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London-based 11+ (11 Plus) Exam Tutors

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What are the 11+ assessments?

11+ examinations are competitive admissions assessments, sat in Year 6 when a student is 10-11 years old, for admission into Year 7 of secondary schools the following September. They are often the culmination of a child’s time at preparatory school.

11+ can be delineated into two broad categories:
  • 11+ Private
  • 11+ Grammar (grammar schools are selective state-schools)
Grammar schools are predominantly in London and the counties:
  • Kent
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Essex
  • Lincolnshire

Grammar vs Private 11+

Both grammar and private 11+ tests tend to involve Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning components.

 

Grammar schools tend to have more standardised tests, for example Kent grammar schools use the Kent Test administered by GL Assessment.

 

For private schools, there can be more variety, with some schools setting their own papers, like Sevenoaks School.  However, some private schools share exams, such as those using the London Consortium assessment. Francis Holland, Sloane Square and Channing School are two examples which use this.

 

Private schools often require pre-tests to be sat before the school-specific assessments take place. These are standardised; a common pre-test is the ISEB common pre-test

 

11+ assessments tend to be pitched right at the top end of Key Stage 2 material and the papers will be strongly time-pressured, meaning practice and familiarity is extremely important; simply being “good at Maths” alone may not be enough to score top marks in a Maths 11+ exam. 

 

On top of the exams, some private schools also hold interview assessments and group assessment days.

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Please note, independent schools with a 13+ intake will have a pre-test usually sat in Year 6, but this shouldn’t be confused with the 11+; what matters is the point of entry into the new school!

 

Please read our 13+ page for more information about 13+ Common Entrance exams.

For more information on academic scholarship tuition, click here.

How can we help?

We have interviewed, vetted and tracked tutors who we know well and so aim to achieve high quality tutor-student matches first time. They are specialists; highly experienced in admissions process preparation to all top schools including: Sevenoaks School, Latymer Upper, Highgate, City, UCS, Wycombe Abbey, Francis Holland and many more. Many of our tutors are qualified teachers or full-time tutors.

Private tuition will involve a mixture of:
  • Content teaching – so your child has all the raw materials needed to be able to answer the exam questions.
  • Exam technique practice – Exam tuition is about being able to deploy the content knowledge your child has in a way to maximise the exam scores on the days. This involves familiarisation of the examination format, getting used to working under time pressure, exposure to all the various question types. Practice makes perfect!
  • Interview preparation – for most children, they aren’t used to an interview setting so getting them exposed to this scenario boosts confidence and reduces the chance they feel out of their comfort zone on the day. The more relaxed they can feel, the more fluidly they’ll be able to converse.
  • Work scheduling and routine – our private tutors can work with parents to devise an appropriate mid-long term strategy, establishing a routine that can lift the student to where they need to be in time for their assessment.
    - The more consistent the student is with his/her practice between classes, the faster the rate of progress will be.
    - An awareness of areas of weakness, and bringing these up in the next class, can enable these problem areas to be troubleshot before moving onto new areas, leaving no loose ends of understanding.
    - Consistent routine can enable children to work more effectively.

One of our experienced tutors:

Adam

Adam is a full-time secondary admissions specialist tutor. He has two decades of experience and has helped multiple children gain admissions to the top private schools in and around London. He teaches all components of the admissions procedures, and is highly knowledgeable regarding the nuances of each different school’s admissions process. Prior to joining us, Adam was the personal tutor for the children of the Prince of Malaysia for 10 years. Adam’s background is in STEM, having Maths & Physics Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from UCL.
Our 11+ support is most commonly in person, but we can provide online tuition, too.
We are available alongside for the duration of the tuition in order to assist with any queries or concerns you may have.

For more information about our process, please visit our How it Works page.

Reports

We recommend discussing reports at the start of the collaboration to get everyone on the same page. Reports can be verbal or can be written and sent out after each lesson or monthly; whatever is preferred.

When should I start 11+ tutoring?

This depends on several factors, including:
The target school, child’s starting level, how consistent they are with practice between lessons, session frequency and how engaged the parents/guardians are in the process.
Commencing tuition in Year 4 or at the start of Year 5 is quite standard and allows for a less intensive approach.
If in doubt, please err on the side of caution and get in touch sooner rather than later to discuss things. Top tutors are often busy and so may not have lots of availability the moment you call, so getting in touch a few months ahead of when you are looking to commence can be the best way to guarantee sessions with your first choice tutor. Please feel free to give us a call and we can discuss recommendations for you based on the nuance of your situation.

Get in touch!

Please fill out the contact form below to make an enquiry or call us on 0208 133 6284 to speak to our friendly team, who can arrange your tutoring or answer any questions.

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    While it can differ from child to child, in general, if tutoring starts in year 4, that gives the child the most amount of time to get to grips with the 11-plus syllabus content. 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.
    While it can differ from child to child, in general, if tutoring starts in year 4, that gives the child the most amount of time to get to grips with the 11-plus syllabus content. 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. It is highly recommended that a tutor is used when preparing for the 11 plus. 11 plus tutors are specialists, with a deep understanding of the syllabus and the skill to convey that information in a way that would help the child most.
    While it can differ from child to child, in general, if tutoring starts in year 4, that gives the child the most amount of time to get to grips with the 11-plus syllabus content. 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.
    While it can differ from child to child, in general, if tutoring starts in year 4, that gives the child the most amount of time to get to grips with the 11-plus syllabus content. 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. 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.
    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.