I don't want my parents to know that I'm applying as I want to leave it as a surprise. Will the X Factor team ever post any letters to me or anything like that? Or is it all done through phone calls?
Any tips on how to stand out in the first round of auditions as well?

To stand out: smile and show a good personality. Sing a song your own style.

Watch yourself in the mirror and watch past auditions with the closed auditions.

If you reach the auditions in front of the judges make sure you sing a song that will get you remembered, don't sing a song that everyone knows but if you are going to sing a popular song, change it up a bit. Leave an impression.

But as I don't want my parents finding out that i'm auditioning, will they ever post stuff to me by letter or will they just email and call me?
But don't the producers look for different things to the judges, or not?