Celebrating Success & Market Trends in the 7+ and 11+ Exams

This year has seen some incredible successes for my students! I’m delighted to share that they’ve received offers (including two academic scholarships offers) at:

• City of London Junior School
• City of London School for Girls
• Highgate School
• The Perse School (Cambridge)
• University College School
• South Hampstead High School Juniors
• South Hampstead High School Seniors
• Frances Holland RP
• Frances Holland SS
• Latymer Upper
• North London Collegiate,
• Godolphin and Latymer
• Channing School
• Merchant Taylor School
• Haberdashers’ School for Girls
• Queens College
• Belmont School
• Devonshire House

Their hard work, resilience, and adaptability have truly paid off.

But beyond the results, I’ve noticed some key trends shaping the 7+ and 11+ landscape—from evolving question styles to shifting school expectations. These patterns not only influence how children prepare but also the approaches that tutors and parents need to take together.

Here are some of the biggest trends I’ve observed this year:

Evolving Question Styles

Many schools are increasingly moving towards more open-ended, reasoning-based tasks. In particular:

• Maths papers now place a greater emphasis on problem-solving and multi-step word problems.
• English comprehension questions demand higher-level inference and interpretation skills.
• Creative writing assessments are focusing more on structure, originality, and vocabulary richness.

More Weight on Second Stage Assessments

For both 7+ and 11+, second stage assessments are playing an even greater role in final decisions. Schools are looking for:

• Confidence and the ability to express ideas clearly.
• Intellectual curiosity—students who can discuss books, problem-solve, or think on their feet.
• A sense of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

This means preparation can’t just focus on academics—children also need to develop strong verbal reasoning skills, social confidence, and adaptability.

Greater Competition

The demand for places at top independent schools remains high, with the changes to VAT status meaning that many parents are looking for “value add” and trading up to super selective. This makes balanced, strategic preparation more important than ever. Success isn’t just about exam technique; it’s about ensuring a child is resilient, engaged, and able to showcase their strengths beyond the written paper.

As the landscape continues to evolve, a well-structured approach to preparation is essential—one that balances academic excellence with confidence-building, creativity, and independent thinking.

If you're navigating the 7+ or 11+ journey and want to discuss strategies, feel free to get in touch:

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