English tutor in Barking for 11+, GCSE and A-Level

What does an English tutor at LCB help with?

We help students read closely, write clearly, and turn what they know into marks. English is the subject where many students feel they "just can't revise". In fact, the skills can be taught step by step: how to read a question, plan an answer, and use evidence.

Every student starts with a free 30-minute assessment. We look at their reading and writing, agree a target and place them in a small group with the same tutor every week.

What do we cover at each level?

How do you prepare children for 11+ English and verbal reasoning?

We teach the reading and word skills the tests reward, then practise them under timed conditions. For the Redbridge 11+, children sit an English and Verbal Reasoning paper and a Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning paper. For 2027 entry the test was on 18 September 2026, and children registered in Year 5.

Verbal reasoning is new to most children. It includes word codes, hidden words, synonyms and letter sequences. Our guide to verbal and non-verbal reasoning explains the question types, and our 11+ tutoring page explains how our 11+ groups work.

What is the difference between GCSE English Language and Literature?

English Language tests reading and writing skills using texts you have not seen before. English Literature tests your knowledge of set texts you study in class. Most students take both.

With AQA, for example, GCSE English Language has two equally balanced papers: "Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing" and "Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives". There is also a separate spoken language endorsement.

AQA GCSE English Literature covers Shakespeare, a 19th-century novel, a modern text and poetry, including unseen poems. The exams are closed book, so students must know quotations from memory.

Which exam boards and set texts do you teach?

We teach your child's exam board and the set texts their school has chosen. Schools pick different texts, so two students on the same board may be studying different Shakespeare plays. At the assessment, tell us the board and the texts, and we will plan lessons around them.

How do you help students who find English writing hard?

We break writing into small, repeatable steps. Students learn to plan in five minutes, write a clear opening, and back every point with evidence. We use real exam questions and mark schemes, so students can see exactly what earns marks at grade 4, grade 6 and grade 8.

For students who speak another language at home, we build vocabulary and sentence variety steadily. Many of our families in Barking, Ilford and East Ham are bilingual, and we see that as a strength, not a problem.

Do you teach A-Level English?

Yes. A-Level English asks students to write longer, more independent essays and to read widely around their texts. We teach essay structure, how to use critical views, and how to plan coursework while keeping the work your child's own. Courses differ a lot between exam boards, so we will ask for the specification at the assessment. See our A-Level tutoring page.

How LCB can help

Whether your child is preparing for the 11+, trying to move up a grade at GCSE, or starting A-Level, the first step is a free assessment. Book a free assessment and we will tell you honestly where your child is and what will help most. All prices are on our pricing page, and lessons run in Barking or online.