What is the 7+?
“7+” refers to independent prep school entrance exams.
When does my child need to sit 7+ exams?
The exams are sat in Year 2, usually in Michaelmas term, for entry into Year 3 of the new school.
What does the assessment consist of?
They consist, usually, of English, Maths and Reasoning tests, followed by interviews. The precise nature of the assessments varies a little from school to school; this is why having a tutor with the appropriate expertise to know these specifics can help to ensure optimal preparation.
How do I know if my child needs to sit a 7+ exam?
Below is a list of private schools currently using 7+ assessments:
Dulwich College, Junior School
Notting Hill & Ealing High School
St Margaret’s School, Hampstead
Streatham & Clapham High School
Westminster Cathedral Choir School
To note: sitting 7+ examinations does not preclude a child’s ability to sit 8+ examinations a year later, should they not be successful at 7+ admission
How can we help?
Our admissions tutors are interviewed, vetted and tracked, and so we aim to achieve high-quality tutor-student matches first time!
We offer support for the full range of elements:
- English
- Maths
- Verbal Reasoning and
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- plus interview/classroom assessments.
Many of our tutors are full-time private tutors or have experience being a primary school teacher.
Tuition will involve a mixture of:
- Content teaching – The focus of this is to ensure your child has all the academic raw materials needed to be able to answer all the exam questions.
- Exam preparation – This is about being able to deploy the knowledge your child has accumulated to maximise the exam scores on the day. This involves familiarisation of the exam format, getting used to working under time pressure, and exposing your child to all the various question types. The goal is to minimise the chance your child is derailed by a curve-ball question on the day, and to have strategies in place so if there are unexpected questions, your child can take it in his/her stride!
- Interview preparation – Most children aren’t used to an interview setting at this age, so getting them exposed to this scenario reduces the chance they feel out of their comfort zone on the day. The more relaxed they can feel, the more fluidly they’ll be able to converse. Please note, we don’t rehearse answers with students as this comes across as fake and assessors can very easily see through it. It is about practising the process.
- Work scheduling and routine – our tutors can work with parents to devise an appropriate strategy and timetable. Please note:
- The more consistent the student is with his/her practice between classes, the faster the rate of progress will be.
- Having an active awareness of areas of weakness and bringing these up in the next class can enable these problem areas to be troubleshot before moving onto new areas, leaving no loose ends.
- Regular routine that is reliably stuck to can enable children to work more effectively.
One of our experienced Tutors
Chloe
Chloe is a specialist admissions tutor, covering all components of 7+, 8+ and 11+. She is approaching a decade of experience and has successfully prepared many children for top London private and grammar schools.
Chloe is consistently well reviewed by our clients and is able to strike a good rapport with young children, inspiring them to work and engage in the lessons. She is a graduate from Cambridge and Warwick.
In-person and Online Tuition
Tutoring sessions are most commonly in person for 7+ prep school admissions, due to the age and maturity of the children, but we can provide online tuition, too.
We are available for the duration of the tuition in order to assist with any queries or concerns you may have.
For more information about our process, please visit our How it Works page.
Reports
We recommend discussing reports at the start of the collaboration to get everyone on the same page. Reports can be verbal or can be written and sent out after each lesson or monthly; whatever is preferred.
When should I start 7+ tutoring?
This depends on several factors, including:
- The target school
- Your child’s starting level
- How consistent they are with practice between lessons
- Session frequency
- How engaged the parents/guardians are in the process
Commencing tuition 12–18 months before the school entrance exams are to be sat is quite standard and allows for a less intensive approach.
If in doubt, please err on the side of caution and get in touch sooner rather than later to discuss things. Experienced tutors with the best track records are often busy and may not have lots of availability the moment you call. Be sure to get in touch a few months ahead of when you are looking to commence can be the best way to guarantee sessions with your first-choice tutor.
Please feel free to give us a call, and we can discuss recommendations for you based on the nuances of your situation.
Get In Touch!
Please fill out the contact form below to make an enquiry or call us on 0208 133 6284 to speak to our friendly team, who can arrange your tutoring or answer any questions.
Resources
If you would like more information about the 8+ assessments, please click here.