11+ & Entrance Exam Preparation
11+ and entrance exam preparation built around the learner
Personalised one-to-one preparation for selective school and entrance assessments, including English, Maths, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and exam technique where relevant. Support is shaped around the learner, the specific assessment and the areas that will make the greatest difference.
Tell us about your learner
Entrance exams are not all the same
The first step is understanding the actual exam
11+ and school entrance assessments vary significantly between areas, schools and providers. There is no single universal 11+ syllabus, and a familiar question type may not be part of the assessment your learner will take.
Before recommending preparation, Plan For Success establishes the specific school, assessment format and requirements. That gives the support a clear purpose from the start.
Depending on the assessment, components may include:
- English
- Maths
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Comprehension
- Creative or extended writing
- Interview elements
What preparation may involve
Preparation should build familiarity, not just pressure
Preparation builds on what the learner can already do. The balance between these areas depends on the assessment and the learner’s current strengths and priorities.
English
Comprehension, vocabulary, inference, grammar, spelling and writing where relevant.
Maths
Number, problem solving, arithmetic, reasoning and applying knowledge in unfamiliar ways.
Verbal reasoning
Vocabulary, analogies, relationships, sequences, classification and language-based reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
Shape patterns, spatial relationships, sequences, rotations and visual problem solving.
Exam technique
Understanding instructions, managing time, checking work and approaching unfamiliar tasks calmly.
Writing and communication
Planning, organisation, vocabulary, accuracy and developing ideas where written work forms part of the assessment.
Reasoning is something that can be developed
Reasoning is about how a learner approaches a problem
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not simply about memorising question types. Exploring why an answer makes sense helps learners use their thinking when a task looks different from one they have seen before.
- Recognise patterns
- Make connections
- Eliminate unlikely answers
- Explain their thinking
- Try different approaches
- Become more comfortable with unfamiliar tasks
Personalised preparation
No two learners need exactly the same preparation
One learner may need more support with Maths, another with comprehension or reasoning. Others may mainly need to build confidence or become familiar with the exam format.
Tutoring responds to the learner’s starting point rather than following a fixed generic programme. The focus can change as understanding develops and priorities become clearer.
- Pace
- Question difficulty
- Level of scaffolding
- Explanation style
- Timing practice
- Independent work
- Focus areas
- Degree of challenge
Timed practice and exam familiarity
Knowing what to expect can make the unfamiliar feel more manageable
Timed practice can be introduced gradually, when it is useful and appropriate for the learner. It does not need to become constant pressure from the beginning. The aim is familiarity, strategy and confidence, rather than speed for its own sake.
- Understanding instructions
- Working efficiently
- Moving on when stuck
- Checking answers
- Managing sections
- Practising under realistic conditions
Confidence matters too
Preparation should not come at the expense of confidence
Entrance exams can create pressure for learners and families. Calm, purposeful sessions make room for questions, mistakes and progress, without treating every practice task as a judgement of ability.
For children who need a different approach, preparation can be adapted to make tasks more accessible and manageable.
- Understand what they can already do
- Recognise progress
- Become familiar with question styles
- Learn from mistakes
- Approach challenge with greater confidence
Different schools, different assessments
We prepare for the assessment in front of the learner
Grammar school entrance tutoring and independent school entrance preparation may involve different content, formats and procedures. Selective schools, local authority arrangements and individual test providers can also have their own requirements.
Where possible, share the target school or assessment details, including current admissions information and any sample materials. We use these to align preparation with what is actually required, rather than assume every entrance exam is the same.
- Grammar schools
- Independent schools
- Selective schools
- Local authority arrangements
- Individual school entrance procedures
- Different test providers
English and Maths foundations
Strong foundations support entrance exam performance
Entrance preparation often relies on secure core English and Maths skills. If a learner is unsure about fractions, vocabulary or drawing meaning from a text, practising more entrance-style questions alone may not address the underlying difficulty.
Our English Tutoring and Maths Tutoring can strengthen those foundations alongside assessment-specific preparation.
Support can also fit alongside home education, with preparation shaped around the learner’s wider learning and goals.
Independent practice
Building confidence between sessions
Where appropriate, ongoing learners may receive selected practice and resources through Google Classroom. These can revisit a skill, build familiarity or help the learner bring useful questions to the next session.
Independent work should be purposeful and tailored to the learner, not a large volume of generic tasks.
- Reasoning questions
- Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Maths practice
- Writing tasks
- Timed sections
Not sure where to begin?
Start by identifying the learner’s current strengths and priorities
An initial assessment can help identify current English and Maths skills, reasoning strengths, areas for development and familiarity with entrance-style questions. Together, these provide a useful starting point for deciding appropriate next steps.
An assessment can stand alone. There is no requirement to continue with ongoing tutoring.
Read How It Works for our assessment approach, or see the Pricing page for assessment options and tutoring investment.
A balanced approach to entrance exams
The school place matters. The learner matters more.
Plan For Success takes preparation seriously and professionally, while recognising that no single exam result defines a learner’s ability or future. We support meaningful preparation without promising a particular result or admission.
Tell us which entrance assessment your learner is preparing for
Share your learner’s age or school year, their target school or assessment and the expected exam date, if known.
Let us know which subjects or components are being tested and any areas you would particularly like support with. We can talk through a sensible starting point.
Tell us about your learner