The Seven Plus is not one national exam. Every independent school sets its own assessment, and what your child needs to prepare for depends entirely on where they are applying. For families navigating Year 3 entry, that can feel overwhelming, particularly when registration deadlines arrive well before the assessment itself. Online tuition through Klasu can help your child build the reading…
The Seven Plus is not one national exam. Every independent school sets its own assessment, and what your child needs to prepare for depends entirely on where they are applying. For families navigating Year 3 entry, that can feel overwhelming, particularly when registration deadlines arrive well before the assessment itself. Online tuition through Klasu can help your child build the reading fluency, number confidence, writing stamina and familiarity with unfamiliar tasks that most 7+ assessments draw on, without pressure and without one-size-fits-all preparation.
Klasu's Seven Plus (7+) tutors prepare students for entrance exams to leading independent and grammar schools. Practice papers, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and maths covered, with mock interview prep where needed.
Entrance-exam prep can feel overwhelming for parents and children alike. Klasu pairs you with experienced Seven Plus (7+) tutors who know exactly what each school is looking for and how to build the skills, technique and confidence to deliver on the day.
Whether your child is sitting the Seven Plus (7+) for an independent or grammar school, our tutors build the technique, timing and confidence needed for the test.
Looking for a Seven Plus (7+) tutor who knows exactly what target schools are testing? Klasu connects you with vetted online tutors who have helped families through the Seven Plus (7+) process — past papers, reasoning, English, maths and interview practice all in one place. Take the first step today.
Seven Plus, often written as 7+ or 7 Plus, is an independent school admissions process for children applying to Year 3. Children usually sit the assessment during Year 2, when they are aged six or seven. It is not a national qualification. There is no national awarding body, no universal paper structure, no standard pass mark and no official grade scale. Each school controls its own process entirely.
Some schools use written English and Maths papers. Others include verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning tests. Many run a two-stage process, with a first-round written assessment followed by a second stage that may involve a classroom morning, group activities, a one-to-one task or an informal interview. Some schools now use online or computer-based elements. A small number publish sample papers or detailed guidance; others share only broad information about what they assess.
Seven Plus is not the same as ISEB Common Entrance, which is used at 11 and 13. It is not the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which is an online adaptive test normally used for senior school entry. It is not a grammar school 11+ test and it is not a Key Stage 1 national assessment. It is a school-specific admissions category, and the format varies significantly from one school to the next.
Because of this variation, the most important first step for any family is to identify the target school and find out exactly what that school assesses. A tutor who understands the specific format your child will face is far better placed to help than one working from a generic 7+ template.
Many schools open registration a year or more before the assessment, and some close it many months before children are actually tested. Checking registration deadlines early is essential, as missing them means missing the opportunity entirely regardless of how well prepared your child becomes.
In terms of academic preparation, the most common foundation for 7+ work is the Year 2 National Curriculum for English and Maths, though many selective schools expect children to be working securely at the top end of Year 2 and sometimes into early Year 3 territory. Building strong number bonds, place value understanding, times tables fluency and word problem skills gives children a solid base for most Maths assessments. For English, reading widely and often, practising writing in full sentences with accurate punctuation, and discussing stories and vocabulary aloud all support the kinds of tasks schools set.
Reasoning is not part of every 7+ process, but where it is included, gentle familiarisation with verbal and non-verbal reasoning formats can help a child feel less thrown by question styles they have not seen before. Many schools are clear that they are looking for curiosity and thinking ability rather than memorised responses.
For second-stage assessments that include classroom observation, group tasks or interviews, preparation should focus on listening carefully, trying unfamiliar things without anxiety and speaking about books or interests naturally. Scripted answers or memorised stories rarely serve children well in these settings. Calm, steady preparation over several months tends to be more effective than intensive last-minute drilling, particularly for children who are only six or seven years old.
Independent schools running 7+ entry vary considerably in how they structure the process and what they prioritise. Some schools, such as Westminster Under School, assess English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning across a first round, then invite selected candidates to a classroom-based second stage. North London Collegiate School uses preliminary written tests followed by a morning at school where children are observed being taught as a class. Habs Boys runs a formal assessment morning covering reasoning, Maths and English, with approximately half of candidates returning for a second stage that includes group observation and one-to-one activities. King's College Junior School bases its tests on the Year 2 National Curriculum with some extension.
These examples illustrate how different the experience can be from one school to the next. The number of available places is typically small, and schools consider a range of factors including written performance, classroom behaviour, current school reports and, in some cases, a parent meeting.
There is no universal offer date, no national appeals process equivalent to state school admissions, and no standard feedback policy. Some schools provide limited feedback; many do not share marks. Waiting lists exist at some schools. Families should check the target school's admissions page directly and keep a close eye on registration opening dates, as these can fall much earlier than parents expect.
Children from state primary schools, independent pre-preps and international schools all apply to 7+ entry, and a tutor can help map a child's current level against what the target school is likely to expect.
One of the most common difficulties at this age is the gap between what a child can do orally and what they can produce in writing under a time limit. Many children tell imaginative stories confidently but struggle to write them down with clear sentences, accurate punctuation and enough stamina to reach a conclusion. Tuition can support sentence construction, punctuation habits and the kind of writing practice that builds speed and independence gradually.
In Maths, children often know calculation facts but find word problems harder because they need to identify which operation to use before they can solve anything. Building that reasoning habit, alongside fluency in number bonds, place value and times tables, makes a significant difference to how children approach unfamiliar problems.
Reasoning questions can be confusing simply because most children have never seen them before. A tutor can introduce these formats gently, helping a child understand what the question is asking without excessive drilling that can make responses feel mechanical.
For second-stage assessments involving group work or interviews, a shy or anxious child may need support in feeling comfortable speaking to an adult, trying something new without shutting down or joining in with children they have not met. Tuition cannot replicate a group setting fully, but it can build the kind of quiet confidence that helps a child engage rather than withdraw.
Tutors working through Klasu's built-in online classroom can share reading passages, Maths tasks and writing prompts directly on screen, making sessions focused and interactive even for young children. Parents are encouraged to stay nearby for younger pupils, and tutors can offer guidance on useful practice between sessions too.
Online tuition offers families access to tutors who are familiar with the specific schools their child is applying to, regardless of where the family lives. For children in areas without a large pool of local 7+ specialists, or for international families applying to UK independent schools, this is a meaningful advantage.
Every session on Klasu takes place in Klasu's built-in online classroom, which includes live two-way video and audio, an interactive whiteboard, screen sharing and the ability to upload and share documents. There is no software to download. Lessons are joined directly from the Klasu dashboard at the scheduled time, making the process straightforward for parents and children alike.
For 7+ preparation, online sessions work well for reading aloud and comprehension discussion, vocabulary work, sentence and punctuation practice, Maths problem solving, reasoning familiarisation and building spoken confidence. Tutors can display reading passages, writing frames, number tasks and reasoning questions on screen and work through them with the child in real time.
Sessions for six and seven year olds should be kept short and purposeful, with a mix of activities rather than long stretches of written work. A good online tutor will pace the session carefully, include variety and keep the experience calm and encouraging.
Before booking paid sessions, families can arrange a free fifteen-minute introductory call with a tutor through the Klasu platform. This is a good opportunity to share details about the target school, the child's current level and any specific concerns, so that tuition can be focused from the very first session. All communication between families and tutors takes place through Klasu's secure in-platform messaging.