Advice 8+ Year 3 8 Plus (8+) Exam – Westminster Under – Key Admissions Details

8 Plus (8+) Exam – Westminster Under – Key Admissions Details

Written by Faisal Nasim

Note: Please be aware that Westminster Under School is discontinuing 8+ entry. Following this change, the school will only accept new pupils at the 4+, 7+ and 11+ stages. For more information on how to apply for these cohorts, please refer to our respective 7+ and 11+ admissions articles.

Introduction

 

Westminster Under is an independent school that was founded in 1943. Originally occupying the grounds of Westminster School, it was relocated to its current setting in St Vincent’s Square in 1981. Many notable composers, actors, writers and MPs are part of WUS’ alumni list. [1]

 

The curriculum is thorough and versatile, covering a wide range of subjects including languages, history, geography, sciences, mathematics and ICT. These disciplines are supported by the use of relevant contemporary technology, which helps enhance the learning experience by both challenging and engaging students.

 

The well-rounded and comprehensive education on offer also features a vast range of extras, including fencing, judo, robotics and tennis. In addition to these, Westminster Under provides children with opportunities to extend their cultural experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Accordingly, visits to museums and trips to destinations such as Italy, France and Belgium, are organised on regular basis. [2]

 

Westminster Under 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information

 

Address: 27 Vincent Square SW1P 2NN

County: Greater London

Admissions info: 020 7821 5788

School type: Independent school

Open days: September

8+ Exam date: January of Year 3

Pass mark: Aim for 75%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.

 

Open Events for Westminster Under 8 Plus (8+) Entry

 

Families are invited to attend the September Open Morning, during which they will tour the school, speak with staff and students and ask any questions they may have. To register your attendance, please click here. The event begins with a talk from the Master, followed by tours of facilities led by current pupils. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

 

 

Westminster Under 8 Plus (8+) Admissions

 

To register for an 8+ place at the school, a non-refundable fee must be paid by the deadline in October of the year preceding entry. The school strongly recommends early registration.

 

Formal assessments for entry into Year 4 take place in January of the year preceding entry. Please note that shortlisted applicants will be further assessed. This will include classroom-based activities and an interview with a Senior staff member.

 

If your child is offered a place at the school, you will be asked to accept it with a payment of a £1,000 acceptance deposit.

 

Westminster Under 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format

 

The Stage 1 Westminster Under 8 Plus exam consists of written papers covering the following topics:

 

⦾ English

The English paper assesses comprehension and grammar skills through multiple-choice questions.

 

⦾ Mathematics

The maths paper assesses problem-solving and arithmetic skills through multiple-choice questions.

 

⦾ Reasoning

The Reasoning test will assess Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills, evaluating intelligence and logical thinking instead of acquired knowledge.

 


Please note that there will be further assessments in English as part of the Stage 2 exam, testing your child’s writing ability.


Westminster Under 8 Plus (8+) Interviews and Activities

 

Candidates who are successful in the exam will be called back for an activity and assessment session, which includes a short interview with the Master or a senior member of staff. Past classroom-based assessment activities have included being taught imaginary languages, sorting pictures of famous buildings into date order and working in groups on a collage.

 

Interviews take place in smaller break out groups of approx. 3-4 candidates. Questions can be subject-based or about a child’s family, interests and hobbies. Questions such as ‘Who do you most admire and why?’ and ‘If you won a million pounds on the lottery, what would you do with it?’ have featured in the past.

 

Westminster Under School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

 

Pupils who are able to score 75%+ consistently in our 8+ practice tests should be on track to pass the WUS 8+ assessment.

 

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the Westminster Under 8 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!

 

Westminster Under 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers

 

Stage One: Reasoning, English & Maths

 

English 

 

We highly recommend the following practice papers to help your child prepare for the Westminster Under School Stage One 8+ English test. This exam is paper-based; it is not taken online. These practice tests cover all the key comprehension and grammar question types you can expect in the actual exam:

 

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended English resources for the Stage One Westminster Under School 8+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

8+ WUS English Bundle - Save 15%

 

Further English Practice

 

The following 8+ packs will help your child enhance the key skills needed to do well in the English section of the Westminster Under School Stage One exam:

 

Full Practice Tests

 

8+ English Pack 4

8+ English Pack 5

 

Comprehension Skills

 

8+ Reading Workbook

8+ English: Comprehension Pack 2

8+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar

8+ English: Inference Skills

 

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 Guide to 8+ Comprehension

 

Mathematics

 

The following practice tests have been created to help your child prepare for the 8+ Westminster Under School Stage One Maths exam. This exam is paper-based; it is not taken online. These practice tests will provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:

 

8+ Westminster Mathematics Practice Test 1

8+ Westminster Mathematics Practice Test 2

8+ Westminster Mathematics Practice Test 3

8+ Westminster Mathematics Practice Test 4

8+ Westminster Mathematics Practice Test 5

 

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended Mathematics resources for the Stage One Westminster Under School 8+ exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

8+ WUS Mathematics Bundle - Save 15%

 

Further Maths Practice

 

The following 8+ packs will help your child further improve the key skills needed to do well in the mathematics section of the Westminster Under School Stage One test:

 

Full Practice Tests

 

8+ Mathematics Pack 4

8+ Mathematics Pack 5

 

Targeted Skill Development

 

8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic

8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving

 

WUS 8+ Further Practice Bundle – Save 25%!

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our further practice recommended resources for the Westminster Under School 8+ Stage One exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

8+ WUS Further Practice Bundle - Save 25%

 

Reasoning 

 

To help your child further develop Reasoning skills ahead of the Stage One Westminster Under School 8+ exam, we highly recommend the following resources:

 

8+ Reasoning Pack 1

8+ Reasoning Pack 2

8+ Reasoning Pack 3

8+ Reasoning Pack 4

8+ Reasoning Pack 5

 

 

 


Stage Two: Interviews and Activities

 

English Writing

 

The 8+ Stage Two Exam includes a Writing Task. To improve your child’s writing skills ahead of the English writing assessment at Westminster Under School, we highly recommend the following packs:

 

8+ English: Writing

8+ English: Rewrite & Improve

8+ English: Spelling

8+ English: Punctuation

8+ English: Dictation

 

Writing Guide

 

Starting from the basics, this guide works its way through all the key skills your child needs to develop to become an excellent writer within the framework of what’s expected at the 8+ level.

 

The Complete Guide to 8+ Writing

 

If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.

 

Listening

 

The following pack is ideal for developing listening skills ahead of the WUS 8 Plus entrance exam:

 

8+ Listening Pack 1

 

WUS 8+ Stage Two Bundle – Save 15%!

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Westminster Under School 8+ Stage Two Assessment and Interview at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

8+ WUS Stage 2 Bundle - Save 15%

 

 

Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.

 

Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Westminster Under School 8+ past papers. The information provided about Westminster Under School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

 

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Westminster Under School.

 

Other entry points for Westminster Under:

 

Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) 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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