ArielleOrganic Search & Marketing @ PipUpdated August 2026
9 min read
If your child is sitting a grammar school or independent school 11+ exam, a good tutor can make a real difference, but the market is crowded and pricing is often hidden behind a 'contact us' form. We researched seven UK tutoring agencies and platforms that specifically offer 11+ preparation, checking their own websites and independent review sources like Trustpilot and The Good Schools Guide, so you can compare price, format and evidence of quality before you pick up the phone.
Short on time? The quick verdict:
Best for budget-friendly online 1:1: MyTutor, tutors typically charge £25 to £48/hr with no registration fee, though DBS checks and qualifications are self-certified by tutors rather than independently verified by the company.
Best for nationwide small-group prep: Explore Learning, in-centre or online small-group sessions from £190/month with directly-employed, DBS-checked tutors and three built-in mock exams.
Best for bespoke, in-house 1:1 tutoring: Keystone Tutors, full-time employed tutors and a strongly positive independent Good Schools Guide review, though rates run toward the premium end and prices aren't published on-site.
Full transparency: where Pip appears in a list like this, it is our own app. Everything we say about every provider here, including ours, is factual, sourced and checked this month, and we tell you honestly where another option suits a family better than we do. That is the only way a comparison like this is worth your time.
1Keystone Tutors
Premium 1:1 tuition from in-house tutorsKeystone Tutors
PriceNot published on Keystone's own site. A third-party tutoring-comparison source cites rates from about £86/hr, averaging around £111/hr inc. VAT, plus a one-off registration fee reported at roughly £96; treat these as indicative estimates, not confirmed official figures
CoverageOffices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore; in-person tutoring mainly around London, online worldwide
Format1:1 only, with monthly progress reports to parents; tutors are described as full-time employees of Keystone (not freelancers), many holding qualified teacher status
ReviewsTrustpilot shows a 4-star rating from 43 reviews; The Good Schools Guide's independent review drew on a survey of 160 clients and 46 tutors and was strongly positive about professionalism
Watch outNo published price list on the official site, so budget only becomes clear after contact; rates appear to sit toward the higher end of the London market
Keystone Tutors is a London-headquartered agency, with additional offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, built around a roster of over 60 tutors employed full-time rather than freelance, many of whom are qualified teachers. For 11+ preparation it offers 1:1 sessions, in person around London or online globally, with monthly progress reports sent to parents.
The Good Schools Guide's independent review, based on survey responses from 160 clients and 46 tutors, was glowing about the professionalism of the operation and the loyalty of its 'fan club' of parents and tutors.
Keystone doesn't publish its rates; third-party tutoring-comparison sites estimate hourly fees in the £86 to £111 range plus a registration fee, which would put it toward the premium end of the London market. Confirm current pricing directly before committing.
2Simply Learning Tuition
Bespoke, hand-matched 1:1 tutors in LondonSimply Learning Tuition
PriceNo fixed 11+ price list. The agency's own general fees page cites typical private tuition at £100 to £200/hr; The Good Schools Guide separately reports underlying tutor rates of £95 to £200/hr with the agency taking a 20 to 30 percent commission
CoverageIn-person tuition in central London, plus online and international/residential placements
Format1:1 only ('all of our 11 Plus tuition is delivered one-to-one'); tutors are described as personally vetted and known to the agency; the site actively recommends mock exams as part of preparation
ReviewsNo Trustpilot profile could be found for the company; The Good Schools Guide's independent editorial review is positive, describing its customer service as 'second to none'
Watch outNo self-serve pricing, a quote is only given after an initial consultation; no on-site detail on DBS checks or formal qualification requirements for the 11+ tutor pool
Simply Learning Tuition is a long-standing London agency that positions itself at the higher end of the market, introducing two or three hand-picked tutors after an initial consultation rather than offering a self-serve tutor directory.
All of its 11+ tuition is delivered 1:1, in person in central London or online, and its site actively recommends mock exams to help manage exam-day nerves.
The agency doesn't publish a fixed price list for 11+ work specifically; its general fees page cites typical rates of £100 to £200 per hour, and The Good Schools Guide separately reports underlying tutor rates of £95 to £200/hr with the agency taking a 20 to 30 percent commission.
No Trustpilot page was found, so review evidence here rests on Good Schools Guide's independent, positive write-up rather than a large public review count.
3Bonas MacFarlane
Premium tutoring plus school placement adviceBonas MacFarlane
PriceNot published on the official fees or tuition pages. A third-party tutoring-comparison site cites hourly rates from £70/hr, day rates from £300/day, a one-off £192 registration fee and school-placement consultancy 'from £11,000', figures Bonas MacFarlane does not itself confirm online
CoverageLondon-focused, with additional support for families relocating internationally, including to Dubai
Format1:1, in person or online; residential/live-in tutor options for intensive periods; mock exams and diagnostics offered as part of the service
ReviewsNo Trustpilot profile found; The Good Schools Guide's review was based on a survey of 30 clients and 34 tutors and quotes a parent describing the service as 'reassuringly expensive'
Watch outPositioned explicitly as a premium, expensive service; no pricing published anywhere on the official site, so budget-conscious families should ask for a written quote up front
Bonas MacFarlane is a premium London tutoring and education consultancy that also handles school placement and admissions advice, and it leans into that positioning rather than competing on price. For 11+ families it offers 1:1 tuition in person or online, mock exams and diagnostics, and even residential tutors who live alongside the family for intensive periods.
The Good Schools Guide's review, based on a survey of 30 clients and 34 tutors, likened the operation to 'the Savile Row end of things' and quoted a parent calling it 'reassuringly expensive'.
Bonas MacFarlane does not publish rates on its own site; a third-party comparison source cites hourly rates from £70 and day rates from £300, but these are unverified estimates rather than official figures, so always request a written quote before proceeding.
PriceTutors set their own rates, typically £25 to £48/hr depending on experience band; no registration fee, and no subscription tie-in
CoverageOnline only, UK-wide
Format1:1 online lessons via MyTutor's own video/whiteboard platform, with a free 15-minute video meeting before booking; many tutors are current university students rather than qualified teachers, though some qualified teachers are also on the platform
ReviewsTrustpilot reviews put MyTutor in roughly the 4.5 to 4.7 out of 5 range from approximately 3,800 to 4,000 reviews; the exact score and count fluctuate depending on source and date, so verify current figures before publishing
Watch outMyTutor's own terms state that DBS/CRB information and qualifications are self-certified by tutors and not independently verified by the company, even though its separate safeguarding policy states tutors are DBS-checked; some Trustpilot reviews flag billing and cancellation issues
MyTutor is one of the UK's largest online tutoring marketplaces, and its 11+ offering leans on a large pool of tutors, many of them current university students, working 1:1 over video with an interactive whiteboard.
Pricing is set by individual tutors and typically runs £25 to £48 an hour, with no registration fee and no subscription lock-in. It's a genuinely large-scale platform, with Trustpilot reviews numbering in the thousands, though the exact score fluctuates between roughly 4.5 and 4.7 out of 5 depending on when you check.
Worth flagging for parents: MyTutor's own terms state that DBS checks and qualifications are self-certified by tutors rather than independently verified by the company, a different assurance model to agencies that directly employ and vet their own tutors.
5Tutorful
Vetted 1:1 marketplace, no group optionTutorful
Price£20 to £45/hr typical range; no sign-up fee or subscription, but watch for late-cancellation fees
CoverageOnline and in-person, UK-wide
Format1:1 only, Tutorful explicitly does not offer group tuition; recommends starting 11+ prep in Year 5 with 1 to 2 hours per week and regular mock tests
ReviewsTrustpilot shows roughly a 4-star rating from approximately 4,300 to 4,500 reviews; the count grows continuously, so verify the exact live figure before publishing
Watch outTutorful states 50 percent or more of its tutors are qualified teachers and 100 percent carry an enhanced DBS check, which means up to half are not qualified teachers, so check an individual tutor's background before booking
Tutorful is an online tutor-matching platform built around a vetted freelance tutor pool, roughly one in seven applicants is accepted, and it explicitly does not offer group tuition, only 1:1 sessions, either online or in person.
For 11+ prep it recommends starting in Year 5 with one to two hours a week and regular mock tests. Typical rates run £20 to £45 an hour with no sign-up fee, though late-cancellation charges can apply.
Tutorful says all tutors carry an enhanced DBS check and that 50 percent or more are qualified teachers, meaning a meaningful share are not, so it is worth checking an individual tutor's background and experience directly.
Review volume is substantial, several thousand on Trustpilot at roughly a 4-star average, though the exact live number moves regularly.
6Tavistock Tutors
London 11+ specialists with tutor-match guaranteeTavistock Tutors
Price11+ tutoring listed 'from £50/hr' on the company's own 11+ page, with discounts available for block bookings
CoverageLondon or online, plus an international tutoring option
Format1:1 tuition; tutor profiles carry a 'Background Checked' badge; a replacement tutor is offered if the initial match isn't a good fit
ReviewsTrustpilot shows a 5-star rating, but from a small base of 47 reviews, a much smaller sample than the larger marketplaces on this list
Watch outSmall review sample size relative to bigger platforms; the company's 11+ page does not itself detail mock exam provision or homework policy, so ask directly
Tavistock Tutors is a London-based agency offering 1:1 tuition for 11+ entrance exams, in person around London or online, starting at a published rate of £50 an hour with discounts for block bookings. Tutor profiles carry a 'Background Checked' badge, and the company offers a replacement tutor if the first match isn't right.
Its Trustpilot rating is a full 5 stars, which is a good sign, but it is built on only 47 reviews, a much smaller evidence base than the thousands of reviews behind the larger online marketplaces in this list, so treat it as encouraging rather than conclusive.
The company's own 11+ page focuses on tutor matching and exam technique but does not spell out mock exam provision or homework policy, so it is worth asking directly before signing up.
PriceSmall-group tuition (up to 6 children, 2 sessions/week) from £190/month; 1:1 tuition £180 to £280/month depending on session frequency; a recurring membership model rather than pay-per-lesson
CoverageNationwide learning centres across the UK, plus online tuition for families without a nearby centre
Format1:1 or small group (up to 6 children, each with individualised work) in-centre or online; three full-length mock exams included; no formal homework, personalised practice materials instead
ReviewsTrustpilot shows around a 4-star rating from roughly 2,400 reviews, with about 88 percent five-star
Watch outTutors are directly employed and DBS-checked, but some parent and former-employee reviews describe centres as busy or noisy and question whether generalist tutors always tailor content precisely to a specific target school's exam board
Explore Learning is different from the other agencies here in that it runs physical, nationwide learning centres, plus an online option, rather than sending a tutor to your home or matching you with a freelancer.
Its 11+ programme offers small-group sessions, up to 6 children each with individualised work, from £190 a month, or 1:1 tuition from £180 to £280 a month, with three full-length mock exams built in and DBS-checked tutors employed directly by the company rather than freelance.
Trustpilot reviews sit around 4 stars from roughly 2,400 reviews, with the large majority five-star. It is a lower-cost, membership-style alternative to bespoke 1:1 agencies, though some reviewers note centres can feel busy, so ask about group sizes and how closely content is matched to your target school before signing up.
Side by side
Prices and review counts checked this month; treat any single-review-source figure as a snapshot, not a permanent ranking.
Tuition centres: a different model from everything above
Every option above, including Explore Learning's centres, is a form of tutoring: a tutor or small group working through a lesson plan.
"11+ tuition centre" is a slightly different search, and a different product: a physical, or sometimes live-online, venue running scheduled group classes on a fixed timetable, closer to how Kumon or a language school runs than to a tutor matched one-to-one with your child.
Searches for "11+ tuition centre near me" or "best 11+ tuition centres" are usually looking for exactly this: a place, not a person.
A tuition centre generally costs less per hour than a 1:1 tutor because the room and the tutor's time are shared across several children, but your child gets a fixed scheme of work rather than a lesson plan built entirely around their own gaps, and moves at the group's pace rather than their own.
Check before you enrol at a tuition centre
Exam board match. Ask exactly which 11+ format the centre teaches, GL, CEM, CSSE or a regional test, and check it against what your child is actually sitting. Our full guide to every 11+ exam board covers every option.
Trial lesson. A reputable centre will usually let your child sit in on a class before you commit to a term.
Class size. Ask the actual number of children per class, not just the room's capacity.
Contract length and cancellation. Many centres bill termly or on a rolling membership; get the notice period in writing before signing anything.
For the full breakdown of what a tuition centre costs as a category, how it compares to online platforms, honest local context by area, and standalone 11+ mock test centres, see our complete guide to 11+ tuition centres.
Questions parents ask
How much does 11+ tutoring cost in the UK?+
It varies enormously by model. Online marketplaces like MyTutor and Tutorful typically run £20 to £48 an hour, set by individual tutors.
Centre-based Explore Learning charges a monthly membership of £180 to £280 for 1:1 or from £190 for small group.
High-end London agencies like Simply Learning Tuition and Bonas MacFarlane don't publish fixed prices at all, quoting on request, though third-party estimates and Good Schools Guide reporting put underlying tutor rates anywhere from £70 to £200+ an hour once agency commission is included.
Always ask for a written quote before booking, and clarify whether registration fees or minimum commitments apply.
Is 1:1 tutoring better than group tuition for the 11+?+
Neither is universally 'better', it depends on your child and budget. 1:1 tuition, offered by agencies like Keystone Tutors, Simply Learning Tuition, Tutorful and MyTutor, gives full individual attention and a lesson plan built entirely around one child's gaps.
Small-group tuition, such as Explore Learning's sessions of up to 6 children, costs less per month and still gives each child individualised work, but with less direct one-to-one time.
A child who is anxious or significantly behind may benefit more from 1:1; a child who is broadly on track and motivated by peers may do well in a small group.
Do I need a paid tutor for the 11+, or is self-study enough?+
It depends on the child and the exam's competitiveness. Many families do use a tutor, particularly for super-selective schools, but a paid tutor isn't the only route: consistent daily practice with past papers and topic drills across Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning can also build the skills examiners test.
Some families use a low-cost daily-practice app such as Pip alongside or instead of paid tutoring, as a way to keep up regular short practice sessions between (or instead of) paid lessons.
Pip is a self-directed practice app, not a tutoring agency, so it isn't included in the comparison above.
Are 11+ tutors required to have a DBS check?+
There's no single UK-wide legal requirement forcing every self-employed private tutor to hold a DBS check in the way schools must check staff, so practice varies by agency.
Reputable agencies typically require one: Tutorful and Explore Learning both state their tutors carry enhanced DBS checks, with Explore Learning employing tutors directly and DBS-checking them itself.
MyTutor's own terms are worth reading closely: it states DBS and qualification information is self-certified by tutors rather than independently verified by the company, which is a different assurance model. Always ask an agency directly how and when a specific tutor's DBS check was verified.
What should I check before booking with a 11+ tutoring agency?+
Look at four things together: published pricing versus 'quote only' (a lack of published prices isn't a red flag by itself, but budget for it to be on the higher side), review evidence (a 5-star rating from 47 reviews is weaker evidence than a 4.5-star rating from 4,000, so weigh the score and count together), format fit (1:1 versus small group, online versus in-person, and whether mock exams and homework are included), and how tutor vetting actually works (self-certified by the tutor, or independently checked and employed by the agency).
Ask each shortlisted agency the same questions so you can compare answers directly.
