non Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning and Logic. Most of the tests offer multiple choice questions, answered by clicking a mouse rather than typing an answer.
The tests themselves, can also be adaptive; it’s unlikely that two students will receive the same test. We students to be cross capable test-takers so that they can hopefully adapt to whatever the test questions.
Pre-test preparation includes a review of the 11+ curriculum and detailed feedback of the student’s level in each area. To schedule a test, please contact the UKiset office.
The best practice for UKiset is in working on a candidate’s English skills. Preparation should include improving vocabulary, grammar, receptive (reading and listening) and expressive (speaking and writing) tasks.
In order to problem-solve in a foreign language practicing higher order thinking skills should also be encouraged; these include the ability to draw conclusions, make inferences and make predictions.
There are resources available online that demonstrate samples of verbal, non verbal and quantitative reasoning. Simply enter ‘verbal or non-verbal reasoning’ into a search engine and an array of sample questions and explanations will be available.
DC English provides lessons with practice examples in the types of questions candidates may encounter. To reserve a lesson for UKiset preparation or an Exam slot, please click here