Hiring an 11+ tutor is a serious financial commitment — a typical programme of 30 to 50 sessions at £40 to £80 an hour adds up to roughly £1,350 to £2,750, and sometimes more in high-competition areas. Before you hand over that money, the right questions upfront help you avoid a poor match and find someone who will genuinely move your child forward. This guide gives you eight questions to ask, the answers that mark a good tutor, the red flags that should make you walk away, and an honest look at when a tutor is worth it and when free self-study will do the job just as well.
First, decide whether you even need a tutor
It is often quoted that around 80% of children who pass the 11+ had some form of coaching — but "coaching" includes parent-led practice at home, not just paid tutoring. Plenty of families succeed on structured self-study using free worksheets, timed mock papers and a consistent weekly routine. A tutor earns their fee when they can do something you cannot: rapidly diagnose a specific weakness, teach an exam technique your child keeps missing, or provide accountability when home practice has stalled. If your child is working at or above the expected level for their year and you can supervise a "little and often" routine, start with Quest Arena's free platform and add a tutor later only if a genuine gap appears. For a fuller decision framework, see our guide on building a revision plan.
The 8 questions to ask before you hire
1. "Which schools have your students gone on to?"
A good tutor has a track record and will happily name specific schools — ideally the ones your child is aiming for. Named schools matter far more than a vague "95% success rate" headline. No honest tutor will refuse this question.
2. "Which exam board and region do you specialise in?"
This is the single most important question. GL Assessment is now the dominant provider across roughly 80% of grammar schools since CEM withdrew its separate 11+ tests around 2022–2023. Others sit ISEB Common Pre-Test (many independent seniors) or the CSSE Essex consortium exam, which includes free-response maths. Confirm your target school's exact format first, then check the tutor has direct, recent experience with that board and region — Kent, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham and Gloucestershire all differ. Our GL papers guide and CSSE papers guide explain the formats.
3. "Do you have an enhanced DBS check?"
Non-negotiable for anyone working with under-18s. Ask to see the certificate. A reluctance here ends the conversation.
4. "How do you assess where my child is now?"
Good answer: "I run a diagnostic in the first session and write you a plan targeting the weak areas." Poor answer: "I just work through the syllabus." A tutor who does not baseline your child cannot personalise, which is the whole point of paying for one-to-one.
5. "How will you measure and report progress?"
Look for regular mock scores, short written progress notes and specific targets. Standardised age scores (SAS) are age-adjusted — a summer-born child is scored more generously than an autumn-born one against the same raw marks — so a good tutor tracks the standardised score, not just raw marks, and can explain the difference.
6. "How do you build my child's independence?"
This question separates the best from the rest. "Helicopter tutoring" — where the tutor over-helps and the child leans on prompts — inflates lesson performance but collapses in the silent exam hall. You want a tutor who gradually withdraws support and teaches self-checking, not one who spoon-feeds answers.
7. "What's your homework expectation between sessions?"
Good answer: 15–30 minutes of specific daily tasks. Poor answer: "Whatever you can manage." Progress happens between lessons, not just in them, so the tutor should set clear, targeted practice you can supervise using free worksheets.
8. "What's your trial and cancellation policy?"
Most reputable tutors offer three or four trial sessions before you commit to a longer block, plus reasonable cancellation terms such as one month's notice and one make-up session per term. This shows confidence and flexibility.
Group, one-to-one or self-study? A quick comparison
| Route | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one tutor | £40–£80/hr | Fast weak-spot fixing; maths especially; children who need tailored pace |
| Small-group class | £15–£30/hr | Cost-efficiency; exam-hall desensitising; English discussion thrives in groups |
| Self-study (Quest Arena) | Free | Motivated children; parents who can supervise; substituting the £1,350+ tutoring spend |
A common rule of thumb is that English thrives in groups, where discussion sharpens comprehension, while maths often works best one-to-one, where a tutor can unpick a single misconception on the spot.
Red flags to walk away from
- Can't name specific schools their students attend.
- Refuses to show an enhanced DBS certificate.
- "Guaranteed" results — no honest tutor guarantees an outcome that depends on cut-off scores and oversubscription.
- Pressure to pay for a large block upfront with no trial.
- No diagnostic, no progress reporting, no plan.
Where to find a tutor — and how to vet one
Word of mouth from other school parents is usually the strongest source. After that, use registered services rather than open classifieds for something this important. Whoever you shortlist, run them through the eight questions above and watch the first trial closely: does your child come out engaged, or deflated? Chemistry matters as much as credentials.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a tutor necessary to pass the 11+?
No. Many children pass through structured self-study using free worksheets, timed mocks and a steady weekly routine. A tutor helps most when there is a specific, stubborn weakness to fix or when home practice has stalled and accountability is needed.
How long before the exam should we start with a tutor?
Most families who use a tutor begin around 12 to 18 months out, in Year 5, so there is time to build skills without cramming. Starting earlier risks burnout; starting in Year 6 autumn leaves little room to fix deeper gaps.
Which exam board should the tutor know?
Confirm your target school's format first — GL is now dominant across most regions after CEM's exit, but some areas use ISEB or CSSE. Then hire a tutor with recent, direct experience of that exact board and region.