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7+ exams 2024

325 replies

Pokemomm · 10/07/2023 06:23

Anyone else prepping for the 7+ this year? We are trying to work out how many schools to do exams for. Live in SW London and thinking about SPJS, KCS, WUS and Latymer. Seems like a lot for a 6yo but my understanding is it's best to do a few as their performance on the day May really vary at that age.
What resources are everyone using?

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Lolakath19 · 07/12/2023 11:34

Parent of a SPJ boy here who started in 2022 in year 3. Just want to reassure people on the expected level of boys. When I read people doing 11+ paper for 7 or 8+. This was NOT at all what we did. EPP 7+ papers were very hard compared to actual exams.
most thing that makes the difference on my mind was being able to sit for the duration of the exams without loosing focus having to go the toilet etc - that is what happened to our son at KCS and this did not have time to do 2 of the 5 pages in maths.

We were in a prep school that did prep the boys a bit but does not give homework (apart from 10 spelling words a week). Outside we did some maths only : bonds book up to 7/8 and some 7+ epp papers. No English for us on top of school as we are foreigner and would not know how to teach English. Some bonds in NVR and vr though. Up to 8/9 in NVR because my son loved it and 7/8 in VR.
if I could do something different I would do some mock test prior to get this experience of sitting for so long.
Hope this is helpful

Congrats on all the offers so far. Good luck for those waiting and most of all congrats to your little boys who have worked so hard !
i certainly could not do half of the things my son could do at this age!

Pbhar · 07/12/2023 14:12

That is a very good insight, thank you so much for sharing. DS sat for kings/WUS/SPJ this year for 7+. We did bond books for eng and maths. I found out about VR and NVR (7-8) only in summer so made him do some practice with bond books for VR and NVR.
He passed the written assessment for Kings but we got a reject after activity and interview round. Kings will provide feedback only in Jan. for SPJ they said he is in upper middle quartile and WUS provided the marks which land up to 70%.
can anyone advice if it’s worth going through the 8+ route. If yes m, then should I get him tutored as this was missing in the 7+, although we are from independent school but don’t think that helped.

Razzmata · 07/12/2023 14:38

@Pbhar does that mean you need to change your school? It's not impressive that they did not help you through the process eg u had to find out so late about be and nvr. If it's a prep/pre-prep shouldn't they?

SWlondonmum123 · 07/12/2023 14:48

we also got through to second stage of SPJ but didn’t get an offer. I called them for feedback and they will give feedback to those who ask in depth in January. One thing they did say is that the boys were all so amazing and it’s a shame they couldn’t pick them all. It’s the way it goes unfortunately.
we have already registered for 8+ for SPJ/KCS/WUS and we will be using weekend 8+ classes this time round as my DS is in a 7+ prep school. We will have to do it alone this time round! X

Pbhar · 07/12/2023 16:14

@Razzmata Exactly what I thought but they said prep school only prepares for 11 plus and not 7 ☹️

Cadeaux82 · 07/12/2023 17:06

@SWlondonmum123 you are extremely efficient in registering for the next year. I’m still in denial stage. But we also be using weekend courses. Which ones have you chosen? PM me if that’s easier

ash90603 · 08/12/2023 10:22

Apologies for my late update...
We got an offer from SPJ too ..
Would be giving up the Kings offer.. so hopefully a little movement on the reserve list for Kings..
We are done with the exams now and just cant wait to have a relaxed holidays with no classes and practice books. X

W4mamabear · 08/12/2023 10:35

Morning all! I was wondering how competitive 7+ at latymer prep is as compared to SPJ. My DS is sitting the exam in a few weeks and we didn’t make the first stage at SPJ. I know one of the main differences is that latymer requires an essay and also don’t test on reasoning. He does very well with the EPP maths practice papers but only managed to get 45% in his SPJ stage 1 maths test. I’m just trying to manage my own expectations and figure out how to make the most of the next few weeks. Thank you!

TresMamma · 08/12/2023 15:47

Anyone sat for City Junior and has heard back from them?

SlntDad · 08/12/2023 16:14

TresMamma · 08/12/2023 15:47

Anyone sat for City Junior and has heard back from them?

We've got an email today and DS has invited to the interview.

ash90603 · 08/12/2023 16:20

Getting some private messages about our prep experience and any advice so sharing the link of this new thread that was created only to consolidate all learnings that this years batch had to help and support the next years students.. we were so lost and felt so lonely during this process, esp because ours is in a state school.

Just an effort to try and gather as much learnings / shared experiences for new students.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/4950981-private-exams-lessons-learnt

Private exams - Lessons Learnt | Mumsnet

{mention:ash90603} hi starting the thread on parents journey on entrance exams - private schools

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/4950981-private-exams-lessons-learnt

Nightlite888 · 08/12/2023 16:40

We got some initial feedback from spj too and are being advised by them to try again at 8+. I just don’t know if I want to put ds through all that prep as it may be the case the school just doesn’t suit him at this young age (he’s very introverted and shy, and the feedback was that he didn’t engage at all in the class room activity though apparently he did very well on the written papers) Décisions decisions !

SWlondonmum123 · 08/12/2023 18:28

Did they give you feedback already? I called them yesterday and they said they would give feedback in January?

Nightlite888 · 08/12/2023 19:59

They gave me very brief feedback but also spoke to my sons headteacher. I’ve asked for the detailed feedback in January

Summermum86 · 08/12/2023 20:17

W4mamabear · 08/12/2023 10:35

Morning all! I was wondering how competitive 7+ at latymer prep is as compared to SPJ. My DS is sitting the exam in a few weeks and we didn’t make the first stage at SPJ. I know one of the main differences is that latymer requires an essay and also don’t test on reasoning. He does very well with the EPP maths practice papers but only managed to get 45% in his SPJ stage 1 maths test. I’m just trying to manage my own expectations and figure out how to make the most of the next few weeks. Thank you!

I just received a marketing email about specially designed Latymer practice papers last night. I can share the link if you are interested, just PM me. @W4mamabear

TresMamma · 08/12/2023 20:24

Great news :) Any idea on preparing for it? They haven’t said much in the email..

W4mamabear · 08/12/2023 20:58

Thank you! Sending you a DM now

TresMamma · 09/12/2023 05:56

SlntDad · 08/12/2023 16:14

We've got an email today and DS has invited to the interview.

Show quote history

Great news. So did we later in the day. Do you know how can we prepare for it? Am feeling a bit clueless

mamma77 · 09/12/2023 07:51

@W4mamabear would you be so kind to share with me too please? Thank you.

W4mamabear · 09/12/2023 12:50

I’ve just shared with you now what @Summermum86 shared with me x

Mamamama1234 · 09/12/2023 13:12

can you please share with me too? X

LoveBlueCheese · 10/12/2023 07:01

We got the invite to the 2nd round for City junior too. Please could @W4mamabear share with me via DM too? Feeling very nervous for DD

W4mamabear · 10/12/2023 08:10

Hi all! @Mamamama1234 @LoveBlueCheese i don’t have anything particularly exciting to share unfortunately ! Just a link to buy some exam papers for latymer 7+ exam that another poster had shared with me (that they received via a marketing email). Is this something you’re interested in or are our wires crossed? Seems you’re preparing for City junior and those papers might be available on EPP which (in my opinion) are the most useful! Let me know

LoveBlueCheese · 10/12/2023 08:25

Sorry @W4mamabear ! Wires crossed x

Justanothermom333 · 10/12/2023 10:07

We are thinking about giving up DS’s place at st Paul’s because of the travel (we are NW London). Where do people live to commute to SPJ? The bridge closure is such a pain!