13+
13+ Exam Preparation With
Expert Online Tutors
Every parent of a Year 5 or Year 6 child in the UK understands just how much is riding on the 13 Plus exam. This single assessment plays a pivotal role in determining whether a child gains entry into a grammar school or selective independent school making thorough, well-structured preparation absolutely essential. We understand the pressure that comes with this milestone.
That’s why we’ve put together everything families need to know from exactly what the 13+ covers and which boards administer it, to the skills being tested, what strong results can unlock for your child’s future, and why having the right tutor by their side makes all the difference. Countless parents search endlessly for a reliable 13+ tutor and struggle to find someone truly qualified and proven. Your search ends here we’ve got your child covered.
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- What is the 13+ Exam?
The 13+ exam is a selective entrance assessment used by many independent and grammar schools across the UK to evaluate students at around age 13 for admission into Year 9. The exam is designed to test core academic abilities including English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and in many cases Science. Schools use the 13+ to assess each student’s analytical thinking, reading comprehension, problem-solving capability, and overall academic readiness for a more demanding senior school curriculum.
- Why is the 13+ Exam Taken?
Senior School Entry: Primary purpose of the 13+ is to determine admission into selective independent senior schools giving schools a reliable way to identify academically capable students.
Subject Knowledge Assessment: The exam evaluates how deeply a student understands the core academic subjects and whether their knowledge and skill level meets the specific entry standards of their target school.
- When is the 13+ Exam Held?
June: The primary sitting of the 13+ exam takes place in June each year, designed for students who will be transitioning into Year 9 the following September.
November and January: Additional sittings are available throughout the academic year for late applicants, conditional offer holders, or students who were unable to sit the main June examination.
Exact exam dates vary between schools and are set independently by each institution always check directly with your target school.
- Paper Format and Exam Duration
The 13+ exam is made up of papers across multiple subjects. The core mandatory subjects assessed are:
- Mathematics: Covering arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and applied problem solving
- English: Reading comprehension, structured writing tasks, creative writing, and grammar
- Science: Integrating content from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics across a single combined paper
Your Perfect Exam Tutor, Right at Your Fingertips
What We Offer
Tired of the commute and the rigid schedules that come with traditional in-person tutoring? We connect your child directly with a highly qualified 13+ specialist tutor from the comfort of your own home. Our experienced tutors are fully aligned with your child’s specific curriculum and target school requirements, delivering focused 1-on-1 online sessions built entirely around their individual goals, learning pace, and exam timeline.
Flexible Timings
- Choose Your Own Schedule
- Easy Lesson Booking
- Hassle-Free Rescheduling
Affordable Rates
- Free Trial Session
- Budget-Friendly Packages
- Clear Refund Policy
Superior Quality
- Qualified Exam Specialists
- Structured Study Plans
- Homework & Revision Support
How We Support Your
Child Through 13+ Preparation
We understand that no two students learn in exactly the same way. Every child comes with their own unique set of strengths, areas for development, and preferred learning style and that is precisely why our approach to 13+ tuition is never one-size-fits-all. Every student receives a fully personalized preparation plan built entirely around their individual needs, pace, and target school requirements.
We firmly believe that exam success is about far more than simply covering the content. Genuine results come from the right combination of thorough preparation, growing confidence, consistent support, and the self-belief that every student is capable of achieving their very best. That is what we work to build in every child we tutor.
The 13+ exam is typically sat by students in Year 8 or Year 9 as they apply for places at selective independent senior schools across the UK. It is a significantly more demanding assessment than anything most students will have encountered before testing not just subject knowledge but also critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and the ability to apply skills across unfamiliar problems under timed conditions.
For many students this will be their first experience of a genuinely high-stakes examination. The outcome directly determines which school they will attend for the next crucial years of their education making thorough, expert-guided preparation not just helpful but absolutely essential.
- How to Get Started With Your Child's 13+ Tutor
Finding the right 13+ tutor has never been easier. We make the entire process straightforward and stress-free for every family. It all begins with a thorough assessment of your child’s current abilities, learning style, and specific areas that need the most attention. From there we build a fully personalized preparation plan designed around your child’s target schools, timeline, and goals so every session is purposeful and productive from day one. And before you commit to anything at all, we offer every new student a completely free trial lesson giving you and your child the chance to experience our tutoring approach first hand, with absolutely no obligation.
Paper Format and Duration For The 13+ Exam
The duration of each 13+ exam paper varies depending on the subject. Here is a general breakdown of what students can expect:
1. English:
- Paper 1 (Comprehension and Grammar): 1 hour
- Paper 2 (Creative Writing): 1 hour
2. Mathematics:
- One or two papers depending on the school, each lasting 60–90 minutes
3. Science:
- Combined paper covering Biology, Chemistry, and Physics: 60–75 minutes
- Some schools set separate papers for each science subject, each lasting 40–60 minutes
Question formats include a mix of:
- Multiple-choice questions
- Short answer questions
- Extended response and essay type answers in the final section
It is important to note that the exact paper format and subjects assessed can differ from school to school. Families should always check the specific requirements of their target school well in advance of the exam date.
- What Subjects Are Covered in the 13+ Exam?
The 13+ exam covers a range of academic subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and in some cases Modern Foreign Languages with the exact subject requirements varying according to the individual school’s entry criteria.
Our belief is that effective 13+ tuition must be comprehensive, covering every assessed subject in genuine depth throughout the preparation process. Our specialist 13+ tutors are subject experts who work closely alongside each student to ensure they develop a thorough, confident understanding of every topic leaving no gaps as exam day approaches. The focus is always on building deep knowledge, not just surface-level familiarity.
- Why Online 13+ Tuition is the Smartest Choice
Choosing the right 13+ tutor is about far more than simply finding someone to cover the content. It is about finding a mentor who genuinely invests in your child’s growth building their academic ability, their self-belief, and their confidence to perform under pressure. Online 13+ tuition is the most effective and convenient option available, giving your child direct access to a specialist tutor whenever they need support no travel, no rigid schedules, just focused learning on demand.
Every student learns differently, and this is especially true when the pressure of high-stakes exams comes into play. Our tutors adapt their teaching approach entirely to suit each individual student’s learning style, identifying their specific strengths and areas for development and working on them systematically. This personalized approach also builds strong time management and exam technique skills giving students every advantage when it matters most.
- Building the Confidence to Perform
For students who are new to high-stakes assessments, the 13+ can feel overwhelming at first. A great tutor does far more than teach they actively build the self-confidence your child needs to approach every paper calmly and assuredly. Our tutors provide consistent, constructive feedback throughout the preparation journey, clearly identifying where improvement is needed and delivering targeted practice to address it directly.
This feedback-driven approach ensures your child enters the exam room knowing exactly where they stand, what they have already mastered, and how to tackle every question type with clarity and composure. Emotional support and maintaining a positive, resilient mindset are just as central to our tutoring approach as academic preparation.
- How Our 13+ Online Tuition Works
The biggest challenge most students face in 13+ preparation is developing a genuine, confident understanding of the core concepts not just memorising answers. Our specialist tutors address this head-on by combining structured concept teaching with extensive past paper practice and time management training, ensuring students are fully prepared to maximise their marks across every section of the exam.
Working through real 13+ past papers and mock exams, our tutors help students become thoroughly familiar with the exam format, the level of difficulty, the types of questions they will face, and the pacing required to complete each paper effectively. We offer fully flexible tuition options with sessions scheduled entirely around your family’s routine whether your child needs intensive preparation leading up to the exam or consistent ongoing support throughout the school year, we are here to deliver it.
- The Power of Past Paper Practice
Practising with genuine 13+ past papers is one of the most effective preparation strategies available. Past papers give students a precise, realistic picture of what the actual exam looks like the question styles, the difficulty level, the timing pressure, and the marking expectations. This familiarity significantly reduces exam anxiety and builds the kind of confident, systematic approach that leads to strong results.
Our tutors use past paper sessions to pinpoint exactly which areas each student needs to focus on most, ensuring that all remaining preparation time is spent working on the topics and question types that will have the greatest positive impact on their overall performance.
- More Than a Tutor — A Trusted Learning Partner
The right tutor is someone your child genuinely connects with someone who makes them feel supported, capable, and motivated to push themselves further. When students build a strong, trusting relationship with their tutor and combine that with thorough past paper practice, they walk into the exam room feeling genuinely prepared and quietly confident knowing they have already successfully worked through the exact types of challenges the exam will present.
- Supporting Your Child Beyond the Academic Preparation
The 13+ is academically demanding but it is equally important to acknowledge the emotional and psychological pressure it places on young students. Preparing for a high-stakes exam is a significant journey, and for many students it can feel daunting and at times overwhelming. This is exactly why having the right tutor is so valuable not just for the academic support they provide but for the emotional stability, encouragement, and reassurance they bring to every session.
A tutor who genuinely understands your child their personality, their learning style, and the way they respond to challenge and feedback will always deliver better results than one who simply knows the subject. The personal connection between tutor and student is what transforms good preparation into outstanding performance.
- Why Our 13+ Tutors Are the Right Choice for Your Child
Our entire tutoring philosophy is built around the individual needs of each student. Our 13+ tutors are passionate, experienced educators who combine deep subject expertise with genuine personal investment in every student’s success. Through expert knowledge, tailored lesson planning, and flexible scheduling options, we are fully committed to giving every child the preparation, confidence, and support they need to pass their 13+ exams with ease.
If you are looking for the right support to help your child tackle the 13+ with confidence we are ready to help. Explore our tuition options, get in touch with our team, and take the first step toward securing your child’s place at their dream school. Your child’s success is our greatest priority.
