11+ and GCSE Maths, explained for parents

Straight answers on exams, revision and where marks actually get lost. Written by a practising maths teacher.

A hand mending a chain made of numbered links, with tools scattered around it GCSEGrades & Boundaries

How to Pass GCSE Maths Foundation Tier: What a Grade 4 Actually Takes

A grade 4 took 151 marks out of 240 on Edexcel last summer. Here is the real target on your own board,...

18 Jan 2026 · 14 min read
Three exam board specification booklets side by side, labelled Edexcel, AQA and OCR GCSEPast Papers

Best GCSE Maths Resources for Each Exam Board: Edexcel, AQA, and OCR

All three boards lead to the same qualification but they test students differently. The resources worth using for Edexcel, AQA and OCR,...

16 Jan 2026 · 14 min read
An open hand holding floating icons for maths, English and science Choosing a TutorGCSE

Best Online Tuition Services for Maths, English and Science 2026 (UK Teachers Only)

We only teach maths, so here is who we would point you to for English and science. UK tuition services staffed by...

16 Jan 2026 · 11 min read
Two line graphs side by side comparing a Year 10 and a Year 11 progress curve GCSERevision Planning

Best GCSE Maths Revision Plans for Year 10 vs Year 11: What Actually Works in 2026

Treating Year 10 and Year 11 the same is one of the most common revision mistakes. What each year actually needs, and...

15 Jan 2026 · 12 min read
A student sitting across a table from an interviewer, shown as two facing panels 11+Exam Technique

Complete Guide to 11+ Interview Preparation 2026: What Schools Ask and How to Help Your Child

Your child passed the papers, then the goalposts move to a conversation with a head teacher. What schools really ask at 11+...

15 Jan 2026 · 11 min read
A calculator surrounded by a ring of clocks showing different time zones Choosing a TutorIGCSE

Best IGCSE Maths Tutors and Resources for International Students

Different boards, different time zones, and far fewer resources than the UK GCSE. Where international students should look for IGCSE maths support...

15 Jan 2026 · 13 min read
Headphones, a notepad and a webcam laid out ready for an online lesson Choosing a TutorGCSE

Best Online GCSE Maths Tutors in the UK (2026 Guide)

Thousands of profiles, prices from £20 to £80, and no obvious way to tell who is any good. How to judge an...

14 Jan 2026 · 12 min read
Three cards showing 882 free 11+ maths papers, about 40 pounds of books worth owning, and 150 pounds for the full 11+ maths course 11+Resources & Reviews

Best 11+ Maths Practice Resources (Free and Paid) for Parents

The books worth owning come to about £40, and 1,089 practice papers cost nothing. An experienced maths teacher on what to buy...

14 Jan 2026 · 11 min read
Split panel showing a student working alone on paper and the same student working on a laptop Choosing a TutorGCSE

MyTutor vs SHLC: Which Suits Your Child Better for GCSE Maths?

MyTutor and SHLC both teach GCSE maths online, but the experience is not the same. An honest comparison of who teaches, what...

14 Jan 2026 · 15 min read
A winding path leading up a hill towards a school building 11+Parent Guides

Complete Guide to 11+ Maths Preparation 2026: When to Start, What to Study and How to Succeed

164 grammar schools in England, and thousands of families competing for places. When to start 11+ maths, what to cover each term,...

13 Jan 2026 · 18 min read
A map of West Yorkshire with a location pin dropped on it Choosing a TutorGCSE

Best GCSE Maths Tutors in West Yorkshire (Online-Only Options Included)

Hundreds of tutors across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax. How to tell the good ones apart, including the online only options...

13 Jan 2026 · 12 min read
A worker laying planks to build a wooden bridge across a river Choosing a TutorGCSE

Best GCSE Maths Support for Different Student Types (Bottom Set to Grade 7–9)

A bottom set student chasing a grade 4 needs nothing like a top set student pushing for a 9. The right kind...

11 Jan 2026 · 13 min read
A student sitting cross-legged and calm beside an open workbook and a calculator Confidence & MotivationGCSE

Top 10 Confidence-Building Maths Strategies for Anxious Students

They can do the maths at the kitchen table and freeze the moment it is a test. Ten strategies that rebuild confidence,...

11 Jan 2026 · 12 min read