3 ways to NOT pass the Merchant Taylors’ Prep 3+ Assessment.
/1. Believe that just because your child is two (or 3!) that it will just be an ‘easy’ assessment. It won’t be.
Many parents I speak to are so sure of themselves. They just know that their child will just be offered a place! After all they have the money to pay for a Merchant Taylors’ education. Well so do the other 300 or so parents applying!
One parent last week literally was in shock when I told her that I’m currently preparing 5 other boys for their MTP 3+ Assessment (myself and my team) and that her child will be up against them! They’ve been with us since January of this year! Their parents are determined to get them a place there to study and not have to do the 4+ (which is virtually impossible given the number of places available!)
2. Send your child in with virtually no assessment preparation.
When parents say things to me like ‘But Maria, my son is two!’ And ‘What can they even ask two year olds to do? I know there and then that they will be bitterly disappointed. Nothing I can say will change their minds (and I don’t have time to do that anyway). They are so convinced that their child will just go in and play - after all that’s what Merchant Taylors’ have told them! They haven’t done the work needed. They haven’t dedicated their time and effort to preparing them every single day for their 3+ Assessment. It won’t end well for them. Sadly.
3. Not prepare your son to know exactly what MTP are looking for.
And yes even though your child is 2 or 3, they will totally understand you when you explain it to them.
If you don’t know exactly what MTP are looking for, work with specialist teachers who do. Work with teachers who have real and actual experience of supporting boys to be very successful in their 4+ Assessments.
Preparing for the 3+ for 2026 entry? Book your Sample Lesson and Sample Week today.
Preparing for the 3+ for 2027 entry? Join our Waiting List today. Once joined, our Director Maria Mazarese will be in touch to discuss ongoing lessons.
