7+ Entrance Exams - How competitive are they?

[LoveRoses]

I know, I know - being a nosy-parker but can't help myself really

With so much going on lately with the 11+ Entrance/Grammer school exam results - just wanted to know if competition for places at selective London schools are just as fierce?

For schools like St. Pauls, Dulwich College, e.t.c, how soon do parents start preparing their dc?

Finally, any ideas what the pass rates for kids from state pri. schools are compared to their counterparts from the private sector?

we will be doing the exams for 2013 entry - they seem to start next sept with some the following jan; i looked at some sample exam papers and DD ( who is very bright according to her current pre prep, and is pretty ahead of her peers) is not covering a lot of the ground yet (which makes me wonder what they are doing at school but i guess we have a year...). the school will not help with 7+ or 11+ exams as they firmly believe that they should stay until 13 (of course) so i will do drip feed her questions etc as i dont want her to be completely suprised in the exams - doesnt seem fair at all to her to put her in that situation, and i know a lot of children completely bewildered by the papers as the structure is so different to what they are covering at school. So i dont see it as tutoring, but as preparing. YEs we have been told that having some really strong hobbies helps, but after the academics - and of course the interview.

I have had two children go through the entrance exams for Dulwich schools and have discovered that lots of my kids' friends from state schools got in at 7+. Many without special tutoring. The truth is that some kids are just a bit more ready for tests than others. Some kids who may get in at 11+, even with scholarships, may not get in at 7. London day schools are really tough to gain places in and, although Basilbond said that Dulwich College isn't academic, she is entirely wrong. It's true that Westminster and Colet Court may be slightly more difficult to get into, they also can't offer the same diversity of students, the same green spaces nor the level of sport (no sporty children should ever go to Westminster!). Now that so many people no longer want boarding schools, it's much harder to get into all the day schools. Many friends' prep school boys got turned down at Dulwich College at 13+, so many have started to try to get younger sons in earlier. With a new headmaster at Dulwich College as well as a new head of their Junior School, it's really tough to get in now.

My advice is that lots of reading, practicing times tables and writing stories, having a go with the Bond books seem to put our children in a good stead for gaining places. I don't think hobbies and sports help much at this age, but do later. Good luck!

A great teacher in St johns wood for 7 plus training.Highly recommended.......

hi, can anybody recommend a tutor with proven success in northwest london to help prepare for 7+ entrance exam for my daughter?

Hi this is my first time on here so apologies if I am posting in wrong area. I wondered if anyone knew how to prepare for LEH 7+ entrance exam, my Daughter is currently at a local prep in Y1, they don't prepare for the 7+ as they expect we will keep our Daughter there until 11+. I have heard that LEH is an extremely difficult school to get into and wondered how best we prepare for this. I have friends who have chosen to leave until 11+ and their children are under such immense pressure we thought it may be best to try for 7+. I would appreciate any help or information anyone has on LEH. We are in the Wimbledon area, can anyone recommend a tutor who has prepared for LEH entrance exams. Thank you.

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Decent length story, addition subtraction multiplication and division, comprehension and some not all school also do vr/nvr.

Good luck.

This years UCS 7 plus essay topic was a monster under your bed!

@Tennistots
Hi I was in your possition of also not knowing how or where to start to prepare my son. His school said he was not ready for the 7+ but I thought we would give it a go anyway. Had no idea how to prepare him, save for going through the Bond books. So we enrolled him in the Leaders are Readers summer school. The 3 weeks of teaching there really immersed him in all the maths and English topics that would have taken him over an academic year to cover. We carried on with one term in the Saturday school and we also did the 5 day winter school. All the booklets were really useful and the teaching fast paced, so well suited to the high standards of the 3 schools we were aiming for. We got offers to all 3 schools this February. One school told my son at his interview that he had missed just one question on the maths paper. The mock exam papers in Maths, English and the general knowledge stuff from Leaders are Readers were spot on. They really helped my son, I hope this helps you.

@Tennistots
Sorry here is the link www.leadersarereaders.co.uk

Hi, I need to agree on leaders are readers. My daughter went there only one week last summer (it was too far unfortunately) and she learnt so much. I had my doubts when I went there for the "test" as it was extremely chaotic, but the teaching is good. Thr crazy thing is that after an intensive 4-5 hours they still want the children to do homework (I told my dd to forget about it), but the teaching is really good.

I know Nightingale Tutors (google them and their website comes up) come very highly recommended from my friend who had a tutor for her daughter for 7+ and a maths tutor for her older son. They come to your house so it is easy to fit in around other activities!

My daughter?s taking the 7+ in January. I am thinking of trying the 7+ Winter School at www.leadersarereaders.co.uk starting on 27th December. Any experience of their Winter School, anyone?

Thanks!

Hi there! Please would you be kind enough to text me the tutor in Highgate's number? 07961352127

Hello,

Sorry I am very new to this website. Pls advise my son didn't get through St Paul 7+ and he is very bright. Would it be worth trying to do 8+ Next year? Pls advise....

Depends what school he is at?

How can anyone possibly advise you on that? Certainly worth trying but you know your son so much better than anyone here. A lot of very bright kids didn't make into interviews and a lot who did won't get past interviews.