Hello everyone, we’ve just moved to Madrid recently and I’m feeling completely overwhelmed with sorting out my child’s schooling. We’re planning to enroll our child in an international school and have looked at a few we like, such as The English Montessori School, King’s College School, and Hastings School. After some research, I’ve realized that each school has a different application process and exam schedule. The information on their official websites is quite scattered, and it’s all becoming a bit confusing.
So, I wanted to post here to ask experienced parents: here in Spain, especially in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, when are the entrance exams for international schools usually concentrated? Is there a standardized examination period, similar to the system for transitioning from primary to middle school back home, or is it more of a rolling admissions process where they test whenever a spot opens up? My impression is that for fall enrollment, the peak period for applications and exams runs from the end of the previous year through to the spring of the enrollment year. Is that correct?
Besides the written tests, when are the interviews usually scheduled? Are they scheduled separately after passing the written test, or do they happen on the same day as the exam? What do the interviews typically cover? Is the main focus on the child’s English speaking skills, or do they also assess behavior and social skills? Our child is a bit slow to warm up and tends to be quiet around strangers, so I’m a little worried this might be a disadvantage in the interview. If the interview performance is just average, would excellent scores on the [international school entrance exams] be of no use?
Main Application Timeline Summary
Based on the information I’ve gathered so far, I’ve put together a rough timeline. I’d appreciate it if you could take a look at this overview of the [international school entrance exams] and let me know if this timeline for the [international school entrance exams] seems correct. Any additions or corrections are welcome:
Application and Examination Phase
- September - December (previous year): Application portals open, submission of application materials, attending school open days.
- January - April (enrollment year): Schools schedule entrance assessments, including written tests and interviews. This appears to be the main examination period for most schools.
- April - June (enrollment year): Admission offers are sent out.
| School Type | Common Written Subjects | Language Requirements |
|---|
| British Schools | English, Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning | English fluency is key |
| American Schools | English, Maths, MAP tests, etc. | Also emphasizes comprehensive English ability |
| IB Schools | Varies by school, usually includes English and Maths | Requires inquiry skills and a certain way of thinking |
Our main target is British schools, and the competition seems quite fierce. I was wondering if there’s anyone here who has gone through the application process for their child in the last year or two? Could you please share some specific exam experiences, like the difficulty and types of questions on the written test? Any advice on how to prepare would be great. Any information would be incredibly valuable to us
! Thank you all in advance!
