7+ 2024/25

[Caps0218]

I haven't seen another thread similar to previous years, so thought it would be beneficial to start one as exams are now 1 month away.
I think SHHS, UCS, KCJS and WUS are all in October.

Also - Curious to see if number of applicants are down this year, with Labour's VAT raid.

Exactly...

The examination is still ongoing, and the results have yet to be released. While we can have a general discussion about how our sons performed, it would be inappropriate to disclose specific questions, types, or texts while the exam is still live.

I apologise.
I wasn't aware that there may be back-up days if someone is unwell?!

I had no idea either…
In any case, thanks Caps0218 and all others who share information and analysis in good faith. I at least find this tremendously helpful and supportive 😊

DS also said that Maths was worth 50 marks, while each reasoning paper was worth 24 marks.
Does your DS recall how many marks for the English paper?

Mine also said that there were 17 MCQ and question 18 and 19 were worth 3 and 5 marks. So at a guess 25 marks total.

I wonder how they select, as it seems 123 marks.
You could get really high, even with a poor English score. Or do you have to get above a certain % in each topic.

Just relax and enjoy the weekend. Kiddos have all done their best and the rest is out of our control - even if you know the marking scheme :)

For King's activity session, does anyone know what activities will the kids do?

We just got an email from WUS and we are so grateful DS is through to the next stage.

It’s a no for us unfortunately. Good luck to the all the boys who got selected into the next round! 🙂

Congratulations to those boys who made it through to stage 2 of WUS. Our DS wasn’t so lucky this time.

We have a 2nd round at WUS (and didn't sit King's due to location.) For those who are going for both WUS and King's, what would be your first choice, if successful at both??

My son has been asked for 2nd round for both King’s and WUS.. also will sit for St Paul’s. I have no idea what we would do with multiple offers! I’d be happy for him to get any of the 3. Not keen on more exams at WUS for the Great School, but hopefully that’s more of a formality.

All 3 schools are excellent, my husband went to one of them many years ago and his friends went to the others. You will not go wrong with any of them. If you have offers from more than 1, then I believe location is key. If you are North of the river than WUS is the obvious choice, especially as Hammersmith bridge is closed, so SPJS becomes a pain. If you are south then both KCJS and SPJS are good options.

Iam wondering what you do at this stage in Oct/ November. Do you typically go back and review the same 7+ EPP papers or is there anything in similar line but different resource?
Any recommendations on resources?

We are doing Bond books as well and yes going over the Exam Papers Plus content again and somehow trying to improve his speed!

Any tips for time management prep for 7+? My DC is now finally on year 3 level work, grasping/applying well & I’m very proud. BUT she’s quite slow despite all my best efforts & use of a lovely pink kids study timer that we’ve been using for months.

I will keep taking her to different places to work on her books and past papers — busy places and quiet places alike.

It’s a fine line between applying consistency and feeling cruel as they’re so young aren’t they? She starts to zone out after 15 mins or so.

Sending love to all parents and DC slogging through this!

Can’t wait for this to be over in 5 weeks or so, hopefully we all get good news.

Does anyone know what is covered in the activity session and interview at King's? My son is sitting 9+ (supposedly very few mums here) but any experience/knowledge for 7+ and 8+ activity session and interview would be equally helpful.

My son gave the 7+ last year and it seems they were in groups. They played some Lego tasks and were asked a few questions. It’s very difficult to get anything out from my son and this is all I could manage. For the interview there were some general questions and also a maths problem.

My DS took the 9plus a few years ago. For the interview, it was relaxed, about him and his interests. They gave him a passage to read and asked him some questions about the passage.

Thanks. Is this something very tricky or difficult? Also, can you recall what were done in the activity session? Was it academic or just play? I am thinking of whether to give him a bit of work on Math and English in the next few days.

his was in the Covid times so they didn’t do activity morning. It was medium difficulty. Not very easy but not very difficult either … Maths/English can never hurt I’d say but I’d be very surprised if they will
intensively check for that. These kids have sat through a rigorous exam where they’ve proven their maths and English prowess.

I think what helped my DS the most was writing down the time taken at the end of the exercises/papers to grow his awareness of time and length of papers and heavily praising gradual improvement with lots of practice.
Still working on this with creative writing…