Bolton School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Guide

About Bolton School

Bolton School runs separate Junior Girls’ and Junior Boys’ Schools, both for ages 7 to 11, on its Chorley New Road campus. Entrance assessments cover children in Years 2 to 5, with 7+ candidates (current Year 2s) sitting in January for September entry.

A timing note: at the time of writing the school’s assessment pages still showed the January 2026 sitting, with the 2027-entry dates not yet published, so confirm this cycle’s dates with the school directly.

Key information for 2027 entry to Bolton School at 7 Plus (7+)

• School type: separate single-sex Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ Schools, ages 7 to 11, Bolton
• Format: online cognitive ability tests (CATs) covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning puzzles, with examples explained first, plus a paper-based reading test of vocabulary and comprehension
• Children sit in small groups supervised by a teacher, in their own clothes, with snacks and drinks provided
• Recent sittings have run in mid-January (Years 2 and 3 on one day, Years 4 and 5 on another); 2027-entry dates weren’t yet published at the time of writing
• Results: the school telephones parents after the assessment
• What to bring: two pencils, a ruler and an eraser; no calculators or smartwatches
• The school says formal revision is not required
• Contact: boltonschool.org

Admissions information for 2027 entry to Bolton School at 7 Plus (7+)

The assessment day is deliberately informal: no uniform, small teacher-supervised groups, snacks provided, and results delivered by telephone afterwards rather than a long-awaited letter. Recent cycles have assessed Years 2 and 3 together on one mid-January day.

Because the school hadn’t yet published its 2027-entry dates or its application fee when this guide was written, ring admissions for the current calendar before planning the winter. One practical note from the school itself: there’s no on-site visitor parking on assessment day, so allow time for on-street parking.

How can I register my child for the 7 Plus (7+) assessment at Bolton School?

Apply through the school’s Join Us pages, and confirm the current cycle’s deadline and any fee with admissions directly. The school’s published guidance is that formal revision isn’t required.

What is the 7 Plus (7+) assessment format at Bolton School?

Two parts: online CAT-style tests of verbal and non-verbal reasoning, with example questions explained before each section, and a paper reading test covering vocabulary and comprehension. No written maths or English paper is described for this age group.

That points preparation somewhere specific: reasoning familiarity and reading strength. A child who reads widely and has met VR and NVR puzzle shapes before covers everything the day asks.

Bolton School 7 Plus (7+) top tips for your child

• Familiarise your child with verbal and non-verbal reasoning puzzles; they’re the heart of the CATs
• Build vocabulary through daily reading, which feeds the paper reading test directly
• Do some practice on a screen, matching the online format
• Pack the school’s own list: two pencils, ruler, eraser, and leave the smartwatch at home
• Ring admissions for this cycle’s dates rather than relying on older ones online

How to prepare your child for the 7 Plus (7+) Bolton School assessment

Our 7+ English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning packs below match the three assessed strands, with full answers. Light, regular practice makes the puzzle formats familiar, which for an examples-explained-first CAT day is all the preparation that earns its keep.