Mastering the 7 Plus Entrance Exams: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents
At U2 Tuition, we have a fantastic 7+ preparation programme, with a track record of success supporting our younger learners in entry to a range of top UK Schools. In this blog post, we'll delve into the intricacies of preparing for the 7 Plus entrance exams, providing you with invaluable insights and strategies to support your child's success.
Understanding the 7 Plus Exam
The 7 Plus exam is a selective entrance examination for children seeking admission to top-tier Independent schools. Typically taken during Year 2, this assessment evaluates students in English, Mathematics and sometimes verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.
The 7 Plus entrance exam process is fiercely competitive, particularly for top London schools such as Westminster, St Paul’s and UCS. With this in mind, it is worth thinking about starting preparation as early as possible, ensuring your child pushes beyond the standard required for their age level to standout amongst the numerous strong candidates applying.
Key Dates for 7 Plus Exams
Planning ahead is essential when preparing for the 7 Plus exam. Understanding the key dates associated with the examination process is vital for effective preparation. While specific dates may vary between schools, it's essential to be aware of general timelines, including application deadlines, exam dates, and result notifications. By staying informed and organised, you can create a structured study schedule for your child and ensure that you meet all necessary deadlines.
Key Dates: The 7 Plus exams are typically conducted between October and January of Year 2.
Choosing the Right School for 7 Plus Entrance
Selecting the right school for your child's education is a significant decision that requires careful consideration. When evaluating potential schools for 7 Plus entrance, several factors come into play:
School Types: Explore the different types of schools available for 7 Plus entrance as a starting point! Not all will have this as their entry point.
A large number of schools offer 7+ examinations as an entry point e.g. Dulwich College, King's College School, South Hampstead High School, Latymer Prep, Westminster School, St Paul's School and UCS to name a few.
School Reputation and Performance: Research the academic performance and reputation of schools to ensure they align with your child's educational goals.
Curriculum and Specialisations: Consider the curriculum and subject specialisations offered by each school to determine if they meet your child's interests and aspirations. For example, Westminster School is known to place a large emphasis on Maths - this is reflected in the 7+ test papers, which might include some more challenging Maths problem solving questions.
Location and Commute: Evaluate the practical aspects of the school's location and commute, taking into account factors such as proximity to home and transportation options.
School Visits and Open Days: Take advantage of school visits and open days to gain first-hand experience of each school's atmosphere, ethos, and facilities. This is a great chance to speak to teachers and discuss particulars of their entrance process.
Effective Preparation for 7 Plus Exams
Key 7 Plus Preparation Timelines
When to start preparing for the 7 Plus exams is a personal choice and is dependent on a number of factors such as the student’s current level, the standard of their current school (e.g. they may be very academic so already covering lots of elements covered in the tests) etc. While some families opt to begin in Reception or Year 1, others may choose to start later based on their preferences and circumstances.
Starting 7+ Preparation in Reception:
Whilst this may seem early, starting to think about 7 plus exam preparation in Reception can be advantageous. While it's not about delving into extensive past paper practice at this stage, there are plenty of beneficial activities that can lay the groundwork for future success.
Our 7 Plus tutors working with Reception children ensure that sessions are not only educational but also fun and engaging. Through interactive games, storytelling, and creative exercises, we focus on building early skills such as phonics, basic numeracy, and language development.
By instilling a love for learning and fostering curiosity from an early age, we help children develop the enthusiasm and confidence they need to excel academically. So, while it may seem early to start 7 plus exam preparation, investing in building solid foundations during Reception can pay off immensely in the years to come.
Starting 7+ Preparation in Year 1
Beginning 7 plus exam preparation in Year 1 is the most typical starting point for students. During Year 1, for example, our tutors focus on consolidating fundamental skills in English and Maths, building upon what children have learned in Reception and extending students beyond the National Curriculum level where possible if applying to the most academic schools. Through engaging and interactive sessions, we aim to hone their writing skills and strengthen their understanding of phonics, reading comprehension, mathematical concepts, and problem-solving skills.
At this stage, our 7 plus tutors also place a strong emphasis on familiarising students with the format and structure of 7+ past exam papers. While simultaneously building foundational skills, introducing students to exam-style questions helps them become comfortable with the types of tasks they'll encounter during the actual exam.
Engaging with past exam papers also provides valuable insight into your child’s strengths and areas for improvement. For example, our 7 plus tutors would carefully analyse students' performance on practice papers, identifying any gaps in knowledge or skills that may require further attention. This targeted feedback allows us to tailor our teaching strategies to address individual needs effectively.
Intensive 7+ Preparation in Year 2
As the 7+ exams draw nearer, it becomes essential to ramp up preparation efforts to ensure readiness and confidence on the 7+ test day. During this phase, students typically engage in targeted strategies aimed at maximising their performance and addressing any remaining areas of improvement.
At this stage, some parents may like to increase the frequency and intensity of study sessions. Mock exams can also help to simulate exam conditions and gauge the student’s readiness. Mock exams will enable you to identify areas of your child’s strength and weakness, allowing for targeted revision and remedial work. As time management plays a significant role in 7 Plus exam success, students should learn to tackle questions efficiently while adhering to strict time limits.
Preparing for Success in the 7 Plus Exam
English Exams for 7 Plus
English 7+ papers typically encompass a range of exercises designed to assess a child's literacy skills, comprehension abilities, and creative writing. These papers aim to evaluate a student's command of the English language across various aspects, including reading, writing, spelling, and grammar. Here's an overview of what English 7+ papers usually involve:
Reading Comprehension: Reading comprehension exercises form a significant part of English 7+ papers. Students are presented with passages of varying lengths and complexity, followed by a series of questions that assess their understanding of the text. Questions may require students to identify main ideas, infer meaning, make predictions, draw conclusions, and analyse literary techniques.
Vocabulary and Spelling: English 7+ papers often include sections dedicated to testing vocabulary knowledge and spelling skills. Students may encounter exercises involving synonyms, antonyms, word definitions, word associations, and context-based vocabulary usage. Additionally, spelling tests may assess a child's ability to spell words accurately and apply spelling rules effectively.
Grammar and Punctuation: Assessments of grammar and punctuation are integral components of English 7+ papers. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in identifying and correcting grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, pronoun usage, and sentence structure. Students will also be examined for correct use of commas, periods, apostrophes, quotation marks, and other punctuation marks.
Creative Writing: Creative writing tasks provide students with an opportunity to showcase their imaginative thinking and expressive writing skills. These tasks may involve writing narratives, descriptive passages, dialogues, letters, or poems based on given prompts or themes. Students are encouraged to demonstrate creativity, clarity, coherence, and originality in their writing while adhering to conventions of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Verbal Reasoning: While not exclusively English-focused, some 7+ exams include verbal reasoning components within the English papers. Verbal reasoning exercises assess a child's ability to understand and manipulate language through tasks such as identifying patterns, completing analogies, solving verbal puzzles, and making logical deductions.
When preparing your child for the English 7 Plus exam, it's essential to cover a wide range of skills and topics to ensure comprehensive readiness.
Here are some tips to guide your child's English 7 Plus exam preparation:
1. Regular Reading and Vocabulary Enhancement: Encourage your child to engage in regular reading of various texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational articles. Reading exposes them to different writing styles, genres, and vocabulary, enriching their language skills. Additionally, engage in vocabulary enhancement activities such as exploring word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and word associations. Introducing your child to more complex literary devices like simile, metaphor, and personification can also broaden their understanding of language and enhance their creative expression.
2. Comprehension Exercises: Focus on comprehension exercises to develop your child's ability to understand and interpret written passages effectively. Encourage them to analyse texts, identify key ideas, make inferences, and draw conclusions. Practise with a variety of comprehension passages of varying lengths and complexity levels to build their comprehension skills progressively.
3. Creative Writing Practice: Nurture your child's creativity and writing skills through regular creative writing practice. Provide opportunities for them to write narratives, descriptive passages, dialogues, and poems based on different prompts or themes. Encourage them to experiment with language, imagery, and literary devices to make their writing more engaging and expressive. Introduce them to more complex literary devices like simile, to add depth and richness to their writing.
4. Spelling Practice: Dedicate time to spelling practice to help your child improve their spelling accuracy and confidence. Utilise spelling games, word puzzles, and spelling lists to reinforce spelling rules, common patterns, and challenging words. Encourage your child to apply spelling strategies such as breaking words into syllables, using mnemonics, and practicing regularly to enhance retention.
5. Past Papers and Exam Technique Refinement: Prioritise practising past papers to familiarise your child with the format, style, and types of questions they may encounter in the exam. Use past papers as an opportunity to refine exam technique. Provide constructive feedback on their responses to help them identify areas for improvement and build confidence in tackling exam tasks.
Maths Exams for 7 Plus
Maths papers for the 7+ exam are designed to assess a child's mathematical understanding, problem-solving abilities, and application of mathematical concepts. These papers aim to evaluate a child's proficiency in various areas of mathematics and their ability to solve mathematical problems independently. Here's what you can expect in Maths 7+ papers:
1. Core Mathematical Concepts: Maths 7+ papers typically cover fundamental mathematical concepts taught at Key Stage 1 and the beginning of Key Stage 2. This includes topics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, measurements, geometry, and basic algebraic concepts. Children are expected to demonstrate a solid understanding of these core mathematical principles.
2. Problem-Solving Tasks: Maths papers often include problem-solving tasks that require children to apply their mathematical knowledge to solve real-life problems or mathematical puzzles, especially for the more academic schools. These tasks assess a child's ability to analyse problems (often multi-step), identify relevant information, and use appropriate strategies to arrive at solutions.
3. Mathematical Reasoning: Maths 7+ papers also assess a child's mathematical reasoning skills, including their ability to make connections between different mathematical concepts, identify patterns, and justify their solutions. Children may encounter questions that require them to explain their reasoning, provide evidence for their answers, or demonstrate a systematic approach to problem-solving.
4. Mental Maths: Some maths papers include sections dedicated to mental maths, where children are required to perform calculations quickly and accurately without the use of written methods. N.B. Some school interviews can also involve a few mental maths questions.
5. Variety of Question Formats: Maths papers may feature a variety of question formats, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and longer problem-solving tasks. Children should be familiar with different question styles and practice answering them effectively to ensure they are well-prepared for the exam.
Here's how you can effectively support your child's Maths 7+ exam preparation:
1. Reinforce Fundamental Skills: Start by reinforcing your child's understanding of basic mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals. Use practical examples and everyday situations to demonstrate the relevance of these concepts, making learning engaging and relatable. E.g. You could incorporate activities that involve measurements, money, time, and spatial reasoning to develop their problem-solving skills and mathematical fluency.
2. Emphasise Mental Maths Practice: Mental maths practice is crucial for building speed and accuracy in calculations. Encourage your child to engage in regular mental maths exercises, including quick-fire questions, rapid calculations, and mental arithmetic challenges. This will enhance their computational skills and improve their ability to perform calculations mentally.
3. Problem-Solving Exercises: Introduce your child to a variety of problem-solving exercises that require critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Present them with mathematical puzzles, logical reasoning tasks, and word problems that challenge their problem-solving abilities. Encourage them to approach problems systematically, break them down into manageable steps, and use trial and error to find solutions.
4. Exposure to 7 + Past Papers: Provide your child with exposure to past papers from previous 7 Plus exams. This will familiarise them with the format of the exam, the types of questions asked, and the level of difficulty they can expect. Regular practice with past papers will build their confidence, improve their exam technique, and identify areas for improvement.
5. Focus on Time Management: Time management is key to success in the Maths component of the 7 Plus exam. Encourage your child to practice working under timed conditions, allocating a specific amount of time to each question and pacing themselves throughout the exam. Emphasise the importance of accuracy while maintaining efficiency to maximise their performance.
6. Extensive Practice: Finally, ensure that your child engages in extensive practice with past papers and challenging questions. Encourage them to tackle a wide range of mathematical problems, including those that require multi-step reasoning and complex calculations. Regular practice will build their confidence, consolidate their skills, and prepare them effectively for the Maths component of the 7 Plus exam.
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning for 7 Plus
In the 7 Plus exam, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning can play a role in assessing a child's problem-solving abilities and cognitive skills. It's important to note that while some schools may have a separate reasoning paper, others may integrate reasoning questions into the Maths and English papers.
Verbal Reasoning:
Verbal Reasoning questions in the 7 Plus exam focus on language-based problem-solving tasks. Students may encounter questions related to word relationships, verbal classification, code breaking, and critical reasoning. These questions assess a child's ability to understand and manipulate language effectively.
Non-Verbal Reasoning:
Non-Verbal Reasoning questions in the 7 Plus exam involve visual and spatial problem-solving tasks. Students may encounter questions related to spatial awareness, pattern recognition, series completion, and logical deduction. These questions assess a child's ability to analyse visual information and identify patterns and relationships.
Encouraging practice with both verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions will help students develop the skills needed to succeed on test day:
1. Promote Reading and Spelling Skills: Encourage your child to develop strong reading habits and work on improving their spelling proficiency. Regular reading exposes them to a variety of vocabulary and helps them understand the nuances of language.
2. Introduce Question Types: Familiarise your child with different question types commonly found in Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning tests. Practise untimed exercises to allow them to understand the logic behind each question type and develop problem-solving strategies.
3. Vocabulary Enrichment: Incorporate vocabulary enrichment activities into your child's routine. Introduce new words regularly and encourage them to use these words in context. Vocabulary games, word puzzles, and reading challenging texts can help expand their vocabulary.
4. Challenging Questions Exposure: Expose your child to a variety of challenging questions beyond the basic level. This exposure helps them develop problem-solving skills and adapt to different question formats they might encounter in the exam.
5. Encourage Logical Thinking: Emphasise the importance of logical thinking and analytical skills. Encourage your child to approach each question systematically, breaking down complex problems into manageable steps.
Great Resources for 7 Plus Exam Preparation
Finding the right resources will help aid your child's readiness for the 7 Plus exam. Here's a breakdown of some excellent tools and materials that can bolster your child's learning experience:
1. Workbooks: Invest in high-quality workbooks, either based on the National Curriculum or specifically designed for the 7 Plus exam. These can include workbooks in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning (Bond is great for Reasoning). Look for workbooks that offer clear explanations, varied question types, and ample practice opportunities to reinforce learning.
2. Practice Papers: Acquire practice papers tailored for the 7 Plus exam. These practice papers mimic the format and difficulty level of the actual exam, allowing your child to familiarise themselves with the exam structure and question types. Practice papers are essential for building exam confidence and honing time management skills. Our 7+ tutors have access to a host of resources and curate additional questions due to the limited number of school papers online.
3. Tailored 7 Plus Tutoring Services: Consider enrolling your child in tailored 7 Plus tutoring services provided by experienced school entrance specialists such as ourselves! Tailored 7 Plus tutoring sessions can address your child's specific learning needs and offer targeted support in areas where they may need additional help.
U2 Tuition's 7+ tutoring sessions address specific learning needs, ensuring tailored support for each student. With a focus on building foundational skills, mastering exam technique, and providing extensive past paper practice, our tutors support students to excel in the 7 Plus entrance exam and beyond.
Book a free 20-minute 7 Plus consultation today and find out more about how we can help.
By leveraging these resources effectively, you can provide your child with the support and tools they need to excel in the 7 Plus exam and achieve their academic goals.
