7 Plus (7+) Exam – St. Paul’s Juniors (formerly Colet Court) – Key Admissions Details 2024
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Table of Contents
Introduction
St Paul’s Juniors (SPJ) is a prestigious boys’ school located in Barnes, Greater London. The school has a reputation for achieving exceptional academic results and also boasts numerous non-academic achievements. SPJ’s campus occupies modern facilities, including a sports center, swimming pool and a dining hall, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the River Thames. [1]
In addition to the standard entry age of 7+, boys may also enroll at SPJ through competitive examination at ages 8+ and 11+. The school offers means-tested bursaries at all points of entry. The majority of boys normally move on to the senior school after completing their studies at the junior school, and those who do not typically secure spots at their first-choice schools.
The warm and welcoming atmosphere at SPJ helps new students feel at home right away. Each day begins with an assembly in the School Hall, where all pupils come together as a community to listen to interesting speakers, celebrate their peers’ achievements, and build a sense of belonging. [2]
Boys who attend SPJ have the option to continue their education at the school through to the end of their studies. Assuming they meet the necessary academic standards, they will be automatically registered to transfer to St Paul’s at age 13+. This means that they have a place at St Paul’s, provided they pass the entrance exam and meet the necessary academic requirements. It is important to note that this is not an unconditional offer of a place, but rather an unconditional offer of registration.
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Exam Information
Address: Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London, SW13 9JT
County: Greater London
Admissions info: 7and8PlusEntry@stpaulsschool.org.uk or +44 (0)20 8746 5444
School type: Independent preparatory school for boys
Open days: In the Autumn Term
7+ Exam date: November of Year 2
Pass mark: Aim for 50%+ in our SPJ-specific practice tests. See below for more details.
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Open Days
St. Paul’s Juniors hosts Small Group Parent Tours, allowing parents to meet the Head, staff and current pupils, as well as get a flavour of daily life on campus. Taking place on a working day, these events must be pre-booked through the Admissions office. Open Morning is held in November and can be attended by both parents and prospective pupils. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Admissions
Boys can be registered for a 7+ place from the beginning of Year 1. The deadline for registrations is in October of the year preceding entry. Please note that the form should be submitted together with a non-refundable fee of £175.
All 7+ applicants will sit entrance assessments in November, testing their skills across three broad areas. Top-performing pupils will be invited back to the school to take part in a group activity.
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Interviews and Activities
Approx two candidates per place will be called back for an assessment and a short group interview with the Head or a senior member of staff.
The school says:
Boys who perform well in the written tests will be invited back for a half day group assessment. Group sizes will be approximately 10. This process will involve a Maths lesson, an English lesson and group problem-solving task. At the same time, parents will have the opportunity to meet with the Head of St Paul’s Juniors. The group assessments will take place during the two weeks following the tests, enabling boys to know their results within a fortnight. [1]
In previous years, candidates have been asked to write a short story and answer some complex maths questions. For example, questions featured in recent interviews included: a group of five candidates being asked, ‘if everyone in the group shook hands with one another, how many handshakes would there be in total?’ and ‘Would you rather be blind or deaf?’
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Writing is potentially useful for any short writing tasks that could come up in the second round interview.
Parents are also interviewed at St. Paul’s Juniors and both parents are encouraged to attend if possible. This is very relaxed and a good opportunity to meet the Head and ask any questions you may have.
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Scholarships and Bursaries
St. Paul’s Juniors (formerly Colet Court) offers bursaries at all entry points, including 7+. Not every school will offer financial support at such a young age as a child’s potential is still relatively unknown.
Bursaries are means-tested and full details of income and capital resources will be requested. Each application is assessed on its own individual merit and offers of financial support, if appropriate, will be made in the November of the year prior to entry.
Bursaries are means-tested each year and may change as a family’s financial situation improves or deteriorates. Requests for a bursary form should be made after registration. For further information, please click here.
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Exam Format
The 7+ entrance exam at St. Paul’s Juniors consists of the following assessments:
- Mathematics
- English
- Reasoning
This is what the SPJ 7+ exam timetable typically looks like:
| 8.30 am | Arrival |
| 9.00 – 9.45 | Verbal Reasoning (45 minutes) |
| 9.45 – 9.55 | Short Break (10 mins) |
| 9.55 – 10.30 | Mental and Written Maths test (35 minutes) |
| 10.30 – 11.00 | Long Break (30 minutes) |
| 11.00 – 11.45 | Reading (comprehension) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (45 minutes) |
| 11.45 – 11.55 | Short Break (10 minutes) |
| 11.55 – 12.20 | English Dictation (25 minutes) |
| 12.25 | Collection Time |
- Previous St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ maths papers have included questions on time, money and symmetry. An emphasis on extended number problems and mental maths (where workings out are not usually allowed!)
- In recent years, the St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ English comprehension paper was multiple choice. Candidates were also tested on their spelling. A recent composition title was ‘The Present’. Candidates were given a plan to fill in to start them off and advised to spend 15 minutes planning their story.
- The St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ Reasoning paper contains a mixture of elements including Verbal Reasoning, shapes, arrows, sequences of numbers and codes. The Verbal Reasoning paper concentrates on vocabulary and the meanings of words. It is designed to get progressively harder.
- There will also be a Dictation Task, consisting of short sentences read out by a teacher which boys will copy down. It will test spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and handwriting.
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores
Pupils who are able to score 50%+ consistently in our SPJ-specific 7+ Practice Tests should be on track to pass the SPJ 7+ exam.
Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the St. Paul’s Juniors 7 plus exam.
Don’t worry if your child is not scoring well in our practice papers from the outset. With targeted practice and focus, it’s possible to make big improvements in a short amount of time!
St. Paul’s Juniors 7 Plus (7+) Exam Practice Papers
If you are at the very beginning of your 7+ journey, you may wish to start with our range of 6+ resources. These cover the core Maths and English skills your child needs to develop but at a slightly easier level.
Our 6+ range will help your child develop confidence and a strong foundation before they progress further with the 7+ material listed below.
Full Practice Tests
These practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ exam. They cover all the areas that are tested in the exam, using similar formats and timings based on the official assessment timetable.
7+ St. Paul’s Juniors Practice Test 1
7+ St. Paul’s Juniors Practice Test 2
7+ St. Paul’s Juniors Practice Test 3
7+ St. Paul’s Juniors Practice Test 4
7+ St. Paul’s Juniors Practice Test 5
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of our complete practice tests specifically for the St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
7+ SPJ Full Practice Tests Bundle
English
We highly recommend the following practice papers to help your child prepare for the St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ English exam. They cover everything your child needs to know about comprehension:
Full Practice Tests
7+ English Pack 4 (Comprehension Sections Only)
7+ English Pack 5 (Comprehension Sections Only)
Comprehension Skills
7+ English: Comprehension Pack 2
7+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
Comprehension Guide
This guide covers all the key comprehension question types in a clear, step-by-step manner so that both you and your child know exactly what to expect on exam day.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Comprehension
Dictation Skills
7+ English: Dictation (Ideal Preparation for the Dictation Assessment)
Mathematics
The following 7+ packs will help your child develop the key skills needed to do well in the mathematics section of the St. Paul’s Juniors entrance exam:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
Each of the following skill practice 7+ mathematics packs focuses on just one specific topic, covering all the possible variations your child may face on exam day:
7+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
7+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
7+ Mathematics: Addition & Subtraction
7+ Mathematics: Multiplication & Division
7+ Mathematics: Number & Place Value
Mathematics Guide
This guide covers the full 7+ maths syllabus step-by-step, teaching your child everything they need to know in a fun and interactive manner.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Mathematics
Reasoning
To help your child master Reasoning skills ahead of the St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ exam, we highly recommend the following resources:
Full Practice Tests
Reasoning Guides
The following guides cover everything your child needs to know to ace 7+ Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning exams. They are packed with insights, tips and advice to help your child develop the key frameworks needed to succeed.
The Complete Guide to 7+ Verbal Reasoning
The Complete Guide to 7+ Non-Verbal Reasoning
Listening
St. Paul’s Juniors is keen to find students who can listen to instructions, process information and respond accurately. This pack will help develop these key skills:
7+ Listening Pack 1 (Ideal Preparation for the Dictation Assessment)
SPJ 7+ Bundle – Save 40%!
✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the St. Paul’s Juniors 7+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:
7+ SPJ Full Bundle
St. Paul’s Juniors: Destination Schools at 13+
In most cases, boys move on to St Paul’s. However, a small minority may transfer to other schools, often as a result of a change in parental circumstances. St. Paul’s Juniors has a good relationship with other senior schools, including Eton and Winchester, and will support boys with appropriate references and recommendations.
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Other entry points for St. Paul’s Juniors:
Click here to learn about Year 4 entry via the 8 Plus (8+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 7 entry via the 11 Plus (11+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 9 entry via the 13 Plus (13+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 12 entry via the 16 Plus (16+) Exam
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