FAQs
The questions families ask us most
If the answer you need is not here, ask us directly. We would rather give you an honest answer than a reassuring one.
When should we start?
Year 5 gives the most comfortable runway. We can work with shorter timelines, but we will tell you plainly what is achievable.
Do you prepare for specific schools?
Yes. Preparation is built around the format of the schools you are actually applying to.
Do you guarantee a place?
No, and we would not trust a service that did. We commit to specific, well-planned preparation.
When should preparation start?
Most students start six to eight weeks before their test date, with lighter groundwork in the spring. Tell us your booked date and we plan backwards.
Do tutors have UCAT experience?
We match tutors who have sat the UCAT and can evidence their own approach to each section.
How do we start?
Book a free consultation. We talk through the student's stage, goals and timetable, then recommend a tutor and arrange a free compatibility trial before anything is paid for.
Will a tutor write the personal statement?
No. Tutors guide structure and give detailed feedback; the statement must be the applicant's own work.
Can you advise on university choice?
Yes, and it is usually the most valuable part of the work. We are honest when a shortlist is unrealistic.
How many sessions do applicants usually take?
Three to five sessions is typical between an invitation and the interview date, depending on the number of formats involved.
Do you cover school interviews too?
Yes, including selective-school interviews at 11+, with age-appropriate practice.
When should reasoning practice start?
Year 5 is comfortable for most families. Starting earlier rarely helps, and starting in Year 6 is possible but leaves less room for teaching methods before timing work begins.
Do all selective schools test reasoning?
No. Some set their own English and maths papers with reasoning elements rather than standalone reasoning sections. Tell us the schools you are considering and we will match preparation to their published arrangements.
How much practice should we do at home?
Short and frequent beats long and occasional. Most tutors set fifteen to twenty-five minutes between lessons, marked and discussed rather than simply completed.
Can you guarantee a place?
No. Entry is competitive and decided by the school in rank order. We commit to thorough preparation and an honest view of where your son stands; nobody can honestly promise more.
Are you connected to the school?
No. Tutivate is independent, has no affiliation with the school and no access to confidential admissions information. We work from the school's published admissions arrangements.
Should we apply to other schools as well?
We always recommend it. A sensible list with a second selective option and a strong local school protects your child from a single outcome.
Are you affiliated with the school?
No. Tutivate is an independent tutoring service with no affiliation to the school and no access to confidential admissions information. We work only from published material.
What happens between stages?
If your daughter progresses, the tutor shifts to maintaining sharpness and preparing for the later stage rather than adding new content.
How many lessons a week?
One lesson a week suits most families, occasionally rising to two in the term before the first stage. We would rather protect the child's weekends than add hours.
Do you offer BMAT preparation?
No. The BMAT is no longer in use, so we do not offer it. Medicine applicants should focus on the UCAT and confirm requirements on each course page.
How many weeks of preparation are typical?
Six to eight weeks of consistent work is common for the UCAT. Mathematics and physics tests usually suit a longer, lighter run because they build on A-Level content.
Can one tutor cover both a test and an A-Level subject?
Often yes, and it can be efficient. We tell you when a specialist would serve the student better.
Which modules should I take?
That depends on your target courses. Confirm the requirement on each official course page; we go through this with you at the consultation before preparation starts.
Do you have past papers?
We use officially published materials where they exist, plus tutor-written practice built to the same style. We do not use or claim access to confidential material.
Will this clash with A-Level work?
It shouldn't. The tutor builds a weekly plan around your school deadlines, and reduces test work in weeks with school assessments.
Is the TMUA compulsory?
It depends on the course. Some universities require it, others treat a strong score as supporting evidence. Confirm on each official course page.
Do I need Further Maths?
No. The test is built on AS-level material. Further Maths students may find some reasoning familiar, but it is not a requirement.
How long should I prepare?
Six to ten weeks of regular work suits most students, because reasoning skill builds gradually rather than in a final push.
What if my score is low?
We will tell you honestly what the score suggests and help you think about your university list, rather than encouraging an unrealistic application.
Is the MAT only for Oxford?
No. Oxford uses it for mathematics and computer science courses, and some other universities use it too. Check each official course page.
Should I prepare over the summer?
Light, regular work over the summer is ideal, with intensity increasing in the autumn term before the sitting.
Does Further Maths help?
It can, but the test is built on AS-level content. Clarity of reasoning matters more than extra topics.
How much content is beyond A-Level?
Very little. The syllabus is close to AS-level physics and maths, but questions combine topics in unfamiliar ways. Check the current syllabus each year.
When should I start?
Summer before Year 13 is ideal for a light start, with focused work through the autumn term ahead of the sitting.
Can the same tutor help with A-Level Physics?
Often yes, and it keeps the work joined up. We will say if a specialist would be a better match.
Do you guarantee an offer?
No. We prepare thoroughly and give an honest read on progress, but offers are decided entirely by the university.
Will a tutor write my statement?
No. Tutors give feedback, ask questions and challenge weak reasoning. The writing must be entirely your own, and admissions services expect exactly that.
How long does the process take?
Most applicants need three or four sessions spread across several weeks, with redrafting between them.
Can you help reapplicants?
Yes. Reapplication usually needs a genuinely different statement, and the first task is working out honestly why the previous cycle did not succeed.
Do you help with dentistry applications too?
Yes, the same support applies. Tell us at the consultation so we match a tutor with the right applicant experience.
Are you connected to the university?
No. Tutivate is independent, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the university, and has no access to confidential admissions information. We work from published course material.
Can you guarantee an offer?
No. Offers are decided entirely by the university and its colleges. We prepare thoroughly and give an honest view of readiness.
Which admissions test do I need?
Requirements change between cycles, so confirm on the official course page. We check this with you at the consultation before preparation starts.
Which admissions test does engineering need?
It depends on the university and course. Several require the ESAT, Oxford uses the PAT, and some require none. Always confirm on the official course page.
Do I need engineering work experience?
No. Evidence of problem-solving, projects and wider reading matters more than formal placements, which are hard for most students to obtain.
How many mock interviews are useful?
Three to five is typical. Beyond that, gains usually come from subject work rather than more mocks.
Do all engineering courses interview?
No. Some universities make offers without interview. Check each course page, and tell us your list at the consultation.
Are mocks recorded?
Only with informed consent from the applicant and, where the applicant is under eighteen, a parent. Recordings are access-restricted and deleted on request.
Can you help after an unsuccessful interview?
Yes. We start by working out honestly what happened, which is usually a specific, fixable pattern rather than a general weakness.
Are you affiliated with the university?
No. Tutivate is independent, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the university, and has no access to confidential admissions information. Everything here is based on published material.
Should I apply if my mock grades are borderline?
We will give you a straight answer at the consultation, including when a different course or university would be the stronger use of a choice.
Still deciding?
A free consultation is the fastest way to a straight answer about what the student actually needs.