7+ exams for Westminster, King's and St. Pauls

[Heist]

Hello Everyone, my son is writing 7+ exams for Westminster, St.Pauls and KCS this year.
My son is preparing for a while now and struggling in English a lot as of now.
Could someone please provide me more insights on the interview and activity tasks that the kids are asked to participate in and how to ace those bits? How could I prepare my son for these bits?
Thanks a lot.

Key message is that he should read a lot. It is the best way to boost vocabulary and language skills

Thanks for replying. It really is very helpful.
Could you also advise on what kind of questions will be asked in the interview and activity tasks?
Also, since St.Pauls has changed its composition exercise into dictation exercise, please advise on any tips for preparing for the same.
Thanks again.

Feedback that we have received from DS current school is that the change to dictation format at SPJ means more focus on listening and being being able to quickly transpose what has been said with correct punctuation, spelling and also legible joined up hand writing. Hence, practise, practise. Most parents that we know are quite pleased with this change, since most of the boys for whatever reason struggle with creative writing and being able to compose a story.

Thanks for responding.
I completely echo on the bit of boys struggling with creative writing.
Any ideas on what happens in SPS interview/activity day?

Dies he do ant non-school activities? Sport, music, hobbies? They seem to like sparky kids, confident in speaking with adults with ‘passions’ the can discuss.

Thanks for your reply.
He does a few non-school activities like swimming, gymnastics and all. My concern is will he be able to talk openly about his passions infront of them.

Well ask him to think about three things he enjoys about, say gymnastics. What is difficult and what’s a challenge. Does he like to watch any gymnastics - has he been to see any competitions? Have a look on YouTube for some of the famous competitors - does he do any competitions or does he just like doing it for fun and exercise?

Does he swim in a team or is he training to swim for one?

Just get him chatting and thinking about what he likes and what he finds hard - is this a good thing? What does it teach him? Would he want to be a professional or is it just for fun and to be on a team?

Does he like music or art? Where does he like to go on a day out?

That’s very insightful.
Will get the ball rolling to making him think about this questions straight away.
Any sharing of thoughts about creative writing for other KCS and Westminster?
Also, what will be the level for comprehension 6-7years or 7-8years or even above that?

2nd day is a group activity with other boys and parents will be interviewed by the head of the junior school

Not sure about that age and the tests have changed since our time. Your current school should be able to tell you.

As per @LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD your current school would be best place to advise on where your son needs to be, for these schools. For what it's worth, our DS school is preparing them at about level 8-9 yrs old for all of the papers.

Current school should also be advising which schools you should be trying for - it’s not just a case of of the child is smart, it’s also the type of school that’s right for the type of child.

And reading - he should be well read. Get a list of relevant aged books and let him read away. Ask questions about what he has read (did he understand it, what does it mean to him etc). The Newbury medal books are a good place to start.

Read them first! I started The Giver and quite liked it so read on... then got to the bit where euthanasia was described in detail and put the book aside for a little while for DS.

Teach him how to sit in on chair in a decent manner,

I interview at 7+ and it’s a negative mark for me if a child is squirming all over their seat or has their hand down their trousers etc....

We don’t want anything other than a conversation with a child able to answer with more than monosyllabic answers or saying ‘I don’t know’

Many tanks everyone for replying so patiently to all my queries.
Could you please suggest what kind of topics have been asked in the past for creative writing?
What do you believe is the pass percentage split between English and maths?
TIA

Do you have some back-up schools as well?

Again - we were older but the written thing was to write a pro/con about a subject (children being allowed to smoke I think).

I’d go through how to write a short piece - plan, 3 paras, 20 lines, conclusion, punctuation, neatness, spelling etc and look at the lists of ‘good words’ to use or commonly misspelt ones too.

As of now I haven’t planned for any back up schools. I would prefer him write 8+.

Always have a Plan B! Have a wee think, just as a back up.

Need to have a banker school, especially if he's in pre-prep and will have to move on at the end of this year. We have our DS down for 5 schools, including one banker. St Paul's will give their decisions before Xmas, hence if we get an offer then we will pull him from the Jan assessment since St Paul's is our first choice as well.

@Heist if he gets three interviews and no places then 8+ might be a reasonable plan. If he gets no interviews then you might regret not having chosen a more realistic school, as the chances of going from that position to 8+ success are slim and then you'd have to do 11+.

FWIW I know a lot of bright intelligent well prepared boys who sat both W and St. P this year and got neither. The numbers are bonkers. 400 for I think 18 places at W.

Really appreciate all your suggestions everyone.
Will consider Latymer as a back up school.

Are you aware of any group activity examples?

I don't think Latymer is a good backup option, as it is really competitve for boys. Only 20 boys places for over 200 boy applicants.