Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

8+ exam Westminster, St Paul’s, Kings College 2022 entry.

42 replies

pembatheart · 17/06/2021 22:42

8+ thread has been quiet this year for the 2022 year 4 entry. I wanted to start one to get the conversation going. COVID-19 has brought in so many changes and challenges. Hoping this thread can help alleviate some of the exam stress for 8+. Any tips from those who have been through this would be much appreciated. My son is currently sitting WUS but I am also considering Kings College and St Paul’s.
Questions:
Did you tutor?
Bond books level to use?
VR/NVR- what level should he be at 10-11?
Did you use EPP? Is it the right level?

OP posts:

Archibald33 · 24/01/2022 22:54

Hi All - I am
Looking for reccos on 8+ tutoring for DS in North London. He sat 7+ for SPJ AND WUS and made it to interview but no offers. Feedback was that 1) he is very strong at math but needs improvement in writing 2) needs greater focus/ability to work in a group.

He is July born I.e one of the youngest in his cohort, goes to state school and has not had 1-1 tutoring.

We are looking for reccos for a tutor who can prep him for writing. He reads a lot and his verbally expressive but not very keen on writing.

We are based in North London and would appreciate any leads
Thanks!

RoseGriffiths · 31/01/2022 12:49

WUS head is going on Mat leave and deputy standing in.

RoseGriffiths · 31/01/2022 12:51

@njshore

I heard through the grapevine that the WUS Head is taking a leave of absence as well, announcing it after being there for only 4 months! So both schools will have a "new" Head, a wash.

This is a positive absence…WUS head is going on Mat leave and deputy head is only standing in.

dsquare · 18/08/2022 13:00

anyone sat U CS 8+ ?

passport123 · 19/08/2022 14:32

Bikeproject · 19/06/2021 23:40

My son sat King's 7+ last autumn unsuccessfully. We had blindingly followed the advice of the schools which said not to tutor. Now, at the end of the school year, we know where most of the children are going and all the children who succeeded at 7+ for King's or St Paul's had tutoring or their parents took on that role. Tutoring does not guarantee success obviously (as we know children who were tutored who didn't pass) but we now know we were at a disadvantage. I'm sure some children pass without tutoring but it doesn't seem to be the majority.
People tutored in various ways. Some did weekly sessions. Some did group mock exams only but repeatedly. Some a mixture of weekly + mock exams. Some took on the tutor role and practised 20 minutes every day + did mock exams.
Bond tests are not the best from what others have said. EPP better as well as Schofield and CGP. Count roughly two years ahead. So up to and including year 6 curriculum.
It was exam only at 7+ King's last autumn so I don't know how interviews and activity session play out. Although King's had implied there'd be an outdoor break, there wasn't. The break was spent standing in the exam room. So the children spent 3 hours at their desk, sitting or standing.
My impression for King's is that it's the test score only that guarantees entry. The rest is only used as a decider. I could be wrong about that but that's what I think.

Sympathies. Believing the 'no of course we didn't tutor' is so easy to do, people lie very convincingly!

passport123 · 19/08/2022 14:35

dsquare · 18/08/2022 13:00

anyone sat U CS 8+ ?

I don't think UCS has an 8+ entry point.....7+ only in junior unless there's an occasional place

NorthwestLondonMama · 12/09/2022 02:19

Can anyone possibly help clarify for me what the WUS 8+ entails? I’ve been on the website, but I’m struggling to work out exactly what the assessment consists of.
They mention an entirely computer-based test, including for English, which involves multiple choice and typing in single word answers. Is there any way of practicing that? Any software or tutor that can help with the preparation for that? They mention “a number of third party online providers of maths, English and reasoning tests”. Any idea which ones are closest to what they would be expected to do?
And does it mean that there is no ‘story’/ creative writing component? Or is that something they do in the second round?
If so, what kind of writing is expected in the second round? A creative writing story or something else?
TIA for any suggestions or help!

8and11plusexam · 13/09/2022 13:28

I would really want to know this too

FriendlyMom · 05/12/2022 20:32

@NorthwestLondonMama They must have changed the process - if the test is similar to the online 2021 entry one. When we sat the exam last year, it was completely paper based.
The math and english of the 2021 were more straightforward from what I have heard, the VR - more challenging. The interview is important, it could have a writing element of sorts - not necessarily a story.

Leapfrog1980 · 06/12/2022 00:05

@FriendlyMom thank you so much for your answer. That sounds interesting. They’ve said that everything is online (with paper to work things out on). So I guess a different system. But great to know about the interview. Thank you!

GloriaMPT · 15/09/2023 17:58

Hello everyone,
I am going to try both Kings and St Paul’s for my 8 year old boy but my child has had no tutoring at all.
can anyone recomend a good tutor please? 🙏🏻

If anyone is willing to share their experiences of the process it will be really appreciate it!
thank you very much.

GloriaMPT · 15/09/2023 18:02

Entrance at 8+, Could anyone kindly recommend a tutor for 8+ Entrance Kings College and St Paul’s .
Also I would greatly appreciate if someone could share their experience with me 🙏🏻

Workaholic123 · 29/10/2023 13:26

Hi there,
Can anyone give me any indication of what is expected in the KCS activity day.
Haven't got a clue! Any help would be much appreciated!

Bikeproject · 29/10/2023 19:39

They do a group activity. The one my son had a while back was create a few entries for an animal encyclopedia. But it could be anything. It could be problem solving for example. They work in small groups of 4/5 and create or solve something. They're observed throughout. It's not something you can prepare for.

Workaholic123 · 29/10/2023 21:22

Ah ok. Thanks so much

NorthwestLondonMama · 03/11/2023 16:33

Hello quick question.

Are all the Westminster Under School 8+ exams grouped together? This year it’s 20 minutes VR and 20 minutes NVR (both on iPads), and then two written papers: English (25 mins) and maths (20 mins.)

Would all those be sat consecutively? Or are there breaks between?

Thanks!

user1494882341 · 13/06/2025 15:53

@RoseGriffiths could I please check how did you prepare for the dictation at SPJS? I really like your method of 2-3 times a week for 3 months. Did you take the sentences or even the audio from somewhere you would recommend? Looking for my DS to sit down at SJPS, Westminster and King's this winter term. Thanks!

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread