Expert 7+ Entrance Exam Tutors

Children applying for 7+ entry sit their first formal school assessment while still in Year 1 or Year 2, usually between the ages of six and seven, when schools are judging readiness for Year 3 more than fixed subject knowledge. Because the child is so young, the format leans on observation as much as testing: short written and verbal tasks in English and maths sit alongside reasoning exercises, a group activity and a brief interview, giving admissions staff a rounded picture of how a child engages, concentrates and responds to new people.

Most schools register children around a year before entry and run assessments in the autumn or winter that follows, so families often start thinking about 7+ preparation while their child is still consolidating early reading, writing and number skills. Getting the pace right matters as much as the content, since a six or seven year old benefits from short, varied sessions that build stamina and confidence gradually, building on skills already forming in the classroom.

What the 7+ assesses

The 7+ usually covers English and mathematics at a level appropriate to Year 2, testing reading comprehension, sentence construction, spelling and early creative writing alongside number work, mental arithmetic and simple problem-solving. Most schools add verbal and non-verbal reasoning, using pattern, sequence and picture-based questions to see how a child thinks, since this stage of assessment puts as much weight on approach as on the right answer.

Alongside the written papers, schools often run a group activity, such as a shared game, building task or short story session, where staff observe how children share, listen and follow instructions. Most also hold a brief individual interview or informal chat with the head or admissions team, watching for curiosity, clear speech and comfortable interaction with an unfamiliar adult, more than rehearsed answers.

• English: reading comprehension, sentence construction and spelling
• Maths: number work, mental arithmetic and problem-solving
• Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
• A group activity assessing collaboration and listening
• A short individual interview or informal chat

Which schools use it, and when

The 7+ is used mainly by London day schools, including Westminster Under School and St Paul's Juniors, and by prep schools across the Home Counties that feed into senior independent and boarding schools from Year 3 onwards. Formats and subject weighting vary between schools, so families applying to more than one usually end up preparing for several slightly different assessment styles alongside each other.

Registration for 7+ places usually opens during the September of Year 2, around a year before entry, with assessments held between November and January and offers confirmed by February for a start in Year 3 the following September. Some schools run a shorter window or assess later in the spring, so checking each school's own calendar early helps avoid missed deadlines.

Preparing a six or seven year old

Effective preparation at this age works best in short bursts, since most six and seven year olds concentrate well for twenty to thirty minutes before needing a change of activity. Reasoning skills develop naturally through play, puzzles and pattern games, while reading and writing improve through regular, varied practice that builds stamina gradually, moving from a few sentences to a short paragraph at a pace that suits the individual child.

Mental maths benefits from frequent, brief practice woven into daily routines, building fluency with number bonds and simple calculation ahead of the formal written methods introduced later in primary school. Interview readiness follows a similar approach, since children gain confidence through everyday conversation practice and games that encourage them to explain their thinking aloud, building the kind of easy, natural response schools are looking for.

Matching a tutor to a young child

Taylor Tuition matches Year 1 and Year 2 pupils with tutors experienced in primary-age teaching, drawn from a pool where more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate. Many have taught in preparatory schools or examined for entrance boards, giving them a working knowledge of what London and Home Counties schools look for at 7+, alongside a graduate background from Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Every tutor working with a child holds an enhanced DBS check, with most also registered on the DBS Update Service, and each placement begins with an introductory session so families can confirm the tutor suits their child before committing further. Taylor Tuition re-matches at no extra cost if the fit is not right.

Flexible, fully online sessions

Sessions for six and seven year olds run online for families across the UK and internationally, using short, interactive activities, on-screen games and shared materials designed to hold a young child's attention through a screen, with tutors building in breaks and variety to suit shorter attention spans. Families based in central London can arrange in-person sessions instead, which some parents prefer for very young children who settle more easily working face to face with a tutor.

When families start

Many families begin preparation during Year 1 or early in Year 2, giving a child time to build core English, maths and reasoning skills gradually before assessments arrive in the autumn or winter of Year 2. Starting earlier allows for shorter, less frequent sessions spread over a longer period, which tends to suit young children well as assessment dates approach.

Taylor Tuition offers a free initial consultation with no registration fee, and replies to enquiries with tutor recommendations suited to the child's age and target schools. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on the tutor's level and subject, with parents receiving progress reports after sessions and a dedicated point of contact throughout.

How tutoring with Taylor Tuition works

Sessions run online for families across the UK and internationally, and in person in central London. Residential tutoring placements are arranged internationally on request. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject. There is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Every placement begins with an introductory session with the matched tutor, and we re-match at no extra cost if the fit is wrong.

Tutors who work with children hold an enhanced DBS check, and most are registered on the DBS Update Service. More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate. The tutor pool includes former heads of department and school leaders, experienced exam-board examiners, teachers from independent and boarding schools, and educational consultants with independent-school admissions experience. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact at Taylor Tuition. We reply to enquiries with tutor recommendations.

Related guides

• 7+ entrance exam guide
• 7+ interview guide
• 7+ past papers and practice questions
• 8+ entrance exam tutors
• Primary school tutoring