Nine Plus (9+) resources for English and Reasoning

When preparing students for the 9 Plus school entrance exams, you may find that there aren't a great number of resources out there (especially compared with the 7 or 8 Plus). This blog suggests a few resources which can be used by students as a starting point for 9 Plus preparation.

Mike January, 2020

10 recommended reading books for 6 to 8 year olds

Finding high-quality books which your child enjoys reading is the first step to ensuring they become good readers and writers. This blog gives some 'must-reads' for children aged 6 to 8. The books listed are both good quality texts and highly popular with children of this age group.

Rosie December, 2019 2 Comments

Preparing for the 7 Plus and 8 Plus 2019/2020: top tips to take away from last year’s exams

In this blog, Hannah shares her top lessons learned from the 2018/2019 round of 7 Plus and 8 Plus exams. If you are entering your child for the 7+ or 8+ in the next couple of months, these helpful tips and observations from a full-time, professional tutor will give you a flavour of the kinds of things to expect from these assessments.

Hannah November, 2019 3 Comments

Preparing for the 7 Plus composition paper: A Picture is worth a thousand words

As both a teacher and a tutor, Hannah has worked with many children who present as reluctant writers or who appear to not have many ideas to begin a story. "Talking Pictures" is a simple yet highly effective 4 step strategy to get your child’s creative juices flowing and to kick-start the story writing process.

Hannah October, 2019

Preparing for the St Paul’s 7 and 8 Plus dictation test: tips for success

This year, St Paul’s School are changing things up for the 7 and 8 Plus entrance exams, and the English paper will now include a dictation rather than a creative writing task (composition). It is worth considering that other schools may follow suit, and in this blog, Meredith sets out how best to prepare for this exam format.

Meredith October, 2019

How to prepare for School Entrance Interviews: Tips and Techniques

In this blog Sobia discusses the daunting process of interviewing for a school place, and outlines possible questions asked as well as tips and techniques for success.

Sobia October, 2019

How to make 7 Plus and 8 Plus exam preparation fun

Children are naturally curious and inquisitive creatures who love to learn. However, the high expectations set by schools and the pressures created by exams can often lead children to see their learning as a chore. This post gives some tips and advice on how to foster a child’s natural enthusiasm for learning and keep exam preparation fun.

Rosie September, 2019

How to prepare your child for interview at 7+ and 8+

In this blog, Hannah sets out five activities which can help your child to prepare for their 7 Plus or 8 Plus school entrance interview. Using these five activities as part of a long-term strategy will build your child's confidence in speaking and ensure their personality shines through on the day.

Hannah September, 2019 2 Comments

Preparing for the 7 Plus composition paper: Using ‘wow’ words in writing

In addition to structure and content, the writing composition section of the 7 plus exam is designed to test a candidate's use of interesting vocabulary in their writing. This blog - written by Meredith, a professional school entrance tutor - explains how ‘wow’ words can enhance a piece of writing and sets out five ways to generate them.

Meredith September, 2019

Coping with 7 Plus exam stress: 5 mindful moments to help

Seven plus entrance exam preparation can be a stressful experience for both parents and students. This blog post outlines 5 mindfulness techniques to add some calm and joy to the process. It has been written by Meredith, an Owl Tutor with a background in psychology and counselling.