Haberdashers’ Boys’ School (HABS) 7+ Exam: A Complete Guide
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As one of the leading independent boys’ schools in the UK, securing a place at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School at 7+ is an extremely competitive process. However, with the right preparation, confidence and support, your child can thrive throughout the admissions process.
At U2 Tuition, we have helped many families successfully prepare for highly competitive London independent school entrance exams, including Haberdashers’ Boys’. In this guide, we explain everything parents need to know about the HABS Boys’ 7+ exam, including assessment formats, competition levels, preparation tips and how to give your child the strongest possible start.
About Haberdashers' Boys' School
Founded in 1690, Haberdashers’ Boys’ School (often referred to as ‘Habs Boys’), is one of the UK’s most academically prestigious independent schools, renowned for its exceptional teaching, outstanding pastoral care and wide-ranging extracurricular opportunities.
Location: Elstree, Hertfordshire, WD6 3AF
Age Range: 5-18 (Reception - Sixth Form)
Fees: Annual fees range from £26,223 - £32,487
Entry Points: 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+
It shares a huge 100-acre campus with Haberdashers’ Girls’ School, although pupils are primarily taught separately until Sixth Form.
Competition for places at 7+ is intense, with hundreds of families applying each year for a very limited number of spaces. Successful applicants are typically academically strong, confident communicators and highly curious learners.
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What Is the Haberdashers’ Boys’ 7+ Exam?
The Haberdashers’ Boys’ 7+ admissions process is designed to identify children with strong academic potential, excellent reasoning ability and the confidence to thrive in a challenging school environment.
The assessment process typically takes place across two rounds.
First-Round Assessments
The first-round assessments for Haberdashers’ Boys’ School usually take place in late November (for 2027 entry the first-round assessments take place on Friday 20th November 2026).
Children are invited to attend an assessment morning, including written papers in English, Maths and Reasoning. The entrance assessments aim to identify pupils who can thrive in a challenging academic environment and excel at Haberdashers’ Boys’.
English
The English assessment focuses primarily on reading (comprehension), use and analysis of language and ability to write clearly.
The English paper commonly includes a mixture of:
Reading comprehension
Vocabulary
Sentence work
Spelling
Creative writing or short written responses
Many parents are surprised by how inference-heavy the comprehension can be.
Children are often expected to:
Explain reasoning
Predict outcomes
Understand tone and meaning
Write in full, accurate sentences
Maths
The Mathematics paper typically covers the Year 1 and Year 2 curriculum, alongside elements of more advanced Year 3 problem solving.
The maths paper is usually designed to separate strong candidates from exceptional ones.
Topics often include:
Number bonds
Addition and subtraction
Multiplication and division
Word problems
Shape and measures
Basic fractions
Logic problems
What makes the paper challenging is often not the maths itself but:
Multi-step thinking
Working quickly
Understanding tricky wording
Reasoning
Although Haberdashers’ Boys’ does not publicly release detailed 7+ specifications, previous assessments have included both verbal and non-verbal reasoning style questions.
These may include:
Verbal reasoning (word and letter based problem solving)
Pattern recognition
Sequencing
Codes
Logic puzzles
Instruction-based tasks
The school is looking for children who can think flexibly rather than simply memorise methods.
Second-Round Assessments
Second-Round Assessments usually take place around mid December (for 2027 entry the second-round assessments take place on Wednesday 16th December 2026).
Typically, around half of the students who sat the first-round assessments are asked to return for the second stage.
At this point, the school already knows that applicants are academically capable. The second round is much more about:
How students think
How students communicate
How students behave with others
Overall suitability for Habs environment
For many families, Round 2 is actually the harder stage because it is much less predictable.
English
The English element in Round 2 is often less formal and more discussion-based than the first round.
Your son may be asked to:
Discuss a text
Explain ideas verbally
Answer comprehension questions verbally
Describe pictures
Complete short written tasks
The school is usually assessing:
Vocabulary
Clarity of expression
Reasoning
Imagination
Confidence communicating with adults
STEM
This is not usually advanced science knowledge. Instead, it tends to assess:
Logical thinking
Creativity
Practical problem solving
Teamwork
Communication
Children may be asked to:
Build or design something
Solve a practical challenge
Work collaboratively
Explain their thinking
The school is often less interested in getting the “right answer” and more interested in:
How a child approaches challenges
Whether a child listens to others
How a child responds when something is difficult
Group Tasks
One of the biggest differences in the second round is the focus on social interaction. The school openly says they observe how boys work both independently and together in groups.
A child who dominates the group, interrupts others or becomes upset under pressure may struggle, even if academically very strong
Equally, very shy children sometimes find this stage challenging because they do not contribute enough
Strong candidates typically:
Listen carefully
Contribute politely
Show enthusiasm
Cooperate naturally
Stay engaged throughout
The sweet spot is usually confident but not overbearing.
Parent Meetings
Following the assessment stages, parents are often invited to visit the school and meet members of the Senior Leadership Team.
This provides families with the opportunity to:
Ask questions
Learn more about the school culture
Determine whether HABS is the right fit for their child.
The school is also informally assessing whether there is a strong alignment between family values and the school ethos.
How Competitive is Haberdashers' Boys' 7+ Exam?
Haberdashers’ Boys’ is widely regarded as one of the most competitive and academically selective independent schools in the UK.
At 7+, only around 26 external pupils join each year.
This means that even highly capable children may not ultimately receive offers.
There are a number of reasons why Haberdashers’ Boys’ has become so competitive over the years:
Limited Number of Places
At 7+, despite hundreds of applicants, only a very small number of places (26 boys) are available each year. Many places are already filled internally or by boys from linked prep schools, leaving fewer external places than parents often realise. That can mean that even very capable children may not receive offers.
Extremely Strong Applicant Pool
Families applying to Haberdashers’ Boys’ are often also applying to:
Westminster
St Paul’s Juniors
Highgate
UCS
Merchant Taylors’
Other top London independents
As a result, many children sitting the exam have already had:
Years of enrichment
Extensive reading exposure
Tutoring
Interview preparation
Advanced maths and English support
Haberdashers’ Looks Beyond Academics
One reason the process is difficult to predict is that the school does not simply rank children by test scores.
The school is trying to identify boys who demonstrate:
Intellectual curiosity
Confidence
Resilience
Social awareness
Communication skills
Strong learning potential.
This is why some children with excellent academic scores do not progress, while others who show outstanding attitude and potential do.
Unsure Whether Your Child Is Working At The Right Level?
Our experienced 7+ tutors can assess your child and identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement.
Top Tips for Parents Preparing for the Haberdashers’ Boys’ 7+
Start Early (but keep it balanced)
One of the biggest mistakes parents make is beginning preparation too late.
Children perform best when preparation is:
Gradual
Low-pressure
Consistent
Confidence-building.
At age 6, enjoyment and emotional confidence matter just as much as academic progress!
Prioritise Reading EVERY Day
Reading is one of the strongest predictors of success in 7+ English exams.
Encourage your child to read:
Fiction
Non-fiction
Poetry
Challenging vocabulary books
After reading, ask questions like:
“Why did the character behave that way?”
“What might happen next?”
“Can you summarise the chapter?”
This naturally develops comprehension and inference skills.
Build Mental Maths Skills
In competitive 7+ exams, children need both accuracy and speed.
Practice:
Number bonds
Times tables
Mental addition and subtraction
Quick problem solving
Estimation skills
Money problems
2D/3D shapes properties
Time questions
Games, flashcards, and timed exercises can all help improve fluency without making maths feel stressful.
Develop Confidence
Some children are academically strong but struggle to communicate confidently in group settings or with teachers.
Parents can help by:
Encouraging eye contact
Practising conversation skills
Asking open-ended questions
Helping children explain their thinking clearly
Remember: Schools are not looking for perfection! They are looking for teachable, enthusiastic children who engage positively.
Looking for more guidance on how to prepare for the 7+ examinations? Check out the following blogs:
How U2 Tuition Can Help
Ready to give your child the best possible start? Our specialist 7+ tutors provide tailored preparation for competitive independent schools including Haberdashers’ Boys’.
We offer:
One-to-one tuition
Mock assessments
Interview preparation
English and maths support
Personalised learning plans
Confidence-building strategies
Most importantly, we help children feel positive, capable and prepared.
Speak to our expert team today and find out how we can support your child’s Haberdashers’ Boys’ 7+ journey.
⬇️ Book your free consultation with U2 Tuition today ⬇️
