What is the 11 Plus?

The 11 Plus is a catch all name for an entrance exam for senior school.  The 11 Plus is used by independent schools, grammar schools and in some cases state schools to select candidates. These schools include Alleyn’s, City of London, Dulwich College, Emanuel, , Highgate, JAGS, KCS, Latymer, Westminster, and many grammar schools. You may feel these exams are difficult to prepare for. Schools often take a cohort from the children who perform best in the test. Typically, children have an 11 Plus tutor or join an 11 Plus preparation class to help them prepare for the 11 Plus and master the difficult skills needed to excel and, while we provide this, we also provide a complete programme which covers all the elements of preparation.

90% of pupils that sat our courses in 2023/4 gained places at their 1st choice schools. Many of these students managed to achieve scholarships. Here at Mentor Education, we and our 11 Plus tutors have been helping children for over 40 years with London 11 Plus exams.  Our institutional knowledge and experience has led us to develop a comprehensive 11 Plus programme. We have years of successful results under our belt.  

Our 11 Plus Tutors

Our 11 Plus tutors have insight into the admissions process at many leading independent and grammar schools. Many are themselves senior teachers and heads of departments at some of London’s leading schools. They have personal experience of the demands of the latest exams – including the ISEB exam, which has become increasingly popular since it was used by many schools successfully during lockdown.  We also offer graduates from the best universities. These tutors have recent memories of their own school exams and enjoy building relationships with younger pupils.

Your child’s 11 Plus tutor will follow our Mentor Education 11 Plus curriculum written by our Director of Education, Lauren Spring, and use our own in-house tests and assessments in addition to the gold standard Cambridge University CEM Test.  This ensures your child is always properly benchmarked and their progress is regularly monitored centrally. Our 11 Plus Co-ordinator will step in to offer support and guidance whenever it is helpful or necessary. They are also always available for you to phone or email them.  The more we know about how your child is getting on the more we can tailor our programme to get the best out of them.  

Our engaging tuition sessions will instil a sense of self-confidence in your child. We will equip them with the knowledge, the skills and the focus they need to succeed in their entrance exams and interviews. 

All our 11 Plus tutors are reference checked and have up-to-date DBS certificates. Additionally, wherever possible we will match you with a tutor who has taught at the school that your child is applying to.

Your 11 Plus Journey

Your 11 Plus tutoring journey requires commitment, investment and most importantly of all, a plan. We don’t believe in having a phone call or a few emails with you, handing you over to a tutor and leaving you to it.

Our 11 Plus Programme is not for everyone. It is a full support programme, where we get to know you and your child and work with you intensively. We are happy to discuss if the 11 Plus is right for your child and that you will benefit from what we offer.

1-2-1 11 Plus Tutoring

Once you are on board, we will then take you on your 11 Plus journey of 24 months, starting in September of Year 4. If you are 1-2-1 tutoring then the time your child will spend with their 11 Plus tutor starts off with around one hour of tutoring. This then increases to two hours a week with their 11 Plus tutor during the summer term. Then finally, three hours of tutoring in the Autumn term of Year six. This may feel like a lot – but you have one chance. 

11 Plus Group Classes

If you are joining our 11 Plus classes, these will be on a Saturday or Sunday morning at one of our schools in Hampstead, Dulwich or Wimbledon. The group classes follow a guided programme, specifically written to bridge the gap for state school pupils between their curriculum and the 11 Plus requirements.  This includes accelerating the Year 6 curriculum and teaching new subjects such as Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning. We also focus on exam technique ad working to time. 

Why do I need an 11 Plus Tutor or 11 Plus classes?

Every year we talk to parents who did not get into their target school. Often no one told them that they needed to start their journey a year before and then run it like a campaign.  Do not make the mistake of entering your child into the 11 plus a light-hearted way. Even if your child is top of the class, have an 11 Plus tutor. Even children in Prep schools that push their pupils two years ahead in the curriculum have 11 Plus tutors.

11 Plus exams normally include Maths, English, Verbal, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. These all need to be prepared for separately and thoroughly. This takes time, and efforts need to be sustained consistently in the lead-up to exam day. Your child must also learn effective exam technique.  This is a learned skill and may not be given sufficient focus or even be taught at your child’s primary school, particularly in the State Sector. There is no point in doing practice papers if your child is cementing bad habits; they need specific guidance to make the most of their limited time in the exam. This is why having an expert 11 plus tutor, will help build your child’s knowledge and confidence. 

Additionally, some exams may be in a format unfamiliar to your child, such as multiple choice or digital. They may contain content that has not been taught and intentionally includes questions that no children will have seen before. Your child must have experience coping with curve balls, so they are not thrown off on the day. The 11 Plus process tests not only knowledge and skills but also the ability to work under pressure. 

In addition to tutoring, we have a bespoke range of 11 Plus exam practice papers written by our most senior 11 Plus tutors.

Our practice papers are available to download in pdf format from our website.