2026 Rankings

The Complete Guide to 7+ Entrance Exams (+ Free Sample Paper)

Everything parents need to know about 7+ entrance exams: what they test, how they're assessed, when to prepare, and how to give your child the best chance of securing a place at a top London prep school at one of the most competitive entry points in UK education.

30+

LEADING PREP SCHOOLS

~2h

Test Duration

CORE COMPONENTS

Year 2

TYPICAL YEAR GROUP

What is the 7+?

The 7+ is the collective term for the entrance assessments sat by children in Year 2 (ages 6–7) to secure a place in Year 3 at some of the most selective prep schools in London and the South East. It is used by schools such as Westminster Under, Dulwich College Junior, King’s College School Junior, Haberdashers’ Prep, City of London School for Boys Preparatory, North London Collegiate Junior, and Wetherby Prep.

Although the test sits on the earliest rung of selective education, it is widely recognised as one of the most competitive admission points in UK schooling—some schools receive six to eight applications per place. The assessment is designed to identify academic promise, genuine curiosity, and readiness for a rigorous prep-school environment, rather than to test knowledge beyond what a bright six-year-old can reasonably be expected to know.

Who Takes It

Children in Year 2 applying for Year 3 entry into selective London prep schools. Candidates usually sit the 7+ at multiple schools, each with its own format and style. Most families apply to four to six schools to manage the uncertainty inherent in assessments at this age.

When It's Taken

Assessments take place in January of Year 2, with offers returned in February–March. Registration typically closes in the autumn term of Year 1—often 12 to 18 months in advance—and places at popular schools can fill a year before the assessment itself.

Test Format

Usually split across a written assessment (English and Maths) and an interview or group assessment at the school. Some schools include a short reasoning paper. Format varies considerably between schools, so preparation must be tailored to the specific mix of assessments your child will sit.

Test Structure & Sections

While every 7+ school has its own format, most assessments test the same three core areas. Understanding what each component actually measures is essential—these assessments are deceptively simple in appearance and demanding in substance.

English

Candidates read a short passage and answer written questions testing literal understanding, simple inference, and vocabulary. Most papers also include a short creative writing task of 10–20 minutes. Schools assess handwriting, spelling accuracy, sentence construction, punctuation, and the ability to structure a simple narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.

Mathematics

Covers the Year 2 National Curriculum at a stretched level: place value to 100 (often beyond), addition and subtraction, simple multiplication and division, fractions, time, money, measurement, and shape. Most 7+ papers include word problems requiring careful reading and logical working—mathematical reasoning is weighted as heavily as computation.

Interview & Group Assessment

A one-to-one or small-group session conducted by teachers. Children may be asked about their interests, a book they have recently read, or a topic they enjoy at school. Group activities might include a puzzle, a short building task, or collaborative problem-solving. Schools are observing confidence, curiosity, communication, listening skills, and how the child relates to peers and adults.

How the 7+ is Assessed

7+ assessment does not produce a single standardised score. Instead, schools build a rounded picture of each candidate using written papers, interview impressions, and in some cases reports from the child’s current nursery or pre-prep school. Offers are made holistically.

There is no national pass mark—each school sets its own thresholds and applies them alongside interview performance
Most selective prep schools receive 6–8 applications per available place, making the 7+ comparable in competitiveness to senior-school entry
Written papers typically account for 60–70% of the overall assessment, with interviews and observations carrying the remainder
Age-standardisation is applied informally—a September-born child is not directly compared against an August-born one
Schools assess potential and readiness, not prior coaching—candidates who appear over-drilled often score poorly at interview
Some schools operate a waiting list system; a strong performance on a waiting list can still secure a place if an offer is declined elsewhere
Handwriting, presentation, and composure are often reported as differentiators between otherwise evenly matched candidates

Worried Your Child Won't Pass?

With a 98% success rate, our 7+ preparation programme is trusted by London families targeting the most competitive prep schools. We guarantee results or we continue tutoring free.

Preparation Timeline

The 7+ is unusual among selective assessments because the candidates are so young. Preparation must strengthen skills without creating pressure, and foster curiosity rather than drill-based anxiety. The timeline below is designed to produce well-prepared, confident, age-appropriate children—not over-coached ones.

12–18 MONTHS BEFORE (early Year 1)

Foundation Building

Focus entirely on enjoyable, play-based development: shared reading every day, conversations that extend vocabulary, simple number games, and fine-motor activities that strengthen pencil grip and handwriting readiness. There should be no formal test preparation at this stage—the goal is to build genuine skill and love of learning.

6–9 MONTHS BEFORE (mid Year 1 / early Year 2)

Structured Practice Begins

Gently introduce 7+-style questions through short, relaxed sessions. Begin light handwriting practice and simple creative writing—picture prompts, short stories, recounting a weekend. Focus on sessions of 15–20 minutes, no more than 3–4 times per week. The emphasis is still on engagement, not mastery.

3–6 MONTHS BEFORE (autumn of Year 2)

Intensive Preparation

Work with a specialist tutor to identify gaps and build confidence in weaker areas. Introduce timed practice in very short bursts. Begin simple interview preparation through everyday conversation—encouraging your child to describe their favourite book, a holiday memory, or something they have built. Keep the tone curious and warm.

1-3 Months Before

Exam Technique & Confidence

Complete one or two full 7+-style practice papers under gentle timed conditions. Visit the route to each target school so the building is not intimidating on assessment day. Role-play the interview informally—not to script answers, but to help your child feel comfortable chatting with an unfamiliar adult.

Final Week

Rest & Reassurance

No practice papers. Focus on sleep, nutrition, and positive conversation. Reassure your child that they only need to be themselves and try their best. At this age, a rested and confident child consistently outperforms a tired and over-prepared one—by a substantial margin.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The 7+ punishes over-preparation more severely than almost any other selective assessment, because young children lose spontaneity and confidence when over-coached. Here are the most common pitfalls we see and how to prevent them.

Starting formal preparation too early

The Solution

Some families begin structured 7+ tutoring at age four or five, believing earlier is better. In practice, long preparation campaigns at this age cause disengagement, fatigue, and visible over-coaching at interview—often the single clearest reason for rejection. Foundation skills matter from an early age; formal preparation should begin no earlier than mid-Year 1.

Over-coaching the interview

The Solution

Schools interview young candidates precisely to see natural curiosity, spontaneous thinking, and genuine personality. Children who deliver rehearsed answers to predictable questions are immediately identifiable. Prepare your child through rich conversation at home—not through memorised responses.

Neglecting handwriting and presentation

The Solution

Handwriting at 7+ is not just about legibility—it signals fine-motor development and school-readiness. Papers with poor presentation lose marks even when the content is correct. Daily handwriting practice of just 10 minutes, starting from mid-Year 1, produces a transformational improvement by assessment day.

Treating creative writing as an afterthought

The Solution

Many families focus heavily on Maths and comprehension while leaving creative writing until the final weeks. In reality, the writing task is often the clearest signal of verbal ability and imagination—two qualities schools prize at 7+. Regular short writing practice, with warm and specific feedback, lifts outcomes significantly.

Applying to too few schools

The Solution

Assessment at age six is inherently variable—children have good days and bad days. Applying to only one or two schools introduces unnecessary risk. Most successful families apply to four to six schools with compatible assessment dates, preserving flexibility and reducing the stakes of any single assessment morning.

98% of Our Students Secure a 7+ Place

Join hundreds of families who trusted our expert tutors. If your child completes our programme and does not pass, we continue tutoring free of charge.

How Elite British Admissions Can Help

Our specialist 7+ preparation programme is designed around the unique demands of assessing six-year-olds: rigorous enough to build real skill, gentle enough to preserve confidence and love of learning. With our place guarantee, you can be confident in your child’s preparation.

Diagnostic Assessment

We identify your child’s specific strengths and weaknesses across English, Maths, and interview readiness—calibrated to the exact format of each prep school on your list.

Expert Tutors

Our tutors specialise exclusively in early-years selective entry and understand how to teach six-year-olds effectively—engaging their curiosity rather than drilling them into disengagement.

Practice Materials

Access to age-appropriate 7+-style English and Maths questions, creative writing prompts with warm and structured feedback, handwriting practice resources, and interview preparation frameworks.

Progress Tracking

Regular reports so you can see your child’s progress across each assessment area, together with guidance on which schools on your list are the strongest fit based on your child’s developing profile.

Related Exam Guides

The Complete Guide to the UKiset Test

https://elitebritishadmissions.com/cat4-guide/

The Complete Guide to the ISEB Pre-Test 2026

The Complete Guide to 13+ Common Entrance

Get a head start on your preparation with our comprehensive free sample paper.

7+ Entrance Preparation

Our students achieve a 98% pass rate. If your child does not pass after completing our programme, we will continue tutoring free of charge until they do.

98%

Pass Rate

500+

Students Helped

100% money-back if not satisfied after first session

Personalised study plan based on diagnostic assessment
Weekly 1-to-1 tutoring with exam specialists
Full access to 500+ practice questions
Unlimited mock tests with detailed feedback
Free continuation until your child passes

“My daughter was struggling with the verbal reasoning section. After just 8 weeks with Elite British Admissions, she scored in the top 10% nationally. The guarantee gave us peace of mind throughout.”

J.P

James P.

ISEB Pre-Test, 2025

The Complete Guide to 7+ Entrance Exams (+ Free Sample Paper)

12–18 MONTHS BEFORE (early Year 1)

Foundation Building

6–9 MONTHS BEFORE (mid Year 1 / early Year 2)

Structured Practice Begins

3–6 MONTHS BEFORE (autumn of Year 2)

Intensive Preparation

1-3 Months Before

Exam Technique & Confidence

Final Week

Rest & Reassurance

The Solution

The Solution

The Solution

The Solution

The Solution

James P.

Quick Links

Top Schools

Get In Touch