The Complete Parent’s Guide to 7 Plus Exams for 2026

• Registration: Usually in the spring or summer before Year 2 (some schools open registration more than a year in advance).
• Exams: Held between September and January of Year 2.
• Results: Offers, waiting lists, or rejections are issued a few weeks after the assessments.
• Two-stage process: Many schools run a written paper first, then invite successful candidates back for interviews and group activities.

Because of the competitive nature, it’s common for children to sit several different schools’ 7+ exams within a few weeks.

When Should 7+ Exam Preparation Begin?

We strongly recommend that children begin preparing from Year 1 rather than leaving everything to the final term before the exam. The 7+ covers a wide range of topics — some beyond the standard Year 2 curriculum — and it can be overwhelming for a six-year-old to try to master these in just 2–3 months.

Starting early has several benefits:

• It allows children to build knowledge step by step, without the stress of cramming.
• It helps them develop good learning habits, such as daily reading, regular mental maths, and confidence in reasoning.
• It keeps the process enjoyable and sustainable, so children maintain a love of learning instead of feeling pressured.

In short: the earlier the preparation begins, the more confident and relaxed your child will feel on exam day.

A Year-by-Year Plan

• Reception (ages 4–5): Begin to explore schools and admissions. Build concentration, listening, and curiosity through play and early reading.
• Year 1 (ages 5–6): The best time to start systematic preparation. Strengthen English and Maths foundations, while keeping learning light and enjoyable. Attend open days and learn about school requirements.
• End of Year 1 – start of Year 2: Complete registrations (spaces are limited, so earlier is better).
• Year 2 Autumn Term (ages 6–7): Enter the focused preparation stage: practise past papers, mock exams, and interview skills.
• Year 2 Winter Term (Nov–Jan): Formal exam and interview period. Balance revision with rest to keep children calm and confident.
• Year 2 Spring Term (Jan–Feb): Results released; offers must usually be confirmed within days.

💡 Parent Tip: The earlier preparation begins, the less pressure children will feel. Trying to learn everything in just 2–3 months is stressful for a six-year-old. Early, gradual preparation allows children to build confidence and keep their love of learning intact.

Preparation Strategies

• Daily habits: 15 minutes of reading, short bursts of mental maths, and occasional writing practice.
• Reasoning games: puzzles, sudoku, tangrams, and logic challenges to develop problem-solving.
• Past papers & mocks: start with untimed practice, then gradually introduce timed conditions.
• Interview prep: encourage children to explain their thinking and share opinions aloud.
• Balance: don’t overload. Maintain play, exercise, and rest.

How to Prepare for the 7+ Exam?

How to prepare for the 7 plus exam?
Preparation includes regular reading, maths practice, reasoning exercises, and exam-style papers, often supported by tutors or mock exams.

The 7+ exam is challenging, but with a structured approach, children can develop the skills and confidence needed to perform well. Preparation should be gradual, focusing on strengthening core subjects and familiarising children with the exam format.

Many parents choose to seek one-to-one tuition. An experienced tutor not only understands the exam format, but also knows how to tailor preparation to a child’s individual learning style, helping them stay engaged and make steady progress.

7+ Entrance Exam English Preparation

English preparation should include daily practice in:

• Reading comprehension — develop understanding, inference, and vocabulary.
• Creative writing — practise stories, diaries, or descriptions, with a focus on structure and imagination.
• Vocabulary, spelling, and grammar — taught in context through reading and writing.

Encourage your child to read widely, from fiction to non-fiction. Ask open-ended questions about what they’ve read (“Why do you think the character felt that way?”) to strengthen critical thinking, a key skill in comprehension.

7+ Entrance Exam Maths Preparation

Maths preparation should focus on:

• Mental arithmetic — quick recall of times tables and number bonds.
• Core operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions.
• Problem-solving — applying maths to word problems, money calculations, time, and logic puzzles.

Real-life scenarios are excellent practice: calculating change in shops, measuring ingredients when cooking, or working out elapsed time on a journey. These tasks encourage logical thinking and application of concepts.

Think Academy offers specialised 7+ Maths Exam support. If you’d like to understand your child’s current knowledge level and what steps they need to take next, please click the image below to try our free maths assessment:

7+ Entrance Exam Reasoning Preparation

Reasoning can be the trickiest part for many children as it involves abstract thinking. Regular exposure helps:

• Verbal Reasoning — word codes, analogies, synonyms, logical sequences.
• Non-Verbal Reasoning — spotting patterns, sequences, odd-one-out, symmetry.

Use puzzles, games, and practice papers to build familiarity and reduce anxiety. Even activities like Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, or tangram challenges strengthen the same skills.

Timed Practice

Working under time pressure can be stressful, so it’s vital to practise gradually:

• Begin with untimed exercises to build accuracy.
• Introduce short timed activities (e.g. 5–10 minutes).
• Progress to full exam-style timed papers as the exam approaches.

Children who are familiar with pacing tend to feel calmer and more confident on exam day.

7 Plus Exam Papers

Where to find 7 plus exam papers?
7 plus exam papers are available online as free PDFs, sample papers, and practice papers from schools and education providers.

In the months before the exam, regular use of 7+ exam past papers is one of the most effective preparation tools. These simulate the real test environment and allow children to practise working to time limits.

We recommend using tiered practice papers — starting with easier sets to build confidence, and gradually progressing to harder sets. This helps children feel motivated rather than overwhelmed, while ensuring they are exposed to the full range of question types.