Specialist 11+ courses in Redbridge & Loughton – 90% pass rates
What is the 11 Plus Exam?
The 11 Plus exam is a selective entrance test taken by children at the start of Year 6. It is not compulsory and is used by grammar schools across 34 boroughs in England to assess eligibility for admission to Year 7. There are no grammar schools in Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, the exam was officially abolished in 2008 but continues under different names and formats.
In England, competition is tough—some schools have over 5 applicants per place. In Redbridge, only 34% of students passed in 2022–23. This reflects the academic challenge posed by schools like Woodford County High and Ilford County High School.
What Does the Exam Involve?
Most 11 Plus exams consist of multiple-choice questions across English, Maths, and sometimes Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Paper duration typically ranges between 45 minutes to 1 hour. The exact format depends on your local borough or consortium.
Taking the 11 Plus with Redbridge Tuition
We began as a small team of dedicated 11+ tutors, earning a strong local reputation through personalised lessons and outstanding results long before incorporating as Redbridge Tuition Ltd in 2007.
Frustrated by the gaps and inconsistencies in the materials available on the market, we launched our own in-house publishing arm to develop a truly comprehensive programme covering verbal and non-verbal Reasoning, English, maths in all exam formats with clear, structured progression at every stage.
Building on this foundation, we went on to design a dedicated private-school preparation course, tailoring each module to the rigour and expectations of top private schools. With personalised coaching, bespoke practice papers, and targeted interview workshops, this programme has consistently achieved success rates between 90% and 100%, empowering students to secure places at their first-choice schools.
What Our Parents Say
We’re very proud of the reputation we’ve built in the 11 plus — here are a few of our favourite recent testimonials:
“Redbridge Tuition and their dedicated team surpassed our expectations in preparing our daughter for the 11+. Their personalised approach and expert guidance instilled confidence in her abilities. The results speak for themselves—WCHS! She really enjoyed her time there and undoubtedly her younger sister will attend in due course. Highly recommend.”
Jamie
11+ Parent
“My son attended the Loughton Branch of Redbridge Tuition. We were impressed with the dedication and knowledge of the tutors. My son enjoyed going to the classes, and we did this for approx 2 years leading up to his entrance exams for secondary school. With the help of Redbridge, he was offered 3 schools. The tutors try to make it as engaging as possible, with some fun and games mixed in, younger children learn in this way the best I feel. I have no hesitation in recommending this place for assisting children getting ready for 11+ and private school entrance exams.”
Bhumika
11+ Parent
“My son started his tuition for his 11+ with Redbridge Tuition when he was about halfway through year 5, and the team have been fantastic! I wish he’d started sooner! The team have gone above and beyond to prep my son for his 11+ exam – a different exam board to many of his peers. The team were friendly, professional and capable of dealing with a range of personalities and skill levels. Whatever the outcome, my son has been pushed to his academic ability and is thriving at school as a result. It’s very personal – children are tutored in small groups. As well as the weekly group tuition, I recommend their more intense holiday courses, where children begin their week sitting a practice exam, determining where support is needed and ensuring children are familiar with the exam process. One-to-one lessons have also proved helpful.”
Jade
11+ Parent
How Do I Know Which Exam My Child Will Sit?
There are several 11 Plus exam boards:
- GL Assessment: Covers English, Maths, VR and NVR.
- CSSE: Common in Essex – focuses on English (including comprehension and creative writing) and Maths. Papers are not multiple-choice and are hand-marked. CSSE exams are known for a traditional format and a strong emphasis on written answers. They typically include:
- A comprehension section with short and long answers
- A 25-mark creative writing task
- Challenging maths questions aligned with National Curriculum expectations and beyond
Redbridge Tuition offers mock exams and targeted CSSE resources tailored to the CSSE format.
- SET: Used in Sutton borough – multiple stages.
- Independent Schools: May have unique exams, including complex comprehension or problem-solving questions. Occasionally, schools may use CEM or Atom Learning.