The 7+ Assessment Day: What Your Child Will Do and What to Expect

A 7+ assessment day: what to expect is usually a morning of written tests in English and Maths, sat at desks in small groups, followed for some children by a second stage with lessons, group tasks and an interview. Staff at the London day schools named below describe the first morning as informal and friendly, with breaks, a snack and encouragement from adults. Each school sets its own format, so the admissions page of your chosen school is the document to check.

Latymer, St Paul's, Westminster, UCS, Highgate and Alleyn's each publish a different first and second stage, and several ask the child's current school for a reference as well. What follows sets out what each page states, what staff say they watch for, and the practical steps open to you before the day.

What does a 7+ assessment morning look like?

Latymer Prep School says children sit at desks on assessment day, that talking is discouraged, and that staff are encouraging and will gently prompt a child who is stuck on a question. Pencils, rulers and rubbers are provided, so nothing needs buying beforehand. There are short breaks between the parts, children bring a named water bottle, and the school provides a snack.

Westminster describes small groups sitting the tests in classrooms with at least two staff present, with breaks for the bathroom and a snack, and calls the day informal and friendly. UCS holds its English and Maths tests in classrooms too, and says the boys have time to play and light refreshments during the session. Highgate describes a morning at the school with written tests devised and marked by its own teachers.

Which subjects does the first stage test?

Latymer's 7+ assessment has three formal papers, English Comprehension, Creative Writing and Maths, and the school states that children at 7+ would be working in line with expectations at the top of KS1 for both subjects. Alleyn's assesses English (comprehension and creative writing), mathematics and reasoning, and expects candidates to have followed the National Curriculum syllabus for English and mathematics. Highgate and UCS each name English and Maths tests.

St Paul's written exam has tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, and its English task is a dictation exercise in which boys are expected to write reasonably neatly and check their writing for accuracy. Its Maths paper includes recall of the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables, and its Reasoning paper includes a comprehension exercise on retrieving information and drawing inferences from a text. Westminster's English covers writing, reading aloud and discussing stories, and the school also tests Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, which it describes as thinking skills.

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What does a second stage look like?

A second stage is an invitation back for a smaller group of children, and the format differs by school. St Paul's invites boys who perform well to a half-day group assessment made up of a Maths lesson, an English lesson and a group problem-solving task, in groups of approximately ten, while parents can meet the Head of the Prep School at the same time. Highgate invites some children back for a taster lesson and a group interview, which lets the child experience school life.

Alleyn's invites candidates who show the necessary academic potential to a second assessment with a non-verbal reasoning test, a reading test, small group activities and an individual interview. At Westminster the second day resembles a typical school morning with games, an outdoor break and a snack, and the Master and a senior team member interview each candidate. Latymer invites children who perform particularly well back for an interview. UCS describes small-group sessions in which boys complete listening and discussion exercises and a reading assessment while parents meet the Headmaster, and its page does not mention a formal interview.

What do staff say they observe?

Staff at Latymer say they are interested in observing children's social maturity and their attitude to learning, and they talk with each child about their interests and aspirations. UCS says staff observe social interaction and behaviour during its entrance assessment. Westminster's interviewers invite candidates to talk about their own interests and enthusiasms, and the school looks for potential, natural ability and a spark and a passion for something. Alleyn's looks for candidates who will respond to its care, opportunities and values and contribute their talents and enthusiasm.

Westminster states that quieter children are assessed on the same basis as everyone else. A child who is slower to speak in a group is therefore judged at that school on the same footing as a talkative one, and the interview invites each child to talk about something they care about. The other pages do not mention how quieter children are treated, so ask the admissions office how the day is run.

Will the school give feedback after the day?

Latymer states that it gives no written or verbal feedback on a child's performance or ranking on any paper. All its candidates are told by email whether they are invited to interview. Westminster says candidates are told whether they have a place after the second stage, and UCS sends offer letters to successful candidates. Alleyn's states that decisions on places are final, with no right of appeal, and that some candidates who are not offered a place may be placed on a waiting list. The remaining pages do not mention feedback, so ask the school before the day.

How do access arrangements work?

Access arrangements must be notified at registration, before the assessment day itself. Latymer says children with diagnosed special educational needs receive access arrangements, which parents must notify during registration. Alleyn's asks parents who know or suspect a disability, language or learning difference to notify the school in writing at registration so that arrangements can be made. Latymer's wording refers to a diagnosed need, whereas Alleyn's also covers a suspected one.

Steps you can take:

• Read the registration section of the admissions page for the exact wording on access arrangements.
• Put the need in writing during registration, not afterwards.
• Ask the admissions office what supporting information it wants to see.

How can you keep the day low-key at home?

Latymer advises that parental preparation should be low-key and that the child's routine should stay as normal as possible, with favourite activities kept up because they help wellbeing; the school sums this up as a need for balance. Highgate says it aims to make the day as fun and stress-free as possible, and the named water bottle Latymer asks for is a simple item to pack the evening before.

Latymer sends exemplar Maths and English papers after registration to show the expected standard, and Highgate asks you to practise with its published sample English and Maths questions and to watch its explanatory video together with your child. St Paul's says it does not publish past papers, and links a suggested reading list and Maths and English guidance for 7+.

Westminster says no preparation is needed for the reasoning papers, though familiarity with the format may help, and that excessive practice is not recommended. It advises parents to avoid outside tuition, which it feels can dull the freshness and eagerness to learn that it values. Latymer's page gives no advice about tutoring, and UCS's page gives no specific preparation guidance. One-to-one help is one option some families use alongside school and home practice.

For one-to-one practice that builds a child's confidence for a first assessment morning or a second-stage interview, read about our 7+ tutors for English, maths and reasoning, or tell us about your child and the schools on your list and we will reply with tutor recommendations.

Related guides

• 7+ tutors for English, maths and reasoning
• The 7+ interview
• 7+ exam: format, schools and preparation
• How the 7+ process differs between London day schools
• Preparing a young child without over-tutoring

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