| Feature | Test Academy | Scholarly |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery mode | Online and in-person, platform-first | Live online group classes, recorded for replay |
| Exam focus | Selective and OC, all sections including writing | OC, Selective and scholarship, plus some writing |
| Technology / platform | One integrated adaptive platform with AI tutor | Live classes plus AI helper and adaptive maths tool |
| Writing feedback | Criterion-by-criterion across structure, ideas, language | Human coach feedback with a fast turnaround |
| Adaptive practice | LearningHub adapts across all sections | Adaptive maths tool plus digital simulation tests |
| Progress data | Analytics with percentile ranking and timing | Coach progress reviews and auto-scored trials |
Scholarly and Test Academy are an unusually close comparison, because both put real technology behind selective prep. The difference is in the centre of gravity: Scholarly is live-class-first, with AI and adaptive tools supporting scheduled group lessons; Test Academy is platform-first, with the technology itself doing the teaching and tracking, online or in-person. Which suits your child depends on whether they thrive in a live class or on a platform that works around your week.
What Scholarly does well
Live teaching with a tech backbone. Scholarly runs online group classes for OC, the selective test and scholarship exams, led by high-achieving tutors and recorded so students can rewatch. It’s clearly invested in technology too: an in-class AI assistant students can ask questions, an adaptive maths tool that generates personalised questions, and digital simulation tests with instant scoring and worked solutions. Writing is reviewed by a human coach with a fast turnaround, and a success-coach model keeps an eye on progress. For families whose children engage best in a live class with strong support around it, we rate it as a genuinely strong option — and we’ll credit its AI and adaptive tools as real, not cosmetic.
Where Test Academy is built differently
Because both use AI, the honest distinction isn’t whether there’s technology but how integrated and how deep it is.
First, adaptive practice across every section. Scholarly’s adaptive engine centres on maths, alongside its simulation tests. Test Academy’s LearningHub adapts across all sections — thinking skills, reading and mathematical reasoning — so practice targets gaps wherever they are, not just in one subject.
Second, an AI tutor on the same platform you practise on. Scholarly’s AI helper is anchored to its live classes; our Testy Coach sits inside the practice itself, explaining any question step by step the moment a child is stuck — not tied to a class transcript or a timetable.
Third, writing. Scholarly’s human coach feedback is a real strength and turns around quickly. Test Academy’s WritingHub marks writing criterion-by-criterion — structure, ideas, language and mechanics — and feeds it into the same progress picture as everything else, so improvement on the selective writing test is tracked, not just discussed.
Progress data
Scholarly reviews progress through a success coach and auto-scored trial tests. Test Academy’s analytics are continuous and built in — percentile ranking against other students plus time-efficiency data on every section, so you can see not only accuracy but whether your child is pacing to finish a timed paper.
Our assessment
If your child engages best in live group classes with a strong tech backbone, Scholarly is a reputable choice with genuine strengths. If you want a platform-first program where adaptive practice spans every section, an AI tutor is always on hand, and writing is marked criterion-by-criterion alongside percentile analytics, it is our view that Test Academy is the stronger fit. The Selective Mastery program shows how it comes together, and our take on whether selective tutoring is worth it is a useful next read.
This is an independent comparison. Other names are trademarks of their respective owners.