What the 8+ is
The 8+ is the entry assessment for Year 4 places at selective UK prep schools. It is sat by children in Year 3 and decisions are made in time for the September following the test.
The 8+ exists for two reasons. First, some schools admit a small additional intake at Year 4 to fill places that did not go at 7+. Second, the 8+ is the natural retake route for children who were not quite ready a year earlier. The candidate pool is therefore smaller than at 7+, and many schools take only a handful of children, which makes the competition sharper at top-ranked schools even when overall numbers are lower.
How the 8+ differs from the 7+
There is a year of curriculum between them, and that shows up clearly in the papers. At 7+, English comprehension is a short passage and creative writing is a short story or description; at 8+, the comprehension is longer and more complex and the writing is an extended composition, often with a picture stimulus. Maths arithmetic stretches from Year 2 syllabus to Year 3 syllabus including times tables to ×12; multi-step problem-solving moves from "light" to "standard." Reasoning becomes common (often both verbal and non-verbal) where at 7+ it was optional. The group day is similar at both ages. The big structural difference is intake size: 8+ is a smaller top-up intake compared to the larger main 7+ intake.
The headline shift is in writing stamina and Maths reasoning. By 8+, schools want to see a child plan, draft, proofread and polish a structured story rather than produce a few sentences. In Maths, the mental arithmetic core is now joined by genuine problem-solving: multi-step word problems alongside basic logic and early fractions.
What papers usually contain
English. Comprehension on a passage taken from age-appropriate fiction or non-fiction, with a mix of literal and inferential questions. The writing task is typically 30 to 40 minutes and is often based on a picture stimulus or a story title. Examiners look for a clear structure, paragraphing, varied sentence openings, accurate punctuation, and a wider vocabulary than at 7+.
Mathematics. Two sections at most schools: arithmetic (the four operations, place value to thousands, times tables, money, time, units, simple fractions) and problem-solving (word problems requiring two or three steps, plus simple logic and spatial-reasoning puzzles).
Reasoning. Verbal reasoning at this level is mostly word-pattern questions, simple analogies, codes, and number sequences. Non-verbal reasoning is shape-pattern and visual-logic questions. Both are usually 25-30 minute papers.
Group activity and interview. As at 7+, shortlisted children are observed in a small-group setting and have a brief one-to-one chat with a teacher. Examiners are watching for confidence, curiosity, listening, and the ability to take a turn rather than dominate or withdraw.
How preparation typically runs
A sensible 8+ programme starts 9 to 12 months before the papers. Children who sat the 7+ unsuccessfully often have a head start on technique and need to consolidate rather than re-learn.
Typical session content:
Reading volume: wider, harder texts than the child reads at school. Examiners pitch comprehension above year-group reading age.
Writing structure: planning, paragraphing, drafting and proofreading. The single biggest shift from 7+.
Maths fluency: times tables to ×12, plus multi-step word problems and mental arithmetic.
Reasoning question-type familiarity: not coaching to a script, but exposure so the question types are not unfamiliar on the day.
Timed paper practice: only in the final 8 to 10 weeks.
A typical schedule is one 45-60 minute session per week with a tutor, plus 15-25 minutes of supported home practice on most days.
Common pitfalls
Treating the 8+ as 7+ with longer papers. The Maths problem-solving and writing-structure demands are genuinely a step up; technique that worked at 7+ may not be enough.
Cramming reasoning. Reasoning is best built up across months of light exposure; trying to learn it in the last six weeks rarely works.
Letting writing become formulaic. A formulaic creative-writing answer at 8+ is more obvious to a marker than at 7+; teach structure as a frame, not a script.
Skipping the group day prep. A child who has never worked in a small group with strangers will be at a disadvantage; practice in club or workshop settings helps.
Applying to too many schools at once. Multiple 8+ papers in a fortnight is taxing for a Year 3 child; aim for two or three with realistic chances.