7+ Vocabulary List: 50 Words for Elite London Prep Entry
- 7plushelp
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If your child is sitting the 7 Plus entrance exam for schools like Westminster Under, King's College or Highgate, you already know the high standards expected. To pass the creative writing paper, examiners are looking for sophisticated, high-frequency words that transform a simple story into a standout piece.
In the 7+, vocabulary can be the "separator." It’s the difference between a child writing "The dog was big and scary" and "The hound appeared menacing."
Here are 50 essential words to move your child into the "Elite Prep" bracket.
1. Describing Atmosphere (Setting the Scene)
Avoid: dark, nice, quiet.
1. Luminous (Bright/Glowing)
2. Tranquil (Peaceful)
3. Barren (Empty)
4. Chaotic (Messy/Disorganised)
5. Ancient (Very old)
6. Picturesque (Beautiful/Like a picture)
7. Eerie (Strange and frightening)
8. Vibrant (Full of energy and colour)
9. Gloomy (Dark and poorly lit)
Tempestuous (stormy)
2. Character Emotions
Avoid: happy, sad, scared.
11. Apprehensive (Anxious/Worried)
12. Ecstatic (Very happy)
13. Bewildered (Confused)
14. Melancholy (Very sad)
15. Courageous (Brave)
16. Incensed (Annoyed at unfairness)
17. Exasperated (Intensely frustrated)
18. Petrified (Terrified)
19. Hesitant (Unsure/slow to act)
20. Tenacious (Not giving up)
3. Movement & Action (Stronger Verbs)
Avoid: went, ran, walked.
21. Sauntered (Walked slowly/relaxed)
22. Scampered (Ran with quick light steps)
23. Lunged (Sudden forward movement)
24. Trudged (Walked heavily/slowly)
25. Glided (Moved smoothly)
26. Meandered (Followed a winding path)
27. Bolted (Ran away suddenly)
28. Prowled (Moved restlessly/stealthily)
29. Ascended (Went up)
30. Descended (Went down)
4. Adverbs of Intensity
Avoid: very, slowly, quickly.
31. Abruptly (Suddenly)
32. Cautiously (Carefully)
33. Reluctantly (Unwillingly)
34. Vigorously (With great energy)
35. Gracefully (In a smooth way)
36. Enthusiastically (With excitement)
37. Anxiously (nervously)
38. Inquisitively (Curiously)
39. Meekly (gently)
40. Promptly (Right away)
5. Sophisticated Adjectives
41. Fragile (Easily broken)
42. Peculiar (Strange)
43. Magnificent (Impressive)
44. Cumbersome (Heavy/Awkward)
45. Benevolent (Kind)
46. Transparent (See-through)
47. Petite (Very small)
48. Robust (Strong/Sturdy)
49. Ornate (Highly decorated)
50. Radiant (Glowing brightly)
How to use this list at home
Don’t ask your child to memorise the whole list at once. Instead:
The "Word of the Day" Challenge: Choose one word at breakfast. Whoever uses it correctly in a sentence by dinner wins a point.
The "Swap-Out" Game: Take a sentence from their school homework and ask, "Can we swap 'scared' for something better?"
Print out this list and place it next to them whilst completing creative writing tasks.
Expert Tip: Many parents focus solely on English, forgetting that Reasoning and Logic are just as critical for the 7+.
Our new 7+ Logic & Arithmetic Series is designed to bridge the gap between Year 2 schoolwork and the rigorous standards of London’s top prep schools. Check it out on Amazon here.
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