Frequently Asked Questions

11+ test FAQs

Which exam board provides the 11+ exam in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire?

For Year 7 entry in 2025, the 11+ exam for grammar schools in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire (including Kendrick but excluding Reading Boys School) is currently written by Granada Learning Assessment (GLA).

The examination papers for Reading Boys School are written by Future Stories.

Teachitright will notify families in the event that the examining board changes.

What do GL Assessment 11+ exams include?

The GL Assessment 11+ test comprises of two separate test booklets. One will contain questions to test verbal skills and English and the other contains questions to test non-verbal (25%) and numerical skills (25%). The tests are multiple choice.

At Teachitright, we support students for the Berkshire (excluding Reading Boys School) and Buckinghamshire GL Assessment 11+ tests. Our students are taught the main strategies and techniques to ensure they can answer the questions efficiently and accurately. We recognise that 50% of the exam involves Verbal Reasoning, English and Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPAG), so vocabulary is important to develop throughout the course.

How does the Kendrick School test work?

For admission to Kendrick, there will be two tests each of approximately one hour duration. There will be a short break between the two test sessions. The tests will assess Verbal, Non-Verbal and Numerical ability. Applicants are expected to show competence in skills appropriate to Key Stage 2 English and Mathematics and to be able to apply these skills creatively. The raw scores will be age standardised and the ranking is determined by the aggregate of the age standardised scores of both papers.

Which admissions test does Reading Boys School use?

Reading Boys School have changed their requirements and now include creative writing as part of the examination. The exam is written by Future Stories who are working with Reading Boys School on a social mobility project. There are three papers which include Mathematics, English Vocabulary and Creative Writing.

Our Teachitright course has been adapted to include creative writing and to remove Non-Verbal Reasoning to ensure that we are providing tailored preparation to pupils applying to Reading Boys School. We will provide ample exam practice and help students develop their time management skills throughout the course.

How can parents help their children prepare for 11+ tests?

There are a number of things that parents can do to help their children with 11+ preparation. Parents can ensure that children have experience of working quietly on their own, uninterrupted by noise or distractions. They can ensure that they do any homework that is set. Parents can help their children to read with understanding, for example, by asking them what certain words mean and what is happening in the passage or book that they are reading. They can encourage them to solve problems by themselves or to look up things for themselves.

Teachitright provides free parent workshops which aim to help parents support their children in their 11+ preparation alongside their learning at school and at our 11+ tuition centres.

How is the 11+ test scored?

The exam boards use a standardisation scoring system, and this can vary on a yearly basis across the different grammar schools.

Are there 11+ practice papers available?

GL assessment material is widely available and Teachitright have co-authored the 11+ Explained series with GL Assessment.

Teachitright have built up a vast knowledge of the type of questions that may be introduced in the 11+ tests and therefore will provide pupils with all the resources that are required to prepare for the tests. We run mock exams during the Easter and Summer Holidays and these are as authentic as possible to mirror the real exam.

How do 11+ tests work?

Each child will be given a question booklet and a separate answer sheet. The question booklet will contain all of the necessary instructions about taking the 11+ test and all the test questions. The test invigilators will use a CD to take the children through the initial example questions and to play the instructions about starting and finishing the test, as well as to time any sub-sections of the test.

When will parents find out the results of the 11+?

The School Admissions Code requires the outcomes of selection tests to be made available to parents before the deadline for the submission of the Common Application Form.

Teachitright courses FAQs

How many children are in each Teachitright tuition class?

We have a maximum of 10 students in each class and this allows us the opportunity to identify each child’s areas for development.

Will my child be expected to complete any homework?

Students are expected to complete homework, as this reinforces what they have learnt during their weekly lessons. We are fully aware that schools set different amounts of homework, and we want to set realistic expectations to ensure a balance between schoolwork and Teachitright work is achieved. The homework is split into “you must” tasks and additional “you could” tasks. Every student must complete the “you must” task on a weekly basis.

For those students (or parents) who would like further homework on top of the compulsory activities, additional “you could” activities can be set.

How can I help my child if they have struggled with their homework?

There are a couple of ways you can help your child. Firstly, we would suggest that your child attends the free weekly homework club where they can ask our fully qualified tutor for help. Please also highlight any homework struggles to their own weekly tutor who can support further during class or at another convenient time.

What should my child bring to their lessons?

Teachitright will provide all the books and materials that your child will need and it is important that they bring these to every lesson. All students need to remember to bring their pencil case with them and we also recommend that you bring along with you a small pocket dictionary. Students are welcome to bring a drink and a small (nut free) snack to keep them going.

Does Teachitright provide 11+ holiday courses and revision camps?

Teachitright runs a comprehensive 11+ revision programme during the Easter and summer holidays. We run three-day 11+ revision camps and we also run 11+ mock exams which aim to recreate a similar environment to the actual 11+ exam day. The mock exams are marked with an optical reader and a full written report will be provided.

These events are paid for separately of Teachitright course fees.

Year 5 students who signed up after the 1st April 2024 or upgraded to the new enhanced course will also be invited to attend a free mock exam during the February half term. If a student is unable to attend the February mock exam, Teachitright will provide a paper copy to complete at home which will then be marked.

If my child misplaces their books, will we receive replacements?

Students are given new books throughout the course and these are included in the course fees. If any books are misplaced or lost, then we will replace them at a cost of £7.50 per book, plus postage if required.

What happens if my child misses a lesson?

It is important that your child attends every tuition lesson, but of course we do understand that sometimes children fall ill or you may have an important or urgent commitment that cannot be changed. If you know that your child is going to be absent for any reason, then please email your tutor directly.

Teachitright provides a Student Portal designed to support both students and parents at home. The portal is only available for Teachitright students and your login details will be given to you after you start the course. On the portal, you will find resources such as reading lists, word lists, homework overviews and other worksheets. If you miss a lesson you will be able to look up the lesson objectives and key activities that can be completed at home.

If my child misses a lesson, can they attend an alternative class elsewhere?

It is important to us that the children see the same tutor every week as this will help to improve the consistency in their learning and that all elements of the syllabus have been covered. We do try to accommodate parents and students who ask for a lesson swap but we would ask that requests are only made if absolutely necessary. If swapping lessons, please note that we will be unable to authorise a lesson swap where we are running assessments or giving out new resources. If you miss a lesson we cannot accommodate a replacement lesson without prior notice.

Keeping our class sizes small is extremely important to Teachitright and in addition to the above, we can only authorise a lesson swap to a class that is not at full capacity.

What is included in the new enhanced 11+ course?

Year 4 11+ course 

All year 4 students will receive 38 x 90 minute lessons, all resources, membership to the online student portal, access to the weekly homework club and a Teachitright backpack and starter pack.

Students who joined after the 1st April 2024 or have upgraded to the new enhanced course will also receive:
• 35 weekly 45 minutes online “quick fire” quizzes
• Monthly Book Club

Year 5 11+ course

All year 5 students will receive 38 x two-hour lessons and an additional revision class in September 2025 prior to the 11+ exams. Students will also receive all resources, membership to the online student portal, access to the weekly homework club and a Teachitright backpack and starter pack.

Students who joined after the 1st April 2024 or have upgraded to the new enhanced course will also receive:
• 35 weekly 45 minutes online “quick fire” quizzes
• Monthly Book Club
• Mock exam during February 2025 half term

If you would like to upgrade to the new enhanced course, please email the Teachitright Office at info@teachitright.com.

Support and communication FAQs

How does Teachitright keep in touch with parents?

There are many ways we keep in touch with our parents, but our main method of communication is by email. Please ensure that we have an up-to-date email address and you advise us of any changes in writing. We are happy to have more than one email contact on our database.

Please follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, as we regularly post messages and useful hints and tips about the 11+.

How can I keep in contact with my child’s 11+ course tutor?

When your child starts we will provide you with the email address of your tutor, they will be very happy to help you if you have any questions. If you have any administrative questions please contact the office directly at info@teachitright.com.

How can parents support their children in their 11+ preparation?

We run regular free parent workshops throughout the year which are designed to help you support your child with their studies. We encourage as many parents as possible to come along to these workshops as we are sure you will find them very helpful in supporting your child.

How will parents know how well their child is progressing?

Each child will be assessed every six weeks and tutors will feedback to parents via an online report. We also hold online parent meetings several times a year to discuss performance and answer any questions you may have.

Fees, payments and cancellations

How much do Teachitright tuition courses cost?

Teachitright offers competitive tuition rates for our courses – to find out more about the costs of our individual courses, please complete our contact us form to request full information including course fees.

What methods of payment does Teachitright accept?

Fees are paid through direct debit and we also accept childcare vouchers from some of the larger providers (see below).

Does Teachitright accept childcare vouchers?

As we are Ofsted registered, we can accept payment through the Government Tax-Free Childcare Scheme and Childcare Grant Payment Service. We also accept childcare vouchers from the following private providers: Bravo Benefits, Care-4, Computershare, Co-operative, Edenred, Enjoy Benefits, FairCare, Fideliti, Kiddivouchers and Sodexo.

If you would like to pay using this method, please notify the Teachitright office.

How much notice will I have to give if I decide to withdraw my child from the course?

The course runs from September to July, and if you decide to withdraw your child from the course at the end of a month, you will be required to give notice by the 10th of that same month. If you want to withdraw your child then please advise us in writing by emailing info@teachitright.com.