What exactly happens at a 4+ assessment?

Your child joins a small group (usually 6–8 children) for a 20–45 minute play-based session. Trained assessors observe how children interact with toys, follow simple instructions, share with others, and respond to adults. There are no written tests, no reading expectations, and no maths. Schools are looking for curiosity, social awareness, and the ability to listen — not academic ability.

Is a 7+ exam like the 11+?

It’s academically demanding but shorter and narrower in scope. A typical 7+ exam includes English (reading comprehension, a short piece of writing) and maths (arithmetic, simple problem-solving). Some schools add verbal or non-verbal reasoning. Interviews are common. Unlike the 11+, there is no standardised national format — every school sets its own papers.

Do I really need to register my child at birth?

Only for a handful of the most oversubscribed London pre-preps (Thomas’s Battersea, Wetherby, Bassett House, and similar). Most 4+ schools accept registration up to 2 years before entry, and most 7+ schools require registration in Year 1. Check the specific school’s policy — registering early for a school that doesn’t require it gains you nothing.

Should I tutor my 3-year-old for a 4+ assessment?

Schools say no, and most child development experts agree. At age 3–4, what helps most is reading to your child daily, encouraging play with other children, and letting them practise basic independence (putting on shoes, tidying up). Formal tutoring at this age can create anxiety without improving outcomes. The children who do well are typically those who are socially confident and curious — traits that come from play, not prep.

Is tutoring helpful for 7+ exams?

Yes, within reason. Familiarising your child with the exam format (timed writing, comprehension questions, arithmetic under pressure) is genuinely useful. Most families applying to competitive 7+ schools use a tutor for 6–12 months beforehand, typically one session per week. Budget £2,000–£4,000. The danger is over-tutoring: a child who has been drilled beyond their natural level may get into a school where they struggle to keep up.

How much does it cost to apply?

Registration fees are typically £75–£150 per school. If you’re applying to 5–6 schools (common in London), that’s £400–£900 in registration fees alone. Assessment day fees are sometimes charged separately (£50–£100). These are non-refundable.

What happens if my child doesn’t get an offer?

It is not a reflection of your child’s ability — at 3 or 6 years old, assessment is inherently unreliable. Ask to be put on waiting lists (movement happens through the summer). Consider less oversubscribed schools. And remember: the state school route with an 11+ or 13+ attempt later is a perfectly valid and well-trodden path. Many high-achieving children enter the independent sector at 11+ having attended state primaries.

Can my child sit assessments at multiple schools?

Yes, and most families do. London families commonly apply to 4–6 schools at both 4+ and 7+. Be aware that assessment dates sometimes clash — check calendars early. Applying to a mix of highly competitive and less competitive schools is sensible.

Are 4+ and 7+ assessments only a London thing?

They’re most common in London and the Home Counties, where demand for independent prep school places is highest. Outside these areas, many independent schools have a straightforward admissions process with no formal assessment at 4+, and a lighter-touch assessment at 7+. In Scotland and Wales, formal 4+/7+ assessments are rare.

Does attending an independent pre-prep guarantee a place in the prep school?

Not always. Some schools have an “automatic” transition (e.g., Thomas’s pre-prep to Thomas’s prep), but others do not. Where transition is automatic, a child would only be held back if there were serious concerns. Where it is not automatic, internal candidates may still need to sit the same 7+ assessment as external applicants — though they often have a slight advantage.

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Parent Guide

4+ and 7+ Assessments: What Parents Need to Know

Yes, some schools really do assess three-year-olds. The 4+ and 7+ entry system is peculiar, stressful, and concentrated almost entirely in London and the Home Counties. This guide explains how it works, which schools use it, and what actually matters — so you can navigate the process without losing perspective.

12–15 min readEngland focusUpdated April 2026

Key facts

4+ assessments are play-based (20–45 min group sessions); 7+ assessments are academic (English, maths, reasoning papers).
Top London schools see 10:1 applicants per place — some require registration at birth.
Over 200 schools use 4+ or 7+ assessments, concentrated almost entirely in London and the Home Counties.
Tutoring at age 3 is unnecessary and may cause anxiety — at age 6, light exam-format prep (6–12 months) is genuinely helpful.
Registration fees run £75–£150 per school — applying to 5–6 schools costs £400–£900 before tuition even starts.

10:1

Applicants per place at top London schools

Age 3

Youngest children assessed for 4+ entry

200+

Schools using 4+ or 7+ assessments

3 hrs

Exam time at some 7+ schools

4+ Assessments Explained

A 4+ assessment is the entry process for Reception at an independent pre-prep or prep school. Your child will be 3 years old when assessed. Let’s be clear about what that means: a toddler, barely out of nappies, is being observed in a structured setting to determine school placement. It is, by any objective measure, absurd — and yet it is the system that hundreds of families navigate every year.

What actually happens

Your child attends a play-based group sessionlasting 20–45 minutes. Groups are small (6–8 children). There are no desks, no written tests, and no expectation that your child can read or count. Trained assessors observe from nearby, often with clipboards, noting how each child behaves in a semi-structured environment.

What assessors look for

Social skills — sharing, taking turns, interacting with unfamiliar children
Listening — following simple group instructions from an adult
Curiosity — engagement with toys, books, and activities
Fine motor skills — holding a crayon, threading beads, building with blocks
Language — speaking in sentences, responding to questions
Separation — ability to leave a parent without excessive distress

Typical activities

Free play with construction toys, a short story read aloud (assessors note who listens), a simple drawing or colouring task, a group game or song, and sometimes a brief 1:1 conversation with an adult (“What’s your favourite animal?”). Some schools include an outdoor play element. The whole thing is designed to feel like a nursery session, not an exam — though the stakes couldn’t be more different.

The uncomfortable truth

Assessing a three-year-old is inherently unreliable. A child’s performance on any given day depends on sleep, mood, whether they had a tantrum in the car park, and pure chance. Schools know this. The process selects for a narrow band of “socially ready” children — which correlates with birth month, parental education, and nursery quality more than with any innate ability. A rejection at 4+ tells you nothing meaningful about your child.

7+ Assessments Explained

The 7+ is a different beast entirely. At age 6–7 children sit formal written exams, and at the most competitive schools the testing is substantial. This is the main entry point for many of London’s top prep schools.

English

Reading comprehension (a passage with questions), creative writing (a short story or description, usually 1–2 pages), and sometimes a dictation or spelling exercise. Schools want to see fluent reading, clear handwriting, and the ability to write in complete sentences with basic punctuation.

Maths

Arithmetic (addition, subtraction, some multiplication), number patterns, simple word problems, shape recognition, and basic measurement. The standard expected is comfortably above the national curriculum for Year 2. Top schools include problems that require reasoning, not just computation.

Reasoning & interview

Some schools add verbal reasoning (VR) and non-verbal reasoning (NVR) papers. Nearly all include an interview — sometimes with the headteacher, sometimes with a member of the admissions team. Children may be asked about their hobbies, books they’ve read, or to discuss a picture. The interview assesses personality and fit as much as ability.

Exam duration at competitive schools

Westminster Under School: approximately 2.5 hours of testing plus interview. Colet Court (St Paul’s Juniors): 2–3 hours across multiple papers. King’s College School Wimbledon: approximately 2 hours plus interview. For a six-year-old, this is a marathon. Schools build in breaks, but it is still a long and tiring day.

Key Schools & Their Processes

Every school runs its own admissions process. These are some of the most sought-after, with what to expect.

Westminster Under School

English, maths, and reasoning papers plus interview. Around 12 applicants per place. Register by autumn of Year 1.

Thomas’s Battersea

Play-based group assessment at age 3. Children observed in small groups for 45 minutes. Balloted waiting list — register at birth.

Colet Court (St Paul’s Juniors)

Highly academic: English, maths, and reasoning exams plus interview with head. One of the most competitive 7+ entries in London.

Hampton Prep

Maths and English papers, group activity session, and individual interview. Around 5 applicants per place.

King’s College School Wimbledon (Junior)

English, maths, and reasoning assessments. Interview. School report from current school required. Very competitive.

Wetherby Pre-Prep / Prep

Informal assessment at age 3. Small group play session observed by staff. Strong demand — register well in advance.

Registration Timelines

Missing a registration deadline is the most common — and most preventable — reason families miss out. Some schools close their lists years in advance.

Birth registration schools

Thomas’s Battersea, Wetherby, Bassett House, and several other London pre-preps accept registrations from birth. Some use balloted waiting lists.

4+ registration (1–2 years before entry)

Most 4+ schools require registration by age 2–3. Assessment takes place in the autumn or winter before the September start.

4+ assessment (autumn/winter before entry)

Play-based sessions typically last 20–45 minutes. Offers are usually made in the spring term, around February–March.

7+ registration (Year 1, autumn term)

7+ exams (January of Year 2)

Exams and interviews held in January. Offers typically made in February. Accept/decline deadlines vary by school.

Competition Levels by Area

The 4+/7+ pressure is overwhelmingly a London phenomenon. If you live outside the M25, the landscape is considerably calmer.

Central London (Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster)

Extreme

8–12 applicants per place at top schools. Birth registration common. Professional tutoring industry thrives here.

South-West London (Putney, Wimbledon, Barnes)

Very high

6–10 applicants per place. Strong cluster of prep schools. Slightly less frenzied than central but still intensely competitive.

Home Counties (Surrey, Herts, Bucks)

High

4–6 applicants per place at popular schools. Less pressure than London but still requires early registration and preparation.

Elsewhere in England, Scotland, Wales

Moderate

2–4 applicants per place. More relaxed timelines. Some schools have no waiting list at all for 4+ entry.

The Preparation Debate

Should you tutor a three-year-old? The honest answer is no — but the full picture is more nuanced than that.

For 4+ entry: play, don’t prep

There is no evidence that formal tutoring improves 4+ outcomes. What helps: reading aloud daily, playdates with other children, a good nursery, and basic independence skills (getting dressed, using the toilet, tidying up). A confident, curious child who can separate from their parent will do well. A drilled child who has been “practising” with flashcards may actually perform worse if they’re anxious or robotic.

For 7+ entry: targeted preparation helps

At 7+, the exams are real and the content goes beyond the Year 2 curriculum. A tutor can help with exam technique, timed writing, and familiarity with question formats. One session per week for 6–12 months is typical. Budget £2,000–£4,000. Be wary of tutors who promise guaranteed results — no ethical tutor can promise a place at Westminster Under.

The ethics question

Intensive tutoring from age 3 raises legitimate concerns. It can create pressure and anxiety in very young children, widen inequality (wealthy families buy an advantage), and distort what assessments are supposed to measure. Schools are aware of this — many are moving toward assessment methods that are harder to coach. But the incentive structure remains: when 10 families compete for each place, some will always try to gain an edge.

If Your Child Doesn’t Get In

Rejection hurts, but it is far more common than acceptance at these schools. Here’s what to do next.

Request waiting list placement

Families change plans, move abroad, or accept offers elsewhere. Waiting list movement is real, especially through May–July. Stay on every list.

Look at less oversubscribed schools

Not every good prep school has a 10:1 ratio. Schools slightly further out, newer schools, or those without famous names can offer an excellent education with far less competitive entry.

The state school + 11+ route

A strong state primary followed by an 11+ attempt at age 10–11 is a perfectly valid path. Many children who enter top senior schools at 11+ attended state primaries. You save 7 years of fees and your child loses nothing.

Try again at 7+ or 8+

If your child didn’t secure a 4+ place, a strong state or independent infant school can prepare them well for 7+ entry. Children develop enormously between ages 3 and 6.

Keep perspective

A 4+ rejection does not predict your child’s future. At 3 years old, the difference between “accepted” and “not accepted” may literally be whether your child had a good nap that morning.

Common Questions

Sources

This guide draws on admissions information published by individual schools (Westminster Under, Thomas’s, Colet Court, Hampton Prep, King’s College School Wimbledon), the Independent Schools Council (ISC) census 2025, the Good Schools Guide, and guidance from the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS). This guide is for general information only. Admissions policies, inspection frameworks, and school structures change regularly — always verify current details with the relevant school, local authority, or official body. Last reviewed April 2026.

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