To begin with, let’s clarify the terminology.

A selective school admits students based on entrance exams and selection criteria. These schools attract the most talented children from different regions, develop their abilities, and prepare them for entry into prestigious universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Yale, and others. Such schools take pride in their achievements, highlighting the excellent results of their graduates, victories in academic competitions, and success in national and international contests.
Obviously, if a school already admits the most talented students, it can achieve high results. But what happens when a school accepts everyone?

A non-selective school may reject an application only if its infrastructure cannot provide the necessary learning conditions (for example, lack of ramps or elevators may prevent admission of a child with health issues). Many public schools (except specialized institutions), private, international, and homeschooling models are non-selective — meaning they do not conduct academic selection.

Parents may mistakenly believe that if their child is not accepted into a selective school, it means limited opportunities for a successful future or high-quality education. However, in today’s world, non-selective schools aim to provide excellent education through individual approaches and diverse learning programs.

In non-selective schools, entrance exams are not about filtering out students but rather about identifying their potential. These schools strive to understand each child’s abilities in order to offer appropriate educational strategies and opportunities. For example, an intensive program with many subjects may not suit every student. Entrance assessments help schools determine each learner’s strengths and weaknesses and design a suitable learning and support plan.

Additional English lessons or psychological support to overcome shyness, for instance, can be offered. Such an individual approach helps students achieve high results and secure good chances for university admission.

Selective schools use entrance exams to choose their students, while non-selective schools apply them to identify individual learning needs and design appropriate educational programs.

For teachers, it is also important to clearly understand the composition of their class. Without entrance assessments, the first month of teaching might be spent simply learning about each child’s level of knowledge and psychological traits.

One of the advantages of selective schools is that they provide high-level education to talented students who may not have the financial means to attend prestigious private institutions. These schools assume students already have a solid academic background, so they offer more advanced and in-depth content. Meanwhile, in non-selective private schools, differentiation is key: teachers design assignments at varying levels so that every student can successfully engage with the material.

Selective and non-selective schools therefore have different goals and strategies — both in teaching and in entrance assessments.

Selective schools admit students based on subject knowledge and focus on academic achievements. They place special importance on knowledge, skills, and competencies, requiring students to meet high standards.

Entrance assessments in non-selective schools follow a different approach. While they also measure academic levels, they often include psychological interviews and personal meetings to better understand each child. For non-selective schools, it is crucial to assess the student holistically in order to provide the right support. For example, international schools often check English language proficiency but may also conduct psychological assessments and interviews with teachers or the head of school.

Thus, entrance exams and interviews are necessary for both types of schools but should be structured according to each institution’s goals and strategies. A system like Mojo can help schools organize this process: all exam results are stored in the student’s personal account, making it easy to assess and visualize progress.