Any tips on passing the 7+ entrance exams for top London Day Schools

[purplemoonparty]

Hi all,

My son is currently 6 years old and is about to sit the 7+ exams in the coming term. We have a private tutor and I do a lot of homework with him but I still feel that there's something missing. He's currently at an Outstanding state primary school.

He has applied to Kings College Wimbledon, Westminster Under and St Paul's for boys Junior School.

I personally went from state, then did the 11+ plus to attend boarding school with a scholarship and am from a much more humble upbringing than my children. Therefore I don't think my experience was that relevant.

I welcome any tips on the above schools from those who have recently experienced the tests/interviews.

P.S. please kindly note that this is not a thread about state school vs. public/private school. Each to their own. :)

We are in the same position, my DS is 6 and due to sit the same exams in the Autumn. He is currently at a lovely but not academic state school. It has been a bit of challenge trying to cover all the extra topics they need for the entrance tests.

We have been using bond books and just started using the EPP tests. He has a tutor once a week as comprehension/creative writing is his least favourite subject!

I think one of the most useful things is making sure they read plenty. Best of luck to you and your DS!

Hi.
im also in the same position. Looking at City of London Freemans. Are the Bond Books good? Do they mirror the exam?
thanks 🙏

Hi @Pokemomm @Orchid2016

Mine is also in a state school. I use Bond books and just look at the past papers as well.

Not sure whether that's enough. Feel so bad that they are only 6 years old and having to sit down for 3 hours.

Are the Bond books any good?

I know what you mean @purplemoonparty -seems like a long time for them to have to concentrate at such a young age.

@Orchid2016 we have found the bond books helpful, we started with 6-7 and are now doing 7-8. I’m not sure if that’s the right level or if they should be doing 8-9y also but that seemed a bit ridiculous to me!

we have also just started doing some of the exams paper plus material

Morning

i don’t think these 7+ tests expects the students to access 7-8 maths /English but you never know!
my son seems to lack the enthusiasm for English! But seems to sail through the maths and non verbal! 🤦🏻‍♀️
we are looking at City of Freemans but might also look at Kings College

@Orchid2016 sounds very similar to us! Creative writing seems to be the biggest struggle whereas maths/reasoning seems a bit more straightforward!

I know I feel awful pushing and being so anxious about it. I just want him to get into this school

Not a very helpful comment.

i think every parent on this thread is just trying to help and nurture their kids. I’m surprised at the level that’s expected but these schools are very competitive

@Pokemomm @Orchid2016

I quite like Bond books.

Here is what I am doing with my son.

www.bond11plus.co.uk/shop/category/p6-7

The 7-8 Maths seems really advanced. Not sure whether it will be that hard. I think if your sons finish the 6-7 then do the 7-8. The exam is about 6 weeks away - so scary!

Good luck to you all x

Thanks! Good luck. I wonder if the parents worry more than the children! X

Hi everyone! We are also preparing for the 7+ specifically for kings & St. Paul’s. we have also been using the bond books and exam paper plus papers. Would love to hear what others are doing to prepare? Does anyone know where I can find more practice materials for listening?

Hi @LondonMumO2
i think there’s a new listening test that’s recently been added to exams paper plus, I was thinking about buying it.

it’s hard to know what the “listening test” involves or what they have to do in dictation. Any ideas about what to expect?

it depends what school you are applying to as I know the school we are applying to doesn’t require a listening test.

I’ve now got the Bond books. My daughter is working through them and finds them ok.

We did 7 plus and it was so stressful, coercing a small child into prepping, my DS did not do brilliantly but the 11 plus actually better because my DS knew what he wanted and was old enough to work independently.

I feel awful but it’s the school my daughter wants to go to so I am supporting her. She is doing half an hour to an hour each day on each skill area.

It certainly wasn't a fun experience, poor kids are so young to go through it - but it is ultimately for their future. We used https://www.kizara.uk to supplement the bond books, for some focus on areas our DS needed some extra practice in. Luckily got an offer from our top choice last year and took it!

My kids got finishing touches from prep plus tutoring for their 11+ exams. They are very good and they specialise in 7+ and 8+ exam preparation as well. I will highly recommend them. They can cater the needs of child. They have got online and face to face classes. https://prepplus.co.uk/ worth a try.

@Pokemomm @Orchid2016 would you kindly pm the tutor details plz? V r prepping for next yr

@Razzmata can you send me a DM? For some reason I can't access the messaging on my app

Hi Hope you’re doing well. I need some help on 7 plus exam prep for my son who is will be appearing for exams in Autumn 2024. I was going through some posts and realized your DS has cleared KCS last yr. Congratulations and best of luck. I have moved to London in 2023 so it took time for us to understand the education system here. My son studies in a outstanding state school in Y1. He is an intelligent and smart boy but definitely not prepared for these exams yet. Iam aiming for KCS and St. Pauls. Iam starting with bond/ cgp books and will start a weekly tutor immediately. I want to know am I really late for all these prep or there is a chance for him. Looking at the post, Iam nervous now to know the level lof competition at this young age. Also, what else I should do to cover lost time and additional action to be taken. Iam fairly new here and do not know many people so relying a lot on online guidance. I will be really grateful to you for helping me on this.@Pokemomm

When prepping for the 8 plus, we gave our son who wasn't overly academic, a tutor who turned out to be so fantastic - she would come with her laptop with prepped lessons and the difference in him was night and day, nearing his entrance exams she went abroad and the tutoring company replaced her with another tutor who was nowhere near the first tutors standards. He was offered spots from 5 different schools (day & boarding) (didn't get into King's, but I didn't really want him to anyway). So we only had the not so good tutor a few weeks before we didn't need a tutor at all. The excellent tutor had done what we needed her to. Meanwhile a friend who has been chugging along with a tutor who she's not overly happy with for years, because he's cheap - her son sat the exams a few months ago and didn't get offered even 1 spot. My point is, don't get complacent with a crappy tutor, swap them around if you're not seeing results. And my other tip is don't have a favourite school, originally I had 1 school in mind, and I was advised by a wise friend to apply to lots of schools which was great, we applied to 8 in the end.

My son got a place with City of London Freemans to start in September