London-based 11+ (11 Plus) Exam Tutors

While every child is different, starting in Year 4 gives the most preparation time and allows for a relaxed, gradual approach rather than intensive cramming in Year 5 or 6. Starting earlier also means you have more flexibility in choosing the right tutor rather than taking whoever is available at short notice. That said, children who begin in Year 5 can absolutely still prepare effectively with the right tutor and a consistent routine.

Not every child needs a tutor, but the vast majority of successful candidates at London’s most competitive schools — Dulwich, Highgate, St Paul’s Girls’, Haberdashers’ — will have had specialist preparation. The 11+ is not simply an extension of the school curriculum. Each school sets its own paper with its own style, timing and marking criteria, and familiarity with those specifics makes a significant difference. A good tutor doesn’t just teach content — they teach exam technique, time management and confidence under pressure, all of which are difficult to develop through self-study alone.

The most important things you can do as a parent are to start early, keep practice consistent, and stay calm. Children pick up on parental anxiety and it affects their performance. Practically speaking, work with your tutor to establish a realistic revision schedule, make sure your child is working through past papers from their specific target schools rather than generic practice materials, and build in proper rest and downtime. This length of time also allows them to ease into the 11-plus assessment over time, instead of creating stress and pressure by teaching them too much, too quickly.

You can help your child with the 11 plus by:

• Starting preparations early – Preferably in Year 4
• Create revision timetables to build a structure for your child.
• Use free 11 plus resources and exam papers to allow them to practice.
• Focus initially on Maths and English as key skills.
• Include verbal and non-verbal reasoning where possible.
• Give your child time to relax and unwind. This will help them memorise.
• Don’t put too much pressure on your child. The 11 Plus is a challenge, and there will be other opportunities for your child to prove themselves.

Most London independent school papers cover English (comprehension and creative writing) and Maths, and some include 

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. However, the format, length, difficulty and marking style vary significantly from school to school. St Paul’s Girls’ uses two separate comprehension papers.  The North London Independent Girls’ Schools Consortium runs a 

shared assessment. This is why practising with papers from your specific target school is so important and why we maintain a free archive of past papers from over 60 schools.

Arguably, the 11 Plus exam is harder than the SATs, because SAT exams are built around questions in the current curriculum. The 11 Plus exam often has questions outside the current curriculum, making the need for a tutor greater.

The 11-plus exam consists of questions around 4 key areas – Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This exam determines a child’s suitability for selective schools as well as grammar schools.

Whether your child should sit the 11 Plus should be determined by you as the parent, and your child. Consider a number of factors like their academic ability, concentration levels, curiosity, personality, maturity, and which schools could be suitable.

The 11-plus exam consists of questions around 4 key areas – Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This exam determines a child’s suitability for selective schools as well as grammar schools.

There are a number of key benefits to taking the 11 Plus, including:

• Access to selective schools.
• Improvements in the child’s confidence and ability to study.
• Gains in perseverance and resilience.
• Creativity and problem-solving ability improvements.
• The knowledge and skills to prepare for future exams.