Habs 7 Plus Preparation
Haberdashers’ Schools (Habs Boys and Habs Girls) offer highly competitive entry at 7 Plus for Year 3. Habs Boys welcomes approximately 26 new pupils across three form entries, while Habs Girls offers around 4 places as they already have an established cohort from 4 Plus entry. Both schools are located on a prestigious 100-acre co-educational campus in Elstree, Hertfordshire, and are known for exceptional academic results and outstanding co-curricular provision.
The 7 Plus exam at both schools is academically rigorous and designed to identify children with strong academic potential who will thrive in the intellectually challenging Habs environment. Entry is highly selective, with hundreds of applicants competing for limited places. Our 7 Plus programme is well placed to help you succeed.
About Haberdashers' Schools
Founded in 1690, Haberdashers’ has a rich heritage of educational excellence spanning over three centuries. Both Habs Boys and Habs Girls consistently achieve outstanding academic results. At GCSE, over 90% of grades are 9-7, and at A Level, approximately 75% of grades are A*-A. Our academic testing programme can help you know if Habs is a good fit for your child. However, the schools emphasise that academic excellence is just one part of a Habs education—character development, creativity, leadership, and extensive co-curricular opportunities are equally valued. Our interview preparation programme is especially valuable here.
The schools operate on a shared campus with separate single-sex education through Year 11, then co-educational A Level teaching from Sixth Form onwards. Both schools share the ethos “Together, boundless” and believe education should inspire curiosity, develop character, and prepare students to make a positive difference in the world.
Habs 7 Plus Format
The 7 Plus exam at both Habs Boys and Habs Girls follows a two-stage process held in the autumn term of Year 2
Stage 1: Formal Assessment Morning (November)
Children attend a formal assessment morning which includes written papers in Reasoning, Mathematics, and English. These assessments are designed to test academic potential and readiness for the demanding Habs curriculum. The Reasoning paper tests both verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills. The Mathematics paper covers number fluency, problem-solving, and logical reasoning. The English paper assesses comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills.
Stage 2: Further Assessment (Invitation Only)
Approximately half of the Stage 1 participants are invited back for a second stage at the end of the autumn term. This includes further assessments in English and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), plus group activities where children work together on collaborative tasks. Assessors observe both individual academic ability and how children work together, communicate, and approach challenges. Parents are also invited to meet the Head of Prep and members of the Senior Leadership Team.
Academic Expectations
The Habs 7 Plus exam is academically challenging and expects children to be working above the standard Year 2 curriculum. Both schools are looking for children who demonstrate strong numerical skills and mathematical reasoning, confident reading comprehension and vocabulary, clear and expressive writing ability, logical thinking and pattern recognition in reasoning tasks, and genuine enthusiasm for learning and intellectual curiosity.
Children should be comfortable with Year 2 material and beginning to engage with early Year 3 concepts by the time they sit the exam in November of Year 2. The schools value academic potential alongside current attainment, so they are looking for children who show the capacity to thrive in an intellectually challenging environment.
How to Prepare for the Habs 7 Plus Exam
Effective preparation for the Habs 7 Plus exam should focus on building strong foundations across all subjects while maintaining genuine enthusiasm for learning. Key strategies include developing confident reading comprehension through regular, challenging reading and discussing texts, strengthening mathematical fluency and problem-solving through regular practice with number bonds, times tables, and word problems, building reasoning skills through puzzles, logic games, and pattern recognition exercises, enhancing writing skills through regular creative writing and structured composition practice, and fostering confidence through discussion, group work, and collaborative activities.
Most successful candidates begin preparation from Year 1, ensuring they develop strong foundations early and build momentum through Year 2. By the time of the November assessment, children should be comfortable with all of Year 2 and beginning to explore Year 3 material, particularly in Mathematics.
Application Timeline
For entry in September 2026, applications typically close in early November 2025. Stage 1 assessments take place in November 2025, Stage 2 assessments (for invited candidates) occur in late autumn/early winter 2025, and offers are sent out in January 2026 with acceptances due within approximately two weeks.
How Hermes Education Can Support Your Child with the Habs 7 Plus
At Hermes Education, we provide expert support for families preparing for the Habs 7 Plus exam. Our approach focuses on building genuine academic understanding and confidence rather than simply coaching for the exam. We offer tailored one-to-one tuition in Mathematics, English, and Reasoning, practice with exam-style questions to build familiarity and confidence, development of problem-solving strategies and exam technique, mock assessments to prepare for the formal testing environment, interview and group work preparation for the Stage 2 assessment, and guidance on school selection and ensuring Habs is the right fit for your child.
Our tutors are experienced educators who understand the Habs admissions process and what the schools are looking for. We work with families from Year 1 onwards to ensure children develop the strong academic foundations needed while maintaining their natural enthusiasm and curiosity for learning. Most of our Habs pupils see tutors out of our Hampstead site. Our structured approach ensures children are working at the appropriate level and feel confident and prepared for both stages of the assessment process.
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