The 7+ and 8+ are competitive entrance examinations for entry into Year 3 (age 7) and Year 4 (age 8) respectively at London's most selective independent prep and day schools. They are significantly earlier than the 11+, and preparation requires a different approach — particularly because the children sitting them are still very young.
Which schools use the 7+ and 8+?
The 7+ is most common at London day schools where children enter at Year 3. Schools including Westminster Under School, Colet Court (St Paul's Junior School), Sussex House, Wetherby Senior and Garden House all assess at 7+. Some schools additionally or alternatively assess at 8+.
Many of London's most academically selective prep schools — those that feed heavily into Eton, Harrow, Westminster and similar senior schools — hold the bulk of their intake at 7+. Getting a place at this stage effectively sets a pathway for 13+ senior school entry.
What do the 7+ and 8+ test?
At 7+, most schools assess:
- Reading — comprehension of age-appropriate passages
- Writing — a short piece of creative or descriptive writing
- Mathematics — number, shape and simple problem-solving
At 8+, some schools also introduce verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning elements. Many schools additionally conduct individual interviews or group activity assessments to evaluate social confidence, communication and curiosity.
How competitive are 7+ places?
Extremely. Westminster Under School receives well over 400 applications for roughly 40 places. Colet Court and similar schools are similarly over-subscribed. At this level, most candidates who sit the exam are already academically strong — what distinguishes those who succeed is a combination of genuine engagement with reading and ideas, good number fluency, and the ability to perform confidently under unfamiliar conditions.
How should families prepare?
Given that candidates are 6 or 7 years old, preparation should be gentle and engaging rather than intensive drilling. The most effective approach:
- Read together every day. Wide reading at and slightly above age level builds the vocabulary and comprehension skills that assessors look for.
- Build number fluency. Children who can add, subtract and multiply quickly and confidently — without counting on fingers — have a significant advantage.
- Practise writing short pieces. Even a few sentences about "what I did at the weekend" builds the habit of expressing ideas in writing.
- Work with a specialist tutor. A tutor familiar with specific schools' assessment styles can introduce children to the exam format without overwhelming them.
When to start
For a 7+ exam in January of Year 2, most families begin working with a tutor around September of Year 1 — roughly a year before the assessment. Starting significantly earlier risks pushing young children into a preparation cycle that feels stressful rather than natural.
The most important preparation happens in the years before any formal tuition: a child who is read to regularly, who loves stories and is comfortable with numbers, arrives at 7+ preparation in a very strong position.