School entrance
7+ and 8+ entrance preparation
The 7+ and 8+ are the routes into Year 3 and Year 4 at some UK independent schools. Each school sets its own process, so this page shows two schools' own published steps as examples.
What two schools publish
- Highgate School, 7+ (Year 3 entry, 2026 policy): children must be in the equivalent of Year 2. Stage 1 is written tests in English and Mathematics. Only some children are then invited to a group-based interview task, which the school describes as stimulating and fun and "not a second academic test"; it looks at collaboration, listening, problem solving and teachability. The policy says there are approximately 50 places. Registration and assessment dates are published on the school's website.
- Westminster Under School, 8+ (September 2025 entry, a past cycle shown as an example of the pattern): registration closed at noon on 30 September 2024. Stage 1 on 7 January 2025 was tests in Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, in small classroom groups. About 50 boys were invited to Stage 2 on 15 January 2025: classroom activities that included an English writing task, play and snack breaks, and a small-group interview about their interests. Offers were sent on 17 January 2025 and had to be accepted by 28 January 2025. Check the school for the current dates.
These are examples from two schools' own documents, not a rule for all schools. Dates and formats change every year: always check the school.
Source: highgateschool.org.uk (Admissions Policy, 7+ 2026); westminsterunder.org.uk (8+ information booklet) · Checked 14 October 2026
How we prepare your child
At this age the assessment is as much about how a child works with others as about English and maths, so we prepare both: calm, accurate work in English and maths, and the confidence to join a group task or a short conversation. We check the school's own process first and prepare for that. The first assessment is free.
11+ · 13+ · 16+ · All entrance routes
Some of our tutors
Ms Vionnet
Entrance Exams · IB ToK & Extended Essay · GCSE, IGCSE
Currently studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Durham University; previously an Academic Scholar at Cheltenham Ladies' College with first-hand knowledge of the entrance examination process.
Mr Neil
English & English Literature — HKDSE, GCSE, iGCSE, IB, A-Level
A registered teacher in both Hong Kong and the UK with nearly 28 years of experience teaching literature and language in top-level schools in both places.
Mr Michael
Mathematics & Further Maths — iGCSE, GCSE, A-Level
Teaching for over fourteen years, he was awarded the IMA prize at Cardiff University for the highest-scoring degree average of his year, later completing an MSc in mathematics and PhD research in computational mathematics.