Search '11 plus resources' and you'll drown in workbooks, subscriptions and tutor adverts. Here's an honest map of the landscape — books, platforms, tutors and free libraries — and how to combine them without overspending. The truth most sellers won't tell you is that no single product wins the 11+. A good preparation kit mixes a few well-chosen tools, and a surprising amount of what your child needs is genuinely free.
What you are actually preparing for
Before you spend a penny, be clear on the exam behind the resource. GL Assessment is now the dominant 11+ provider across most English grammar-school regions, testing English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) through tightly timed multiple-choice papers with a separate answer sheet. CEM's separate 11+ tests were phased out around 2022–2023, so ignore any resource still marketed as "CEM practice" as if it were a live exam. Essex families face the CSSE paper with free-response maths, and many independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Buy resources that match your child's actual board — our exam guides and 11+ process guide help you identify it.
The four kinds of 11+ resource
- Practice papers and worksheets — the backbone of any plan. Quest Arena's free library holds 5,057 worksheets and 700+ mocks with answers, at no cost and with no sign-up wall.
- Books — structured workbooks are genuinely good for teaching method; expect £8–£15 each and buy them only for the topics your child finds hard.
- Platforms — paid apps add adaptive difficulty and automatic marking; see our comparison with paid platforms before you commit to a subscription.
- Tutors — the highest impact option for stubborn, specific weaknesses, and the most expensive. Costs and hiring questions are covered in our tutoring cost guide.
What each resource costs in 2026
Prices move, but the shape of the market is stable. Use this as a rough planning table rather than a quote, and remember that the free column already covers the majority of a solid plan.
| Resource type | Typical 2026 cost | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Free worksheet and mock libraries | £0 | Daily practice, diagnosis, timed mocks |
| Publisher workbooks (Bond, CGP, Collins, Letts) | £8–£15 each | Teaching a method for a weak topic |
| Subscription practice platforms | £10–£40 a month | Adaptive drilling and auto-marking |
| Group revision classes | £15–£30 a session | Structure and light accountability |
| Private one-to-one tutor | £25–£55 an hour | Targeted fixing of a specific weakness |
Which books are worth it
Well-known publisher ranges are reliable, and you rarely need more than one per subject. Bond 11+ is strong on graded progression, CGP is clear and cheap for quick topic revision, and Collins and Letts sit comfortably between the two. The common mistake is buying a full shelf of workbooks in a panic. Instead, buy reactively: run a free diagnostic first, find the two or three topics that are genuinely weak, then buy the one book that teaches that method well. A £12 workbook used to fix long division or NVR rotation earns its place; ten unopened books do not.
A resource plan that doesn't waste money
Here is a sequence that keeps spending honest and matches how children actually improve:
- Diagnose free. Use our worksheets across all four skill areas to find real gaps rather than guessing.
- Build the habit. Little and often — 20–30 minutes on most days from early Year 5 beats weekend cramming.
- Add a book only when a topic sticks. One workbook, one method, one weak area at a time.
- Sit regular mocks. A monthly mock builds timing and stamina; use centre-specific mocks as the real exam approaches.
- Consider a tutor last. Only when a specific weakness survives roughly six weeks of consistent practice, and then for a fixed, targeted block rather than open-ended weekly lessons.
Most families need far less paid material than they buy. A free library, one or two workbooks and a disciplined routine will out-perform an expensive subscription used twice.
Don't overlook free official and self-marking material
Exam boards and grammar schools publish familiarisation booklets and sample questions each year — always download the free official ones so your child sees the exact answer-sheet format. Pair those with self-marking. Sitting a paper is only half the value; going through the answers, understanding each mistake and re-attempting the question is where the score improves. Our free mocks include answers precisely so parents can mark at home. For structured revision by topic, the revision hub and board-specific GL practice papers keep the work aligned to the real exam.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay for good 11+ resources?
No. The core of a strong plan — practice papers, timed mocks and topic worksheets — is available free on Quest Arena with answers. Paid books and tutors are best treated as targeted add-ons for specific weaknesses, not the foundation.
Are CEM resources still worth buying?
Not as a live exam. CEM's separate 11+ tests were largely phased out around 2022–2023, and most regions now use GL Assessment or bespoke papers. Old CEM material can still be useful general practice, but prioritise resources that match your child's current board.
When should I start buying resources?
Begin free diagnosis in Year 4 or early Year 5, then buy reactively. A 12–18 month plan with little-and-often practice gives you time to see which topics actually need a workbook or tutor, so you spend on evidence rather than anxiety.