The honest answer about 11+ resources
There is no single resource that works for every child. The best preparation combines timed paper practice, targeted weak-area work, and consistent review of mistakes. The resource question is really about which tools support those three things most efficiently.
Printed workbooks
CGP, Bond, and Letts workbooks are the most widely used printed resources. They provide structured practice questions by subject and difficulty level. Their main limitation is the absence of timed conditions and the lack of immediate feedback — children complete exercises but don't know if their answers are correct until a parent marks them, often hours later.
Online platforms
Online platforms vary significantly in quality. The best ones provide timed papers, instant marking, explanations for wrong answers, and progress tracking. The worst provide the same exercises as printed books but on screen, without adding any of the benefits that digital can offer.
Private tutors
Tutors are the most expensive option at £40–80 per hour, and the most variable in quality. A good tutor identifies a child's specific weaknesses and addresses them systematically. A poor tutor goes through past papers without analysis. The main advantage of tutors over self-study is accountability — children tend to prepare more consistently when there's a session to work toward.
The combination that works best
For most families: a structured online platform for paper practice and tracking, supplemented by a tutor for one session per week to explain concepts the child doesn't understand. This costs significantly less than two weekly tutor sessions and produces better results because the child is doing more independent practice.