11+ English preparation

What we prepare for

• Independent school entrance English papers: comprehension, composition and sometimes a short interview.
• Grammar school 11+ English tests: comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar and creative writing.
• Verbal reasoning: vocabulary, logic and pattern recognition, taught through close reading and word study rather than rote drills.
• Second-stage and scholarship papers where schools set their own, more demanding assessments.

Comprehension

• Reading unseen prose and poetry with attention, accuracy and confidence.
• Finding evidence, inferring meaning and explaining how a writer creates effect.
• Working within strict time limits so that quality does not collapse under pressure.

Creative and directed writing

• Narrative, descriptive and persuasive writing with a clear sense of structure and voice.
• Sentence variety, precise vocabulary and controlled punctuation used for effect.
• Planning quickly, writing accurately and leaving time to revise.

How the programme works

Most students begin in Year 5, though some start earlier or need a shorter, focused course in the months before an exam. After a diagnostic session, The English Tutor builds a programme around the schools you are targeting, the papers they set, and your child's current strengths and gaps. Parents receive a clear plan, regular marked work and honest feedback on progress.

Practical details

Lesson length

60 minutes, weekly

Format

Online via Zoom, worldwide

Best start

Year 5, or earlier for scholarship candidates

Between lessons

Timed practice papers and vocabulary work, marked and returned

Fees

£60 per hour one-to-one; small-group rates from £28 per student