11+ Tutoring That Makes This Summer Count
The September and October exams are closer than they feel. One-to-one online 11+ lessons with a hand-matched tutor, a clear plan for the summer weeks, and real support between lessons when the tricky questions come up. UK-wide, from £25 an hour.
Why this summer matters
Most grammar school 11+ exams are sat at the very start of Year 6, in early September, and some schools test later in September and October. If your child is already entered for this autumn, the summer holidays are the preparation window. Not for cramming, but for steady, well-planned practice while there is still time for it to sink in.
Exams from early September
Most grammar school tests happen in the first weeks of September, with some schools and independents testing later in September and October. The weeks between now and test day are the plan.
A summer plan, not a panic
Your child's tutor works out where they stand in each paper, then builds week by week: skills and technique first, timed practice and full papers as the exam gets close.
Momentum between lessons
Summer practice only works if stuck never lasts long. Your child can message their tutor between lessons, so a hard question on a Tuesday gets answered on that Tuesday.
What the 11+ actually tests
Most 11+ exams (you will also see it written as the 11 plus) assess up to four areas. Your child's tutor works out where they stand in each, then focuses the lessons where they will make the biggest difference.
English
Comprehension, grammar, spelling and vocabulary, plus writing practice where the target school asks for it.
Maths
The primary curriculum pushed further into problem solving, with exam-style questions and clear methods.
Verbal Reasoning
Codes, analogies and word logic. Rarely taught at school, so structured practice makes a fast difference.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Patterns, sequences and spatial puzzles, built up from the underlying techniques rather than guesswork.
Which of these your child sits depends on the test their target school uses, and that varies by region. Here is how it breaks down.
Which 11+ test is your child sitting?
GL Assessment now dominates grammar school 11+ testing. CEM stopped producing grammar school tests in 2023, so if older advice mentions CEM, it is out of date. We prepare for the specific test your target school uses, and if you are not sure which that is, we will help you find out.
GL Assessment regions
Most grammar school areas, including Kent, Medway, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Gloucestershire and several London boroughs. Papers are drawn from English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, mixed differently by area.
Essex (CSSE) and Sutton (SET)
These consortia write their own papers and test English and Maths only, with no reasoning papers. That changes what sensible preparation looks like, so lessons are weighted accordingly.
Independent schools (ISEB)
Many independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an online adaptive test covering English, Maths and both reasoning types, often followed by the school's own papers and an interview.
A note from me, Yasindu: I have first-hand experience with selective North London schools, including Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet and Dame Alice Owen's. If they are on your list, I know exactly what you are preparing for. Wherever you are in the UK, we will match your child to a tutor who knows the test in front of them.
Always confirm the exact format with your target school. For a fuller walkthrough, read our guide to 11+ summer preparation or browse all our 11+ guides.
The part most tutoring misses: between the lessons
The wobbles never happen conveniently mid-lesson. They happen on a Tuesday evening, over a reasoning question that will not click. If the answer has to wait a week, stuck can harden into "I'm just bad at this".
Message anytime
Students and parents can message between lessons, so homework help and quick explanations arrive when the question actually comes up.
Group study sessions
Optional group sessions alongside the one-to-one lessons, where children realise they are not the only one finding something tricky.
One tutor who knows them
The same tutor every week. No starting from scratch, just steady, tailored progress your child can feel.
How it works
Book a free trial lesson
No commitment and no card details. Your child meets their tutor, works through some real 11+ questions, and you see how they get on.
We hand-match the tutor
Matched to your child's target schools, test format and personality, not just whoever is free. Lessons are one-to-one and start from £25 an hour.
A plan through to exam day
Weekly one-to-one lessons build the right areas over the summer, shifting toward timed practice and full papers as September approaches.
What families say about us
Genuine reviews from parents and students, collected independently on Trustpilot.
He is patient, friendly, reliable, and excellent at explaining mathematical concepts in a way that is easy to understand. He always takes the time to make sure my son fully understands the answers before moving on, which has really helped build both his confidence and his knowledge. … We highly recommend Yasindu to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated maths tutor.
Very friendly and able to answer almost any question. If he can’t then he will do his own research and find an easy to understand explanation for it. A great tutor who will do anything to help and will find you the best questions that relate to the specification you are learning. Yasindu won't just get you through your learning but he will make you confident.
I’ve been having lessons with Yasindu for about two years now and honestly he’s a great tutor. He has a way of breaking things down that actually makes sense, and he never makes you feel bad for not getting something straight away — he’ll just go over it again, no problem. I’ve come a long way since we started and I actually feel like I know what I’m doing now, which says a lot. The sessions are always focused on whatever I’m struggling with at the time, so nothing feels wasted. I’ve also recently started biology sessions with Hetarth — only been a month or two in, but already finding them really helpful. If you’re looking for extra support, I’d genuinely recommend either of them.
Genuinely the best tutor ever. Helped me significantly in A Level maths and physics, allowing me to jump up in grades and get a grasp of the topics I was unsure of before. Absolutely recommend!
Yasindu is an amazing tutor - he helped me with my maths understanding. I used to find it difficult to understand the concepts taught but he explains very well!
My daughter has made fantastic progress thanks to her tutor. He is patient, encouraging, and explains things in a way that’s easy for her to understand, which has really helped build her confidence. His lessons are always well-prepared, engaging, and tailored to her individual needs. We’ve noticed a significant improvement not only in her understanding of the subject but also in her enthusiasm for learning. He is professional, reliable, and genuinely cares about his students’ success. He has been her teacher now for 3 years. I would highly recommend him to any parent looking for a knowledgeable, dedicated, and supportive tutor.
11+ questions parents ask us
No. A focused summer of steady work still makes a real difference, especially on the reasoning papers where technique counts. The sooner you start, the more room the plan has to breathe, and the free trial lesson will show you exactly where your child stands.
It depends on your region and target schools. Most grammar schools use GL Assessment, Essex (CSSE) and Sutton (SET) set their own English and Maths papers, and many independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Always confirm with the school. We will help you check and prepare for the right one.
Ideally around a year before the exam, but consistent work over a focused summer still counts for a lot. Little and often beats cramming, and the trial lesson will show you exactly where your child stands.
Most families do one or two one-to-one lessons a week, with short daily practice in between. Because your child can message their tutor between lessons, the practice at home keeps moving instead of stalling on the first hard question.
A normal lesson, free and with no commitment. Your child works through real 11+ material with the tutor, and afterwards you get an honest picture of where they are and what a sensible plan looks like. If the tutor is not the right fit, we will switch, or you simply walk away.
Yes, both, alongside English and Maths. Reasoning is usually the least familiar part because schools rarely teach it, and it is also where structured technique practice improves scores fastest.
See if it's the right fit, for free
One trial lesson, no commitment, no card details. Your child meets their tutor, you see what a summer plan looks like, and you decide from there.
Book a free 11+ trial lesson →
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