HOW TO GET INTO MEREWETHER HIGH SCHOOL
Updated April 2020
Situated in Broadmeadow, Merewather High school is the only Selective High school in Newcastle and therefore a popular point of application for year 7 entry. It makes entry into this school extra competitive due to the sparsity of specialist schools for gifted and talented schools in the region. Because of this, they also cater for students from a wide geographical area within the Hunter Central coast area. They are regular high-achievers in the HSC, and have established strong links within their community to help support learning outcomes and welfare developments.
NSW has a number of fully and partially selective schools designed to support gifted and talented students in achieving and their highest academic potential. They group together high-achieving students in order to focus resources and provide a network of like-minded students that other comprehensive government schools may not have. Merewether high school is 1 of 9 fully selective co-educational selective schools that represent the entirety of NSW so naturally, gaining entry is quite competitive. To apply for a selective school, a mark out of 300 is derived from a student’s internal academic performance at their primary school (or equivalent educational setting), and 200 marks are allocated to the Selective Schools Placement Test. As the placement test is weighted so heavily in the selection process for selective school entry, it is crucial to prepare diligently and effectively for this test.
The Selective Schools Test
The specific breakdown of the components of this test is:
- 20min creative writing based on a stimulus:
Often students are given a writing prompt in order to respond creatively to, the writing prompt has often been a question in past years - 40 min of multiple choice questions:
- 45 questions of reading comprehension
- 40 questions of maths
- 60 questions of General Ability
These questions are very specific in format, and regular practise with the right resources will build familiarity and therefore confidence in answering these questions.
How Alchemy Tuition can help
Many students planning to sit the selective schools placement test are engaging in tutoring services outside of school as the test draws upon questions beyond the school curriculum. At Alchemy tuition, we understand that these services can be very expensive, that’s why we offer an affordable service with no lock-in contracts which charges you as you go after a session has been confirmed. We also provide the convenience of sending a private tutor straight to your doorstep to ensure flexibility with busy schedules. We have a constantly-expanding network of tutors, so we can ensure that your student will be a matched with an appropriate tutor that suits their individual personalities and needs. Many of our tutors have been successful in the selective schools test themselves in previous years, and therefore are able to provide personal advice beyond giving your child the academic support they need. Since the test happens in a single day, there is a lot of pressure to perform well on that day. Since we offer a one-on-one service, many of our tutors are able to provide the attention and emotional support that many classroom settings are not able to provide in order to engage with obstacles of confidence and exam-nerves. We guarantee that all the accredited tutors our service will be able to guide your student through the selective schools test, and over time, build long-term confidence through the nurturing relationships that are built.
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ONE-ON-ONE PREPARATION FOR THE SELECTIVE SCHOOL EXAM
Give your child the best chance to get in to Merewether High School and get started with an Alchemy tutor in your home or online today.
