Questions to Ask at Sixth Form Open Evening (Student Checklist)
The best questions to ask at sixth form open evening are about how your subjects are taught, what free periods and workload really look like, how people make friends (especially if you're new), and what the dress code is. Ask teachers about the subject, but ask current Year 12 and Year 13 students what a normal week feels like. They'll give you the version the prospectus leaves out.
If you go quiet around teachers and older students, Aura finds where your presence leaks and fixes it with one small move a day: Find my aura leak.
How to get the most from open evening
Most open evenings are written for parents. There's a head's talk, a hall full of subject stands and a tour. As the actual student, you have to make it yours.
Before you go:
- Shortlist your A-level, BTEC or T-level subjects (usually 3 or 4).
- Pick 2 questions per subject plus 4 general ones.
- Decide who's asking. Tell your parent or carer you want to ask the subject questions yourself. It matters, because some sixth forms notice who's doing the talking.
On the night:
- Visit your subject stands first, before they get busy after the main talk.
- Find the student helpers. They're usually in Year 12 or 13.
- Write a score out of 10 for each place before you leave.
What to wear to sixth form open evening
Whatever you'd wear on a normal day out. Your school uniform is also fine if you're coming straight from school. Clean, comfy, you. The goal is to feel confident enough to talk to people.
Sixth form vs college
Sixth forms are usually attached to a school, with smaller classes and more structure. Sixth form colleges and FE colleges are often bigger, offer more subjects (including vocational ones) and feel more independent. Ask questions at both if you're unsure.
Questions about subjects
These are the core sixth form questions to ask teachers at each stand.
- Which exam board do you use for this subject?
- What grade do I need at GCSE to take it?
- How big are the classes usually?
- How is the course assessed: exams, coursework or both?
- What's the biggest jump from GCSE to A level in this subject?
- What do students who do well here have in common?
- Which subjects pair well with this one?
- Are there trips, competitions or extra sessions?
- What results did last year's students get? (Most sixth forms publish these.)
- Can I switch subjects in the first few weeks if it's not right?
Question 5 is a quiet favorite. It shows you're thinking ahead, and the answer tells you exactly what to prepare over summer.
Questions about free periods and workload
Free periods are one of the biggest changes from Year 11. Ask:
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| How many free periods will I have? | A clear number per week |
| Can I leave site during frees? | Depends: some say yes for Year 13 only |
| Is there a dedicated study space? | A sixth form study room or library |
| How much homework per subject per week? | A rough number of hours |
| What support is there if I fall behind? | Named mentors, tutors or drop-ins |
| Do you help with UCAS and apprenticeships? | Yes, with a clear timeline |
| Is there a part-time job policy? | Honest guidance on balance |
Ask students: "Do people actually use their frees to study?" Their face will answer before they do.
Questions about social life
This is what nobody puts in the brochure, and it matters a lot, especially if you're moving from another school.
- How many students join from other schools each year?
- How do new students settle in? Is there an induction day?
- Is there a common room, and what's it like?
- What clubs, sports and societies run for sixth formers?
- Are there leadership roles (head student, mentors, ambassadors)?
- Are there sixth form events: socials, trips, a leavers' prom?
- How mixed are the year groups?
If you're new, ask a current student directly: "I'm coming from a different school, how hard is it to make friends?"
Then comes the bit people underestimate. You know what to ask, but standing at a stand with a teacher waiting for you, your eye contact drops, your voice goes small, and your mum ends up asking everything.
Aura figures out which of those is yours from 16 questions, then gives you one small move each day, like "One beat longer" for holding eye contact. A one-tap check-in each night builds a streak before open evening season. Find my aura leak
Questions about dress code
Sixth form dress code varies a lot. Some have uniforms, some have "business dress" and some have barely any rules.
- Is there a uniform, or a dress code?
- What does "smart" or "business wear" mean here, exactly?
- Are trainers, jeans, hoodies or colored hair allowed?
- Are there rules about piercings or jewelry?
- Do Year 13s get any more freedom?
Tip: look at what current students are wearing on the night. That's the real dress code.
Printable checklist
Screenshot this for every sixth form open evening near you:
Subjects
- Exam board and entry grades
- Class size
- Biggest jump from GCSE
- Can I switch subjects?
Workload and frees
- Free periods per week
- Can I leave site?
- Study space
- UCAS and apprenticeship help
Social life
- How new students settle in
- Common room and clubs
- Events and leadership roles
Dress code
- Uniform or dress code?
- What students actually wear
Gut feeling out of 10: ____
The same list works as questions to ask at a secondary school open evening, with the subject section swapped for "how are sets decided?" and "what clubs are there for Year 7s?" And if you're already thinking past sixth form, our list of uni open day questions to ask is the next step. For the end of Year 13, see our leavers shirt ideas.
Be the one asking the questions
Sixth form open evening goes better when you do the talking. In the next minute Aura asks 16 questions, gives you an aura tier and a 14-move plan for your exact leak, whether that's your voice or how you walk in. It's a one-time payment with nothing to cancel, for ages 13 and up.
FAQ
What questions should I ask at a sixth form open evening?
Ask about class sizes, exam boards, the jump from GCSE to A level, free periods, homework, how new students settle in and the dress code. Ask current students what a normal week looks like and how they made friends.
What should I wear to a sixth form open evening?
Normal, comfy clothes or your school uniform if you're coming straight from school. There's no dress code for visitors. Wear something that makes you feel confident enough to walk up to a teacher.
Should I ask questions myself or let my parents ask?
Ask the subject questions yourself if you can. It helps you get the answers you actually care about, and staff notice when the student is engaged. Parents can cover practical stuff like transport and costs.
What's the difference between sixth form and college?
Sixth forms are usually attached to a school, with smaller classes and more structure. Colleges tend to be bigger, more independent and offer more vocational courses like BTECs and T levels. Visit both if you're unsure.
Are questions to ask at parents' evening the same?
Not quite. Parents' evening is about your progress: ask what you're doing well, what to improve and how to prepare for exams. Open evening is about whether a place suits you.