Entrance exams seem to be coming around younger and younger these days, with St Paul’s rumoured to be adding a 10 minute reasoning component to fetal ultrasounds. We understand parents’ reservations about the risks of a competitive entrance exam versus the rewards of getting your child into a good school they can stay at until 18, so please read on for Clarendon’s answers to the questions on 7+ that we hear most from parents.
What is the 7+?
The 7+ assessments are selective and competitive entrance examinations for entry into year 3 of junior schools and prep schools.
When does my child take the 7+?
Your child will always take the 7+ exams in year 2. When exactly in year 2 will depend on the school you’re going for, with King’s College School Wimbledon sitting the written assessment in early October and Westminster Under hosting their assessment morning in mid January. Most schools host their assessments in late November to early December.
What are the pros and cons of the 7+?
Pros:
- If successful, your child will gain entry to a school that should see them all the way through to A levels.
- Some schools (but certainly not all) are less competitive at 7+.
- You avoid the 11+ insanity.
Cons:
- If not handled correctly, you run the risk of placing your child under undue stress.
- If your child is born later in the year, then their disadvantage can be more pronounced.
When is the registration deadline?
This varies from school to school so you should check the admissions pages of school websites, which are updated each year. However, most deadlines are September to October when your child is in year 2. There is the usual registration fee, usually in the region of £150. This is non-refundable.
Which schools have 7+ entrance papers?
This is not an exhaustive list and is very London centric, but…
- lleyn’s Junior School
- Bancroft’s Prep
- Dulwich College Junior School
- Forest Prep
- Highgate Junior School
- Ibstock Place Prep
- James Allen’s Girl School Prep
- King’s College School Wimbledon Junior
- Lady Eleanor Holles Junior School
- Latymer Prep
- Merchant Taylor’s Prep
- Notting Hill and Ealing High Junior School
- Old Palace of John Whitgift Prep
- Putney High Junior School (4 places available)
- St Dunstan’s Prep
- St Paul’s Junior
- UCS Junior
- Westminster Under School
How competitive are 7+ entrance exams?
The 7+ is no longer the sneaky shortcut that it once was, and most schools are extremely competitive. Some schools are every bit as competitive at 7+ as they are at 11+. Alleyn’s has 25 places and a ratio of applicants to places of 6:1. KCS Wimbledon has around 50 places at 5:1. Latymer is around 40 at 6:1. Highgate is similar. St Paul’s is 50 at around 7:1. With Westminster Under purported to be over 10:1, with only 22 places available.
However, there are some schools that are significantly less competitive (certainly in ratio terms), with Bancroft’s, Dulwich, Forest, JAGS and LEH all in and around 3:1. It should be noted that, as it is only early developers that tend to sit the assessments, all schools entrance exams are very competitive.
What does the 7+ consist of?
Nearly all schools have entrance exams that consist of English, Maths and Reasoning, although there is quite a lot of variance between them. Some schools want creative writing. Some schools conduct listening or dictation tests. Some schools conduct computerised tests. Some schools have different stages to their assessments, with great importance placed on interview and group tasks. if you’re unsure, then check the admissions page of the school website or ask Clarendon.
Here is a link to the St Paul’s Maths syllabus and suggested reading list.
Also useful are the KCS specimen papers in Maths and English.
How do I know if my child is ready?
Nearly all schools indicate that your child should be performing well above the expectations for KS1 at the end of year 2.
You should probably only be considering the 7+ if your child has started their development early and is sat somewhere near the top of their class.
If you are not sure of where they are in their class in terms of attainment, or are not sure of the level of their pre-prep, we can assess your child in a friendly, non-pressurised way to give you a much clearer picture of what’s realistic.
Do I need tutoring?
If your child is not at the right stage of their development, then no amount of tutoring will get them to the desired level. However, if your child is on track, then positive, nurturing support is well advised; your child will be up against rigorously tutored children.
What are good resources to use?
If your child is not at the right stage of their development, then no amount of tutoring will get them to the desired level. However, if your child is on track, then positive, nurturing support is well advised; your child will be up against rigorously tutored children.