What You Need to Know:

7 Plus Exam (7+exam)

What is 7 Plus Exam (7+exam)?

The 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) is an entrance exam for independent schools, taken at the end of Year 2. This is an selective process for schools to sort out the best fitting tudents to for entry to their Year 3. Many independent schools in the UK are holding 7 Plus Exam (7+exam). Students may need to register for 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) for Year3 entry beforehand (usually from the October of their Year1).

Is 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) Exam Competitive?

Yes, 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) is definitely competitive.

First of all, UK independent schools have very limited available places for every-year entry. On average, there usually will be 7-15 applicants competing for one available place.

Secondly, 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) is usually the first entrance exam that students will have in their academic life. For most independent schools in the UK, 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) consists of English, Maths, Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning. Given a limited time, students need to show their academic ability to the school under great pressure.

Also, for 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) at many independent schools, students also need to attend interviews and small group activity, during which students also need to show their communication and teamwork skills.

In short, 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) is to assess students’ overall ability.

What does the 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) look like?

7 Plus Exam (7+exam) consists of written test and interview. The written test has four parts: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning.

Maths:

Students will need to reach the expected level in national curriculum of Year 2. To excel in these 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) maths test, students should be ready to tackle more intricate, multi-step word problems that demand a demonstration of their comprehension and reasoning skills. Mental arithmetic will be evaluated, whether through written or verbal expressions. The key to effective preparation lies in dedicating a bit of time each day. This daily consistency will help students retain the knowledge they acquire. Given the extensive content to cover, it is equally crucial to periodically review and revisit previously learned concepts.

English:

A significant emphasis in 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) English test will revolve around comprehension skills. Fluent reading is of utmost importance, as it is essential for swiftly and accurately processing the text within the allocated time frame. Building a rich vocabulary is also a key aspect, achieved through the creation of a glossary to understand new words and their meanings. Ideally, the student ‘s reading ability should surpass their actual age by at least two years, well exceeding the national average.

The subsequent component under scrutiny will be a written task, typically involving story writing, although it could encompass various genres. Past tasks have included diary entries and letter writing, so it’s advisable to be prepared for diverse writing styles. Mastery in this area will require extensive practice. Schools are looking for students who can exhibit creativity and imagination in their writing. It is evident when a student has merely memorized content, whereas a child who can write freely and in their unique style stands out.

Being an enthusiastic reader undoubtedly provides an advantage. Reading is the primary means of exposing children to a world of imaginative ideas. Through reading, children also encounter well-structured sentences that they can incorporate into their own stories. The stories they read introduce a variety of adjectives and adverbs that can enhance their writing. The use of diverse sentence openers, similes, and personification are all writing techniques closely observed during their 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) English examination. Accurate spelling is another critical element. The student should be capable of spelling all the Year 3 and Year 4 spelling words, as well as the 200 high-frequency words, before sitting for the test.

Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning

The majority of independent schools typically do not administer a distinct examination solely centered on verbal and non-verbal reasoning in 7 Plus Exam (7+exam). Instead, they might corporate problem-solving questions within maths paper that emphasize pattern recognition, close scrutiny of symbols and figures, and the identification of anomalies or differences. In the English paper, verbal reasoning may also come into play, evaluating a student’s capacity to work with words, including comprehension, grammar, decoding skills, and vocabulary.

It is essential to clarify that non-verbal reasoning does not evaluate reading skills; rather, it assesses a child’s aptitude for recognizing and interpreting visual images. Schools that do assess non-verbal reasoning as a separate component often do so to gain insights into a child’s potential academic performance. While schools are often reluctant to provide sample papers or questions for non-verbal reasoning, there are activities and games available to help students cultivate their problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.

Interview:

There will be several questions that come up in the 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) interview. The topics may vary from different independent schools. The interviewer’s assessment will primarily focus on evaluating the candidates’ communication skills and determining their suitability for the school. In order to gauge a candidate’s compatibility, interviewers will pay close attention to the candidate’s ability to express their thoughts, emotions, and opinions openly and fluently in response to inquiries. They will seek responses that go beyond brief, one-word answers, as these provide insight into the child’s individual perspectives and sentiments. Candidates who can elaborate on their responses and provide reasons will convey their personality effectively and demonstrate strong communication abilities.

How to prepare for 7 Plus Exam (7+exam)?

For 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) Maths test, most competitive schools will have questions that go beyond the national average for Year 2 students. Mental arithmetic forms the basis of most papers and could be tested both in a verbal or written form. Therefore, it is better that students have regular practice.

For 7 Plus Exam (7+exam)English test, as the main focus should be around comprehension and story-writing skills, students can keep the habit of reading and applying solid techniques and vocabulary into their own creative writing. Students can practice writing 5-10 lines a day about the topics that interest them. Also, students can have some diction practice regularly to memorize more vocabulary.

For 7 plus (7+) verbal and non-verbal reasoning test, students can do more puzzles and word games in order to have stronger logic abilities, such as sudoku, jigsaws, scribble and etc.

For 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) interviews, students can prepare some questions beforehand, such as questions about themselves and their family. Besides, learning about interview etiquette will also help student stay confident and polite during the interview process.

In order to make students more used to the 7 Plus Exam (7+exam), students can also have several mock exams before the exam day.

Independent Schools with 7 Plus Exam (7+exam) entry:

• St. Paul’s Junior School
• City of London School Junior
• James Allen Girls' Junior School
• Latymer Prep School
• Highgate Lower School
• King’s College School Wimbledon Junior
• Dulwich College Junior
• Alleyn’s Junior School
• Westminster Under School

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