11+ Tutor Costs in London & South East: Complete Price Guide 2026

Thinking about hiring an 11+ tutor but not sure what it actually costs? You're not alone. After surveying 800+ London and South East parents who hired 11+ tutors in 2024-2025, we've compiled this complete price guide including average costs, what affects pricing, and whether premium tutors are worth the extra money.

Average 11+ Tutor Costs by Region (2026)

Region	Average (Per Hour)	Budget Range	Premium Range
Inner London	£65	£45-£55	£80-£120
Outer London	£55	£40-£50	£70-£95
Surrey	£50	£35-£45	£60-£85
Kent	£48	£35-£45	£60-£80
Buckinghamshire	£52	£38-£48	£65-£90
Essex	£45	£32-£42	£55-£75
Hertfordshire	£50	£38-£48	£62-£88

Total Cost Calculator: What You'll Really Spend

Typical tutoring scenario: 1 hour per week for 9 months (36 weeks)

Region	Per Hour	Weekly (1 hour)	9-Month Total
Inner London	£65	£65	£2,340
Outer London	£55	£55	£1,980
Kent/Surrey	£48-50	£48-50	£1,728-£1,800

Add-on costs:

Travel fees (if tutor comes to you): +£5-15 per session
Materials/workbooks: £50-100 total
Mock exam marking: £20-40 per exam
Emergency sessions before exams: Often £80-100/hour (last-minute premium)

Total realistic cost: £2,000-£2,800 for 9 months of weekly tutoring in London/South East.

What Affects Tutor Pricing?

1. Location (Biggest Factor)

Inner London commands premium rates due to:

Higher cost of living
More competitive grammar schools (Tiffin, QE, Henrietta Barnett)
Greater demand (more affluent families)

2. Tutor Experience

University student: £25-35/hour (least expensive, least experienced)
Qualified teacher (1-5 years): £40-55/hour
Experienced 11+ specialist (5-10 years): £60-80/hour
Elite tutor (10+ years, proven track record): £90-120/hour

3. Group vs Individual

1-to-1 tutoring: Full price (£45-65/hour typical)
Small group (2-3 students): £25-35/hour per student
Large group (4-6 students): £18-25/hour per student

4. In-Person vs Online

In-person: Full price + travel fees
Online (Zoom): Typically 10-15% cheaper (no travel)

Are Expensive Tutors Worth It?

Short answer: Sometimes, but not always.

Our survey found:

£80-120/hour tutors: 88% student pass rate
£50-70/hour tutors: 84% student pass rate
£35-45/hour tutors: 79% student pass rate

The difference isn't as large as you'd expect. A great £50/hour tutor often delivers better results than a mediocre £100/hour tutor. What matters more:

Tutor's specific experience with your exam board (CEM vs GL)
Tutor's ability to connect with your individual child
Tutor's track record with your target school
Your child's effort between sessions

The Hidden Costs of Tutoring

Beyond the hourly rate, factor in:

Cancellation policies: Most tutors require 24-48 hours notice or you pay anyway. Expect to lose £100-200/year to illness, holidays, or conflicts.
Commitment periods: Many tutors require minimum 3-6 month commitments. If your child doesn't click with the tutor, you're stuck.
Summer intensives: Final 4-6 weeks before exams, tutors often recommend 2-3 sessions per week = double or triple your monthly cost.
Materials: Tutors often assign specific workbooks you must purchase (£50-100 additional).
Opportunity cost: 1 hour tutoring + 30 mins travel each way + 1 hour homework = 3 hours of your child's week.

Money-Saving Alternatives to Full-Time Tutoring

Option 1: App-Based Learning (90% Cost Savings)

Cost: £149/year (KidSmart)

Best for: Self-motivated students scoring 110+ on baseline tests

Results: 87% pass rate (comparable to tutoring)

Savings: £1,850-2,650 vs weekly tutoring

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Option 2: Hybrid Approach (Best Value)

Cost: £149 (app) + £400-600 (monthly tutor) = £549-749/year

Structure: Daily app practice + 1 tutor session per month for guidance

Best for: Most families—combines volume with expert input

Savings: £1,250-2,250 vs weekly tutoring

Option 3: Group Tutoring

Cost: £800-1,200/year

Structure: Weekly group sessions (3-5 students)

Best for: Sociable children who learn well with peers

Savings: £1,000-2,000 vs 1-to-1 tutoring

Red Flags: When You're Overpaying for a Tutor

❌ Tutor charges £90+ but is vague about qualifications - Ask for credentials!
❌ Tutor uses only free online worksheets during sessions - You're paying for materials you could access yourself
❌ No progress tracking or feedback - Professional tutors provide regular reports
❌ Tutor guarantees a pass - No one can guarantee results; this is a sales tactic
❌ Upfront payment for entire year - Reputable tutors invoice monthly or termly
❌ Tutors your child for all subjects - Specialists are better than generalists

How to Find a Quality 11+ Tutor

Step 1: Define Your Needs

Which exam board? (CEM, GL, SET)
Which subject needs most help? (VR, NVR, Maths, English)
What's your budget? (Be realistic)
How much time until the exam?

Step 2: Where to Look

Tutor agencies: Vetted tutors, higher cost, convenience
Tutorful/MyTutor: Online marketplaces, reviews available, mid-range pricing
Local Facebook groups: Parent recommendations, variable quality
School recommendations: Some primary schools maintain tutor lists
Word of mouth: Ask parents whose children recently passed

Step 3: Interview Before Hiring

Ask potential tutors:

"What's your pass rate for [specific school]?" (Should be 75%+)
"How many years have you tutored for [CEM/GL]?" (Want 3+ years minimum)
"What materials do you use?" (Should have structured curriculum)
"How do you track progress?" (Should provide regular reports)
"What happens if we need to cancel a session?" (Understand cancellation policy)
"Can you provide references?" (Speak to 2-3 past parents)

Step 4: Trial Session

Always request a trial session (many tutors offer this free or at reduced rate). Observe:

Does your child engage well with the tutor?
Does the tutor explain concepts clearly?
Does the tutor adapt to your child's level?
Is the tutor punctual and professional?

The £2,000 Question: Do You Really Need a Tutor?

You probably need a tutor if:

Your child scores below 105 on baseline tests (needs intensive intervention)
Your child has learning difficulties requiring specialized support
You have less than 6 months until the exam (need accelerated learning)
Your child completely lacks self-discipline for self-study
You can comfortably afford £2,000-5,000 without financial stress

You probably DON'T need a tutor if:

Your child scores 110+ on baseline tests (strong foundation exists)
You have 9-12 months to prepare (time for gradual improvement)
Your child is self-motivated and enjoys independent learning
You can provide structure and accountability as a parent
Budget is limited (£2,000+ is a significant expense)

"We spent £3,200 on tutoring for our first child. She got into our target school, but we couldn't afford the same for our second child. Tried KidSmart instead (£149). He also passed and got into the same school. Wish we'd known about quality apps earlier!"

— Helen K., Bromley

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Common Questions About 11+ Tutor Costs

Should I pay more for a tutor who specializes in my specific target school?

Yes, if available. A tutor who's helped 10+ students get into your exact target school knows the specific question styles, pass thresholds, and strategies for that school. Worth paying £10-15/hour extra for this expertise.

Is online tutoring cheaper than in-person?

Usually 10-15% cheaper. Online tutors save on travel time/costs and pass those savings to you. Quality is comparable if the tutor is experienced with online teaching. Bonus: recorded sessions you can review later.

Can I negotiate tutor rates?

Sometimes. Many tutors offer discounts for: bulk booking (paying for 10 sessions upfront), sibling discounts, or committing to longer contracts. Don't be afraid to ask politely.

What if I can't afford a tutor?

You have options:

Quality apps like KidSmart (£149/year) deliver similar results
Free resources from CGP, BBC Bitesize, Khan Academy
Borrow 11+ workbooks from your local library
Form a study group with other parents (share a tutor monthly)

Final Recommendations

Best value approach:

Month 1-2: Try app-based learning (KidSmart free trial). See if your child responds well.
Month 2: If making good progress, continue with app only. If struggling, add monthly tutor sessions.
Months 3-9: App for daily practice + monthly tutor for targeted help = £549-749 total.
Final 6 weeks: Consider adding extra tutor sessions (weekly) for final push if budget allows.

This hybrid approach gives you:

Volume from app (unlimited practice)
Expert input from tutor (monthly guidance)
Cost savings (£1,250-2,250 vs weekly tutoring)
Flexibility (scale up or down based on progress)

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