The tricky question of seven-plus selection
AS DEMAND for senior school places intensifies, more families are looking at seven-plus entry, particularly for academic independent schools that go through to age 18. Competition is fierce for these places, which offer a less difficult transition into senior school than applying from the outside. IS SEVEN-PLUS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR CHILD? As with the 11-plus, you should have your child academically assessed before sending them on this journey. If their academic potential does not match up to the school’s expectations, then you might be setting them up to fail in the future, even if they can be prepared well enough to secure a place initially. Children should not be intensively tutored to get into a school for which they lack the innate aptitude to succeed. HOWCANYOUPREPAREYOUR CHILD FOR THE SEVEN-PLUS? Obviously, the children are very young but these assessments still require preparation. It would be unfair to send your child into this experience unprepared, as they would be at a real disadvantage and might find it traumatic and demoralising.
If your child is at a pre-prep, the school may help, although they might prefer your child to stay within their school. State primary schools cannot and do not offer extra teaching for seven-plus candidates. Tutoring is sometimes officially frowned upon by schools but your child needs to understand what they will face and how to do well, so a knowledgeable tutor’s help can be the most effective tool.
Sitting an exam under timed conditions will be new to this age group, so it is a good idea for them to write practice papers this way, to get used to the added pressure and the need to plan out their allocated time. HOW IS THE SEVEN-PLUS ASSESSED? Written exams will be English- and maths-based, while spelling, dictation and mental arithmetic may be assessed verbally. Group exercises are also sometimes used to look at a child’s ability to follow direction and work well with others.
English written papers usually focus on comprehension and story writing. The expectation is for above-average vocabulary and reading level; good handwriting should be practised, as it is a real asset. Prepared answers will rarely be of use; candidates need to demonstrate the ability to structure answers and write stories to meet the specific questions or topics set for them on the day.
The written maths exam may include questions on any part of the year two syllabus and sometimes the questions will be pitched beyond that level. Mental arithmetic is very important but quite complex word problems can also be included.
More schools are starting to include verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests; many children view these as enjoyable puzzles but they can also be daunting and should certainly be practised. WILL THERE BE AN INTERVIEW? Most schools will call back for interview those children who have done well in the exams, while other schools may interview every candidate on the day of the exams. The interview is often a one-to-one conversation with the head teacher, to reveal the child’s social skills, confidence and focus, by chatting about their hobbies, home and so on. WHAT ARE SCHOOLS LOOKING FOR? Children aged six and seven are obviously younger and less established in academic life than those tested at 11-plus. They may be as yet incapable of much academic rigour and focus but the schools are aware of this. They will place value on social skills demonstrated in interview and in group tasks, as well as creative, verbal and listening skills, often assessed through group tasks. Schools will be looking for well-rounded children — but they are academically selective and academic performance in the exams remains the main measure. Lorrae Jaderberg and Katie Krais are founders and managing directors at JK Educate, which specialises in bespoke support for children’s learning, including preparation for seven-plus, 11-plus and 13-plus, 020 3488 0754, jkeducate.co.uk