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Find 11 plus books: Which Bond book is right for my child?
With over 160 titles within the Bond range, we’ve put together this short guide to all the different books so that you can find exactly the right resources to support your child:
Revision and exam practice
Preparing for secondary school
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Revision and exam practice
Bond 11+ English Assessment Papers
Topic-based practice questions that set the foundation for success in the 11+, Common Entrance or KS2 SATs exams. These carefully-graded practice papers provide essential practice for each question type in a realistic exam style. Ages 5-13+
Now with fully explained answers (for ages 9-11)
Bond 11+ CEM
Developed specifically for the CEM 11+ exam, we’ve created a range of materials to help you prepare your child for the CEM 11+ exam, including assessment papers, test papers and learning guides. Ages 8-11+
Bond 11+ Mixed Standard Test Papers
Bond 11+ test paper packs enable realistic mock exam practice at home, matching the style, content and difficulty of the real 11+ examination. Tutor tips for exam success are included, written by leading 11+ tutors and packed with advice to help gain extra marks. Ages 7-11
Bond 11+ Online Child Subscription
Used by thousands of parents and children every year, Bond Online gives your child unlimited access to thousands of 11+ questions and is a fun and engaging way of helping your child prepare for the 11+. Age 9+
Bond 11+ Maths 10 Minute Tests with Answer Support
Bite-sized tests for quick practice and revision, including coverage of all the core skills and motivating and fun puzzle selections. Ages 7-12+
Developing key skills
Bond SATs Skills Spelling and Vocabulary Workbooks
New skills range that focuses on developing essential skills to a high level, Bond SATs Skills Spelling and Vocabulary Workbooks will help your child develop the key skills required for KS2 SATs, 11+ and Common Entrance. Ages 8-11+
Bond 11+ Handbooks
Step-by-step, subject-specific guidance for developing the skills needed for the 11+ and other entrance tests. With clear explanations and comprehensive worked examples of all 11+ question types. Practical support for parents and children aged 8-11+
Bond 11+ No Nonsense Maths
Improving general skills in key subject areas, for children in Key Stages 1 and 2, No Nonsense gives you a clear programme to follow with your child with structured, step-by-step lessons. Ages 5-11+
Focus On
Designed to improve comprehension and writing skills, these practical guides are perfect for preparing children for the written elements of the 11+, Common Entrance and KS2 SATs. Ages 9-11
Bond Brain Training for Kids
Designed by the Bond team to develop children’s vocabulary, maths, and problem-solving skills. Each book has over 100 puzzles, set at different levels so that your child can choose the challenge that best suits them. It's education by stealth! Ages 8-11
Support for all abilities
Up to Speed
Practice papers for children not yet working at the level needed for exam success. These carefully levelled, skills-focused tests are designed to help children improve their ability to answer 11+ questions, and are accompanied by techniques and advice from 11+ tutors. Ages 8-11+
Stretch
More challenging practice papers to stretch the very brightest children, studying for the 11+ and Common Entrance. Ages 8-11+
Preparing for secondary school
Get Ready for Secondary School
Perfect for helping children prepare for the transition from KS2 to KS3, these guides explain the core English and Maths skills children will need as they move into KS3. Practical activities and practice tests will help your child to develop these skills. Ages 9-11+
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Bond has provided the number 1 practice materials for the 11 Plus, selective exams and general practice for over 50 years. The Bond resources have helped literally millions of primary school pupils learn and practise at home, in school and with tutors.
Bond covers all four 11 Plus subjects (English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning) and provides consistent and continuous learning from first steps at age 5 or 6 through to the exams themselves. It is also invaluable for SATs practice and bridging secondary school entry. A broad approach in Bond's 11 Plus and Common Entrance focused materials enables Bond to accommodate a wide range of different learning styles.
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In 1946 Moyra Bond moved to Swanage in Dorset where she decided to become a teacher and, after training at Weymouth College, she taught mathematics at a number of local schools. Her husband died in 1956 and, two years later, she raised the money to buy Avalon, a girls’ preparatory school in West Kirby, Cheshire. She soon developed this into one of the most successful schools in the North-west.
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Note the ‘he’. 1964 was long before the days of sexual equality so, when the first book was published, it was felt that it would almost certainly prove more successful if its authorship wasn’t overtly attributed to a woman. Consequently, her name was given as the genderless ‘J.M. Bond’, and the title page said that she was the ‘Principal’ rather than the ‘Head Mistress’ of a school. It was not until 2007 that she was ‘outed’ on the internet as being female!
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11+ Easter Revision – advice and support
How do you begin with revision and how do you motivate your child? Based on my experience, these points might help:
When to start:
Easter is a great time to begin revision. Once your child has learnt the exam techniques needed, they can move on to timed practice, but at the start I’d just begin revising with technique guides to hand and don’t overly stress about timing. Confidence is crucial at this stage. If there are any weak areas, this is a good time to strengthen them.
A personalised technique book:
I use a technique book with an example of each question type to make sure that each of my pupils understands every question type. Any top tips or examples that help your child remember techniques can be added to the book. For example, in maths a worked long multiplication sum might be helpful and the formula for solving the area of a triangle could be a top tip. In verbal reasoning, the code questions might be useful and listing the squared and cubed numbers could be another top tip. Getting your child to write these key ideas out is a great way of revising and encouraging them to be part of their own learning process.
Personalising the technique book also makes everything just that bit more memorable. Choosing an appealing notebook and some stars, stickers and highlighter pens can make the process rewarding. Some children copy out a technique and highlight the title while others go to town with colour co-ordinated glitter pens.
How to plan:
What you need before creating your revision plan:
- The exam dates for the 11+ exam or exams
- Which subjects will be in the exam
- Any assessment papers, test papers or relevant school books that your child has been working on
- The personalised technique book
Now you know where you are aiming for and where your child is up to at present, it can be easier to work out what needs to be covered. Breaking this down into tiny chunks makes it accessible. This is a good time to recap weak areas, consolidate strengths and prepare for the higher level books and test papers.
Motivation:
I think it’s really important that children think about their own reasons for wanting to go to a specific school. I’ve found that listening and writing down children’s reasons for wanting a specific school can really help to keep them motivated. If milkshakes at lunchtime or a certain school uniform is a reason for them, this all goes on the list.
Here are other methods that work for me:
- Motivational aids such as ‘well done’ messages, stickers or stars when a child has completed work shows that every paper deserves recognition.
- Encouraging work to be completed early so that a child can ‘earn’ a week off can help children who struggle with monotony, but others find it easier to maintain a habit. Here, knowledge of your child is everything.
- At the risk of sounding obvious, frequently telling a child how proud you are of them and giving specific reasons why can be really powerful. Whilst scoring highly in practice tests is great, praising their inner determination rewards the child, not just their work.
Feel free to adapt anything here to make it work for your child and have a great Easter.
Michellejoy Hughes
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I use a technique book with an example of each question type to make sure that each of my pupils understands every question type. Any top tips or examples that help your child remember techniques can be added to the book. For example, in maths a worked long multiplication sum might be helpful and the formula for solving the area of a triangle could be a top tip. In verbal reasoning, the code questions might be useful and listing the squared and cubed numbers could be another top tip. Getting your child to write these key ideas out is a great way of revising and encouraging them to be part of their own learning process.
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In 1946 Moyra Bond moved to Swanage in Dorset where she decided to become a teacher and, after training at Weymouth College, she taught mathematics at a number of local schools. Her husband died in 1956 and, two years later, she raised the money to buy Avalon, a girls’ preparatory school in West Kirby, Cheshire. She soon developed this into one of the most successful schools in the North-west.
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