Consultations

All consultations below are delivered online, so families can take part from anywhere in the world, at a time that works for them.

Every session is individually tailored to your child's circumstances, not a fixed script.

Every paid consultation includes a written follow-up summary, so you leave with a clear record of what was discussed and recommended, not just the conversation itself.

All consultations are available in English and Russian. 
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CONSULTATION 1

Free 20-Minute Call with an Exam&Prep Consultant

A no-obligation conversation to help you find the right path.


Not sure where to start? 

Book a free 20-minute call with one of our consultants to talk through your child's situation: target stage, current priorities, realistic timelines, and which of our services would actually help — no pressure, no sales script. 

Held entirely on WhatsApp or Telegram, so you can join from wherever you are, at a time that suits you.


What we'll cover:

  • Your child's current stage and immediate priorities (4+, 7+, 8+,11+, 13+, GCSE, A Level/IB, or university planning)
  • Where they currently stand and what the realistic timeline looks like
  • Answers to any questions about the process itself

Price: Free

Available in English and Russian — let us know your preference when booking.

Best for: any family at the very start of a new stage who isn't yet sure which service is the right fit.

CONSULTATION 2

Secondary Schools Consultation

Navigating grammar, independent, comprehensive and academy routes – with 11+, 13+, scholarships and bursaries all on the table.

Choosing a secondary school path involves far more than picking a name off a league table – it means weighing up grammar schools against independent schools and comprehensive/academies, understanding whether 11+ or 13+ entry suits your child better, and knowing what scholarship or bursary support might genuinely be available.

This consultation brings all of that together in one session, tailored to your child's profile and your family's circumstances.
What's included:
  • A clear comparison of grammar, independent, comprehensive and academy pathways, matched to your child's academic profile and your family's priorities
  • Guidance on 11+ versus 13+ entry — which timeline suits your child, and what each route actually demands
  • An overview of scholarship and bursary options realistically available to your child, and what the application process involves
  • A shortlist of schools worth exploring further, based on fit rather than just reputation
  • Practical next steps and a realistic timeline to work backward from 


Follow-up report: Yes – a written summary of the school pathway discussion, shortlist, and recommended next steps is sent after the session.

Price: £120

Best for: families with a child in primary/junior/prep school who want an objective, well-informed view of the secondary school landscape before committing to a path.

CONSULTATION 3

GCSE Choices and GCSE Prep Consultation

Choosing the right subjects, and building a realistic plan to succeed in them.

GCSE options decisions shape what's available at A Level and beyond, yet they're often made under time pressure with limited guidance.

This consultation helps your child choose subjects that genuinely fit their strengths and future direction, and – for those already partway through GCSEs – builds a practical, realistic preparation strategy for the exams themselves.
What's included:
  • Guidance on subject choices aligned with your child's strengths, interests, and likely A Level or future pathway
  • An honest discussion of subject combinations that keep options open versus those that narrow them too early
  • For students already in Year 10–11: a review of current progress and a tailored revision and preparation strategy
  • Practical advice on managing workload across multiple GCSE subjects
  • A clear, realistic action plan with milestones

Follow-up report: Yes — a written summary of subject recommendations (or prep strategy) and next steps is sent after the session.

Price: £120 

Best for: families of Year 9 students choosing GCSE options, or Year 10–11 students who want a clear-eyed strategy check partway through.

CONSULTATION 4

A Level and IB Choices Consultation

A Level or IB? And which subjects? Decisions that shape university options for years to come.

The choice between A Levels and the IB Diploma – and the subject combinations within each – has real consequences for university applications and future career paths.

This consultation gives you an objective comparison tailored to your child specifically, not a generic pros-and-cons list.
What's included:
  • A comparison of A Level and IB suited to your child's learning style, workload preferences, and academic strengths
  • Subject combination guidance aligned with likely degree courses and career directions
  • An honest look at which schools and Sixth Forms in your area (or under consideration) offer IB versus A Level
  • Guidance on how each pathway is viewed by different universities and course types, including any subject-specific requirements to keep in mind
  • A clear recommendation and rationale your family can act on with confidence 


Follow-up report: Yes — a written summary of the comparison, recommendation, and next steps is sent after the session.

Price: £140 

Best for: families of Year 10–11 students weighing up post-GCSE options and wanting clarity before committing.

CONSULTATION 5

Universities Roadmap Consultation

Course choices, work experience, entry tests, personal statements – a complete roadmap, not scattered advice.

University planning involves multiple moving parts that all need to line up on the same timeline: course and university selection, meaningful work experience, any required entry tests, and a personal statement that actually reflects the strength of the application.

This consultation pulls all of it into one coherent roadmap tailored to your child's target courses.
What's included:
  • Guidance on course and university selection based on your child's strengths, interests, and realistic competitiveness
  • A practical plan for work experience and extracurricular activities that genuinely strengthen the application, not just fill a list
  • Guidance on relevant university entry tests for target courses (e.g. UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT, TARA, or subject-specific admissions tests, including Oxbridge-specific requirements where relevant)
  • Personal statement strategy — structure, focus, and how to authentically stand out
  • A milestone-by-milestone roadmap from the current year through to UCAS deadlines 


Follow-up report: Yes — a written roadmap document covering course/university shortlist, key milestones, and recommended next steps is sent after the session.

Price: £150

Best for: families of Year 11–13 students beginning to think seriously about university applications and wanting a single, coherent plan rather than piecemeal advice.

ABOUT TATIANA GOLUB

Get direct access to 25+ years of educational consultancy experience.

Tatiana Golub is the founder of Marial Associates, a London-based educational consultancy she established in 2015, and the driving force behind Exam&Prep.

She is an educational consultant with a postgraduate qualification in psychology and a Chartered Linguist (Chartered Institute of Linguists), with 25+ years in education spanning teaching, university lecturing, tutoring and consultancy.

Tatiana leads a team of 48 specialists who have supported over 700 families across the UK and internationally through every stage of the school and university journey – from early foundations through to grammar and independent school entry, GCSE, A Level, and beyond.

She is also a member of The Tutors' Association and has served as a Trustee of HealthProm, an international health charity.
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This one-hour session gives you Tatiana's direct, personal input on your child's specific situation – spanning any of the areas above, or a combination of them – the kind of insight families normally only get after years of working with the wider Marial Associates team.

Held entirely online, so families anywhere in the world can book a time that works for them, and every session is built individually around your child rather than following a fixed script.
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