What is the 7 Plus (7+)?

Exam format

The 7+ can be a written paper, a computer-based test, or a mix of the two, and some schools add a short verbal or group element to see how a child communicates and works with others. Sessions are short, often around 30 minutes each with a break in between, because the children sitting it are so young.

Children often sit the test in a classroom alongside other candidates rather than one-to-one, which can feel more like an ordinary school morning than a formal exam. That’s generally by design at this age: a room full of unfamiliar children and a completely silent exam hall would be a lot to ask of most six and seven-year-olds.

What’s tested

• English: based on the Key Stage 1 curriculum, this typically includes comprehension, a short creative writing task, spelling and punctuation, and sometimes reading aloud or a verbal spelling test.
• Maths: mostly Year 2 topics, sometimes stretching into early Year 3 content, covering mental arithmetic and simple word problems.
• Reasoning: a growing number of schools include some verbal or non-verbal reasoning, usually short puzzles, spotting a pattern in a sequence of shapes, or finding the odd word out, rather than the longer reasoning papers set at 11+.

Some schools also set a short creative task, a drawing or a simple collage, alongside the written subjects. What’s included varies a good deal between schools, so check the specific format for each school your child is applying to.

Interviews and other assessments

Many schools that set a 7+ also include an informal conversation with a member of staff, sometimes alongside a small group activity to see how a child works with others. These tend to be low-key at this age, closer to a friendly chat about favourite books, hobbies or pets than a formal interview; schools are mostly looking for a child who’s comfortable talking and happy to join in.

Some schools run these on the same day as the written and computer-based elements; others invite children back separately once initial scores are in. Ask the school directly how its process is sequenced, since this varies more at 7+ than it does for the older entrance exams.

Top tips

• Check the exact format on the school’s official admissions page; the mix of written, computer-based and verbal elements varies between schools.
• Practise little and often; 10 to 15 minutes suits most children at this age.
• Read together every day. Comprehension at 7+ leans heavily on vocabulary a child has simply met before.
• Keep it low-pressure. A relaxed child concentrates better than an anxious one, especially at this age.
• Practise a short spoken exchange if the school includes a verbal or interview element, so the format itself is already familiar.
• Ask the school directly if a registration deadline or exact date isn’t published; policies vary, and it’s the one detail worth confirming yourself.

How to prepare

The best way to prepare a young child for the 7+ is short, regular practice on the actual subjects and format their target school sets, so the exam itself feels familiar rather than new. Our guide to preparing your child for the 7+ covers how to structure that practice week by week.