One-to-One Tutors
Pros:
- With a one-to-one tutor, your child has their full attention for the entire lesson. The tutor can respond to your child’s questions straight away and adapt their teaching to suit your child’s needs.
- A good tutor should already know what is required for the test in your area and will cover all the relevant topics.
Cons:
- Cost is the biggest factor. One-to-one tutors typically charge around £40 to £50 per hour. If your child has a lesson once a week, that adds up to over £1,600 in a year.
- A tutor usually sees your child for just one hour a week. Real progress comes from regular daily practice – "little and often" is the key to success.
- The quality of tutors varies - some are inspirational, but not every tutor will be able to build a good rapport with your child.
Group Classes
Pros:
- Group classes are cheaper than one-to-one tuition.
- Some children enjoy the experience of learning alongside others.
Cons:
- Children in the group will be of mixed ability, so your child may not get the right level of challenge or support.
- With several pupils to manage, the tutor won’t be able to focus on your child in the same way as in a one-to-one lesson. This makes it harder to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses in detail.
Mock Tests, Practice Books and Papers
Pros:
- With the exception of doing no preparation at all, this is the cheapest option. Publishers such as CGP, Bond and Collins offer workbooks, while GL provides official practice papers, which can be used as mock tests if completed under timed conditions. These materials cover the main content of the 11 Plus and can be worked through at home.
Cons:
- It can be difficult to keep children motivated to work through books on a regular basis.
- Many children prefer to “cherry pick” the sections they find easy, leaving their weaker areas untouched.
- Parents are left to do all the marking and tracking of progress, which can be very time-consuming.
- Many topics may well benefit from being taught, rather than just tested.
- Mock tests are useful for improving speed and test technique, but apart from that, they are of limited use. Mock tests only test – they don’t teach.
Online Academies
Pros:
- Online academies, such as Atom Learning and Club 11 Plus, are flexible. Children can log in and study at their own pace, whenever it suits your family routine.
- Some academies, such as Club 11 Plus, are available as an app, giving your child the flexibility to study anytime, anywhere.
- They provide a clear structure and can ensure that all the 11 Plus topics are covered.
- Interactive quizzes and online activities are often more engaging for children than traditional books.
- They are much cheaper than tutors. Atom Learning, for example, charges around £60–£70 per month, depending on whether mock tests are included. Club 11 Plus offers the same convenience and structure for just £19.99 per month, making it one of the most affordable options available.
- They are available 24/7, giving your child the opportunity to study "little and often".
Cons:
- Parents still need to give children encouragement to log in regularly and complete the activities.
- Not every online platform suits every learning style, so you may need to explore what works best for your child.
Where Club 11 Plus Fits In
At Club 11 Plus, our mission is to make top-quality 11 Plus preparation affordable for everyone, so for just £19.99 per month, children get access to hundreds of fun lessons and quizzes, designed to target the GL 11 Plus tests.
We also provide:
- A 7-day free trial so you can explore the platform before committing to a subscription.
- A free 30-minute advice chat for all subscribers, which many parents use to discuss which topics their child should focus on to prepare for their chosen school.
- Mock tests to use towards the end of the journey.
- Free email support whenever you need it.
- Sophisticated progress reporting and tracking systems.
Some families use Club 11 Plus alongside a tutor, while many use it as their main resource. What matters most is not whether you hire a tutor, but whether your child has the chance to practise all the different 11 Plus topics and question types, identify and target their weaker areas, and build speed, accuracy and confidence before test day.
The Bottom Line
- In Maths and English, the 11 Plus test covers school content up to the end of Year 5. There are no magical extra topics, but your child needs to have really strong foundations. Plenty of practice at typical 11 Plus questions can help to improve scores significantly, but weaker areas may well need to be taught rather than simply tested. Mock tests and practice papers provide no teaching at all; some books can provide a limited amount of teaching; online academies and one-to-one tutors offer the most effective tuition solutions.
- In Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, the 11 Plus test questions may well be unlike anything your child has ever seen at school. Preparation here is essential, especially for improving speed and accuracy, but this preparation doesn’t have to be from a one-to-one tutor – books and online academies can give your child plenty of exposure to all the different question types, and provide all the practice they need.
- Tutors can undoubtedly help your child on their 11 Plus journey, but they are not essential, and are often best used in conjunction with daily practice, provided by books or online academies. With the right resources, guidance, and regular practice, children can succeed without the hefty price tag.
At the end of the day, the choice depends on your child’s personality and your family’s budget, but there are effective alternatives to traditional one-to-one tutoring - and they can make the 11 Plus journey far more affordable.