Do You Need a Tutor for the 11+?

“Does my child need a tutor?” is one of the most common — and most expensive — 11+ questions. The honest answer: it depends on your child, your time and your budget. Here’s how to think it through.

What a tutor can offer

A good tutor provides structure, accountability and personalised feedback, and can spot and fix specific weaknesses. For some families, that expertise and routine are worth the cost.

What tutoring can’t do

A tutor is usually one or two hours a week — the other practice still happens at home. Tutoring also varies hugely in quality and price, and it can add pressure if it turns preparation into a chore. It is not a magic guarantee.

The alternatives

• Self-study with good resources: plenty of families succeed with structured practice and parental support alone.
• Online platforms: unlimited practice, instant feedback and progress tracking at a fraction of a tutor’s cost — available every day, not just once a week.
• A blend: occasional tutoring for weak spots, plus daily independent practice.

How to decide

Consider your child’s independence, your available time, and your budget. A sensible first step is to diagnose where your child stands, then decide what support the gaps actually require — rather than defaulting to expensive tutoring from day one.

Start by seeing where your child is with our free 11+ practice test. Treenwich then offers unlimited practice and an AI tutor for a fraction of typical tuition costs.