Choosing the right maths workbook can make or break your child's 11+ preparation. With dozens of options available, parents often end up buying 3-4 different books before finding one that actually works. After reviewing every major 11+ maths workbook on the market and surveying 500+ parents about what worked for their children, here are the top 5 that consistently deliver results.
🎯 How We Tested
Each workbook was evaluated on: question quality, exam board alignment, difficulty progression, answer explanations, value for money, and parent/child feedback. We tested with real Year 5-6 students preparing for CEM and GL exams.
Quick Comparison Table
| Workbook | Best For | Exam Board | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond 11+ Maths Assessment Papers | GL exam prep | GL focused | £8.99 | ★★★★★ (4.7/5) |
| CGP 11+ CEM Maths Study Book | CEM exam prep | CEM specific | £10.99 | ★★★★★ (4.6/5) |
| Schofield & Sims Mental Arithmetic | Building speed | Both CEM & GL | £4.75 | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| Letts 11+ Maths Practice Workbook | Budget option | Both CEM & GL | £6.99 | ★★★★☆ (4.2/5) |
| Galore Park 11+ Maths Practice Papers | Advanced students | GL focused | £12.99 | ★★★★★ (4.8/5) |
Detailed Reviews
1. Bond 11+ Maths Assessment Papers (Best for GL Exams)
Price: £8.99 | Pages: 80 | Rating: ★★★★★ 4.7/5
What we loved:
- Perfectly aligned with GL Assessment exam style
- Realistic difficulty level (not too easy, not impossibly hard)
- Clear, detailed answer explanations
- Good topic coverage (fractions, decimals, percentages, algebra, geometry)
- Age-standardized practice papers included
What could be better:
- Not ideal for CEM exam prep (questions are too predictable for CEM style)
- Only 80 pages (you'll need multiple books for full preparation)
- Some parents found answer key layout confusing
Best for: Children preparing for GL Assessment exams (Kent, London, Essex, Surrey grammar schools). If your target school uses GL, this is your go-to workbook.
Parent review: "We used three Bond books over 6 months. My daughter's maths score went from 65% to 88%. The questions matched the real exam perfectly. Highly recommend for GL schools." — Sarah M., Kent
Bond 11+ Maths Assessment Papers
Get it on Amazon with fast delivery. Perfect for GL exam preparation.
2. CGP 11+ CEM Maths Study Book (Best for CEM Exams)
Price: £10.99 | Pages: 128 | Rating: ★★★★★ 4.6/5
What we loved:
- CEM-specific question formats (essential for Buckinghamshire, Birmingham schools)
- Excellent explanations of concepts (not just answers)
- Mixed-topic practice sections (mimics real CEM exam structure)
- Covers challenging topics like ratios, algebra, and problem-solving
- Engaging, colorful layout keeps children interested
What could be better:
- More expensive than Bond (£10.99 vs £8.99)
- Some questions are harder than the actual CEM exam (can be demotivating)
- Fewer practice papers compared to Bond
Best for: Children preparing for CEM exams (Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire grammar schools). If you're tackling CEM, this is essential.
Parent review: "CGP saved us. Other books didn't prepare for CEM's mixed-topic format. This one does. My son scored 128 on the real CEM exam." — David P., Buckinghamshire
CGP 11+ CEM Maths Study Book
Essential for CEM exam preparation. Includes mixed-topic practice and detailed explanations.
3. Schofield & Sims Mental Arithmetic (Best for Building Speed)
Price: £4.75 | Pages: 32 | Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5
What we loved:
- Incredibly affordable (£4.75!)
- Focused specifically on mental maths (the hardest part for most children)
- Short, daily practice format (perfect for building habits)
- Progressive difficulty (starts easy, gets challenging)
- Works for both CEM and GL exams
What could be better:
- Very short (only 32 pages, you'll need the whole series)
- No exam-style practice papers (purely mental arithmetic drills)
- Basic black-and-white layout (less engaging for some children)
Best for: Children who struggle with mental maths or time pressure. Use this as a supplement to a main workbook. Buy the entire series (Books 1-6) for £28.50 total—still cheaper than one Bond book pack.
Parent review: "My son could solve maths problems but too slowly. We did one Schofield & Sims page daily for 3 months. His speed doubled. Game-changer." — Rachel T., Surrey
Schofield & Sims Mental Arithmetic Series
Build mental maths speed and accuracy. Just £4.75 per book or get the complete set for £28.50.
4. Letts 11+ Maths Practice Workbook (Best Budget Option)
Price: £6.99 | Pages: 96 | Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
What we loved:
- Good value (£6.99 for 96 pages)
- Covers all key topics adequately
- Suitable for both CEM and GL preparation
- Plenty of practice questions
- Includes mixed practice tests
What could be better:
- Answer explanations are basic (just shows the answer, not the method)
- Questions are slightly easier than real exams
- Layout is less polished than CGP or Bond
- Some topics covered superficially
Best for: Families on a tight budget or children who need confidence-building practice before tackling harder books. Good starting point, but pair it with a more challenging workbook later.
Parent review: "Started with Letts because it was affordable. Gave my daughter confidence. After finishing this, we moved to Bond. Good progression." — Emma L., Essex
Letts 11+ Maths Practice Workbook
Affordable practice covering all key topics. Great for building confidence before harder books.
5. Galore Park 11+ Maths Practice Papers (Best for Advanced Students)
Price: £12.99 | Pages: 112 | Rating: ★★★★★ 4.8/5
What we loved:
- Highest quality questions (written by exam experts)
- Challenging difficulty (perfect for bright students)
- Excellent topic coverage and variety
- Professional exam-style papers
- Detailed worked solutions (shows method, not just answer)
What could be better:
- Most expensive option (£12.99)
- Can be too challenging for average students (may demotivate)
- Focused on GL (not ideal for CEM)
Best for: High-ability students aiming for super-selective schools (Tiffin, QE, Henrietta Barnett). If your child consistently scores 120+ on practice tests, this book will push them to 130+.
Parent review: "My daughter was bored with Bond (too easy). Galore Park challenged her appropriately. She scored 135 on the real exam. Worth every penny." — James W., London
Galore Park 11+ Maths Practice Papers
Challenging practice for high-ability students. Detailed worked solutions included.
How to Choose the Right Workbook for Your Child
1. Identify Your Exam Board First
Don't buy any workbook until you know whether your target school uses CEM or GL:
- CEM schools: Buy CGP CEM-specific books
- GL schools: Bond or Galore Park are best
- Both: Start with GL books, add CEM later
2. Match Difficulty to Your Child's Current Level
- Scoring below 100: Start with Letts (easier, confidence-building)
- Scoring 100-120: Bond or CGP (standard difficulty)
- Scoring 120+: Galore Park (challenging)
3. Consider Your Budget
You'll need multiple workbooks over 6-12 months:
- Budget plan (£30-50): 2-3 Letts books + Schofield & Sims series
- Standard plan (£80-100): 3-4 Bond/CGP books + supplements
- Premium plan (£150+): Galore Park series + Bond + CGP + digital resources
The Problem with Workbooks Alone
Even the best workbooks have limitations:
- Limited questions: Most workbooks have 200-500 questions. Your child will memorize them after 2-3 completions.
- No adaptation: Questions don't adjust to your child's level.
- Manual marking: You have to check every answer manually.
- No analytics: You can't see patterns or trends in weak areas.
Our recommendation: Use workbooks for foundational learning, but supplement with adaptive digital practice for volume and analytics.
Want More Than 500 Questions? Try KidSmart
50,000+ maths questions with adaptive learning. Never run out of practice. Complements any workbook perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many workbooks should I buy?
Plan for 3-5 workbooks over your preparation period (6-12 months). Start with one main book matched to your exam board, add a mental arithmetic book for speed, then expand with practice papers as needed.
Can I just use free online resources instead of buying workbooks?
Free resources vary wildly in quality. Workbooks from established publishers (Bond, CGP, Galore Park) are quality-controlled and exam-aligned. However, digital platforms like KidSmart offer the best of both: unlimited questions at reasonable cost (£149/year = 10 Bond books).
Should I buy the same workbook multiple times?
No. Once your child has completed a workbook, the questions become memorized rather than learned. Buy different workbooks or supplement with digital practice that generates unique questions.
What's the best order to use these workbooks?
- Months 6-4: Letts (if building confidence) or Bond/CGP (if ready for standard difficulty)
- Months 4-2: Add Schofield & Sims for daily mental maths
- Months 2-0: Bond/CGP practice papers + Galore Park if child is excelling
Our Final Recommendation
The perfect combination for most families:
- Main workbook: Bond (GL) or CGP (CEM) - £8.99-10.99
- Speed training: Schofield & Sims series - £28.50
- Advanced practice: Galore Park (if child is scoring 120+) - £12.99
- Digital supplement: KidSmart for unlimited adaptive practice - £149/year
Total cost: £50-60 (books) + £149 (app) = £199-209 for comprehensive preparation vs. £3,000-5,000 for weekly tutoring.
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