Highgate 7 Plus Preparation
The Highgate 7 Plus is a key entry point to one of London’s most prestigious co-educational independent schools, known for high academic standards, innovative teaching methods, and strong pastoral support. Situated in North London, Highgate offers a well-rounded education combining traditional academic excellence with a forward-thinking approach. The 7 Plus entry process is highly competitive, with only a limited number of places available each year. Strong academic foundations and thorough preparation are crucial for success – our Highgate 7 Plus programme is designed to deliver these.
About Highgate School
Highgate School’s admissions process is designed to identify bright and inquisitive children who will benefit from and contribute to the school’s dynamic environment. Given the limited number of places available, the selection process is highly rigorous. The school seeks children who demonstrate not only academic ability but also curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for learning.
Highgate 7 Plus Format
The Highgate 7 Plus entrance exam evaluates a range of academic and cognitive skills in January of Year 2. The format includes English (focuses on reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, and creative writing, with pupils expected to demonstrate strong literacy skills and clear expression), Mathematics (includes number fluency, problem-solving, arithmetic, and logical reasoning, requiring applicants to apply knowledge to unfamiliar problems), Reasoning (both verbal and non-verbal reasoning tasks assess ability to identify patterns, relationships, and logical connections), and Interview & Group Activities (provides opportunity for children to showcase communication skills, confidence, and ability to work collaboratively with peers).
Academic Expectations
The Highgate 7 Plus exam takes place in January of Year 2, but children are expected to be working at an advanced level, often beyond the national curriculum for their age. To be competitive, children should demonstrate strong reading comprehension and the ability to infer meaning from complex texts, confident creative writing skills including well-structured sentences and imaginative storytelling, fluency in key mathematical concepts such as number bonds, times tables, fractions, and problem-solving strategies, and logical reasoning skills for both verbal and non-verbal exercises. Our academic testing programme can help you decide if Highgate is the right school for you and tell you how on track, or not, your child is for the Highgate 7 Plus entrance tests.
The Challenge for State School Applicants
Due to the high academic expectations, children applying from state schools may find the 7 Plus process particularly challenging. Many independent schools, including Highgate, expect applicants to work at a higher level than the national curriculum. We recommend structured preparation from an early age, ideally through a pre-prep school or additional tuition to ensure children are working at the required level.
How to Prepare for the Highgate 7 Plus
Effective preparation is key to success in the Highgate 7 Plus exam. A well-structured learning plan should include regular reading to enhance comprehension and vocabulary, writing exercises to develop creative and structured responses, practising mental arithmetic and problem-solving to build strong numerical skills, completing reasoning exercises to strengthen logical thinking and pattern recognition, and developing confidence for the interview through discussions and group activities.
How Hermes Education Can Support Your Child
At Hermes Education, we offer expert support tailored to the Highgate 7 Plus admissions process. Our services include personalised one-to-one tuition, mock exams, interview coaching, and holiday courses designed to build confidence and develop essential skills. Most successful candidates begin preparation from pre-reception, progressing through reception and Year 1 with targeted academic support. By Year 1, children should be engaging with Year 2 and early Year 3 material to ensure they are fully prepared. Generally, our Highgate pupils see us out of our Hampstead school site. Our structured approach ensures children are equipped to excel in Highgate’s competitive assessment process.
We got an offers from both Highgate and NLCS. My husband and I are so relieved! I can’t quite believe it’s happened.