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HBS pass marks, three-mile priority and old bands
There is no published fixed HBS practice percentage that guarantees admission for 2027 entry. Round 1 ranking determines progression, and results from both rounds contribute to final ranking. Living within three miles is a priority category with academic conditions, not an exemption from testing. The old banding system is no longer used.
Source: HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24) · HBS entrance-test FAQs (accessed 2026-09-24)
Three different questions
Source: HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24)
- Did my child qualify for Round 2? The policy invites the highest-ranked 300 after Round 1, including candidates tied at the boundary.
- How is the final academic ranking made? Standardised Round 2 results combine with Round 1 results. The reviewed policy does not publish numerical component weights.
- Will there be an offer? The school applies its admissions categories and allocation rules; a Round 2 invitation is not an offer.
Check the address rule before planning around it
Source: HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry (accessed 2026-09-24)
The policy includes looked-after and previously looked-after children, eligible Pupil Premium candidates, the three-mile category and remaining candidates. Read the academic and evidence conditions for the relevant category, including the permanent-address requirements at the October application deadline.
- Save the policy for your child’s intended entry year.
- Ask the admissions authority about an unclear address or priority category before relying on it.
- Keep test registration and the council school application as separate checklist items.
Why an old Band A story cannot classify this year’s result
Source: HBS entrance-test FAQs (accessed 2026-09-24)
The FAQ says previous banding is no longer used. It also explains restrictions on score and rank disclosure. Use the school’s actual message for your child, not another family’s historical band or a provider’s practice standardised score.
Use practice to choose tomorrow’s task
Worked example Compare like with like
Original teaching example. On one original practice set, a child answers 12 of 16 reading questions correctly. On another, she answers 15 of 20 correctly. Has the percentage increased?
Why this works: Both are 75%. Review the question types and explanations before deciding whether a skill has improved.
Why the tempting route fails: The same percentage does not mean the papers have equal difficulty, and neither percentage supplies an HBS rank or standardised score.
Sources and independence
Sources
HBS admissions policy for 2027 entry. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://henrietta-barnett.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/10095733/Admissions-Policy-2027-2028.pdf
HBS entrance-test FAQs. Official guidance. Accessed 2026-09-24. Read the official sourcehttps://henrietta-barnett.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/29122129/Admission-FAQs-2026.pdf
Accessed 2026-09-24. Independent preparation, not affiliated with or endorsed by the school or test provider. Activities and routines are our suggestions, not official questions, marking schemes or promises of admission. Check the entry year before using a policy.