How to Choose the Right Reading Books for the 11 Plus

A good 11 Plus reading book sits in a sweet spot: challenging enough to stretch your child’s vocabulary and comprehension, but not so hard that they give up after a page. Here’s how to find that sweet spot.

Why the right book matters

Entrance exams test how well children understand what they read, including texts written in an older or more formal style. Regular reading at the right level builds that skill steadily. A book that’s too easy teaches little, and a book that’s far too hard can put a child off reading altogether.

Try the five finger test

Ask your child to read a page aloud. Every time they reach a word they don’t know or can’t say, they hold up a finger.

• No fingers: the book is probably too easy to stretch them.
• One to three fingers: just right, with enough challenge to learn from.
• Five fingers: probably too hard for now. Save it for later or read it together.

Think about age as well as ability

A strong reader may cope with the words in an adult novel, but not the themes. Classic children’s literature solves this neatly: the language is rich and challenging, while the stories are written for young readers.

A few good places to start

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, full of wordplay that sharpens verbal skills.
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, for rich, descriptive language.
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, for readers who want adventure.
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, an accessible first classic.

Let your child have a say

Children read more when they’ve chosen the book. Offer a few suitable options and let them pick, then talk about it together when they’ve finished.