Should Children Read Classic Books to Prepare for the 11-Plus?

A concerned parent recently reached out. Her child’s tutor had given her a ‘must-read’ list for year five – twenty-five titles, mostly classics. She was worried. The list felt overwhelming, and her child didn’t enjoy classics at all.

‘Do we really need to read all these classic books for the 11+?’ she asked.

You might expect me to recommend my own books at this point – but actually, no. If I were choosing classics for younger readers, I’d suggest Dolly Jain’s Explained for Young Readers series. These editions make classic texts more accessible using footnotes, much like the approach I take in The Cadwaladr Chronicles and The Cadwaladr Quests.

For context, both my children attended grammar schools with highly competitive entrance tests. Aside from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, we didn’t read classics at home, although they did cover some at school. In fact, pushing my son to read them would likely have made him even more resistant to reading in general.

Are Classics Too Difficult for Year Five Children sitting the 11+?

I’m not against classic books – far from it. I love them. But asking a year-five child to tackle a long list can feel like too much. Classics can be tricky to navigate without support. They’re a bit like Shakespeare – the language needs to be unpacked. Children’s comprehension and interest might suffer if they can’t understand the vocabulary in context.

Do All 11+ Tests Use Classic Texts?

Nobody knows what will appear, but it’s worth noting that the importance of reading classics might depend on the test your child is taking. Not all 11+ exams are the same. Some grammar and private schools use harder comprehension papers, where extracts from classic texts are more likely to appear. This makes it especially important for parents to research the schools they’re applying to. Look at the school’s website, read any guidance, and review any familiarisation papers available. This will give you a clearer picture of the style and difficulty of the test, and whether classic reading will really help.

A tutor I know often says, ‘One for the head, one for the heart.’ Perhaps something like a David Walliams novel for enjoyment, alongside something more literary for challenge. That’s the balance I tried to strike when writing The Cadwaladr Chronicles and The Cadwaladr Quests – stories designed to support 11+ comprehension, vocabulary and SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) without overwhelming readers. They aren’t a substitute for the classics, but they help prepare children for more advanced texts – especially with the Knowledge Nuggets, which explain literary devices, SPaG points and inference-style comprehension examples as they appear.

Over eight years of feedback have helped shape the Cadwaladr 11+ Vocabulary Novel books – original stories written for the 11+ tests.

The second editions have become firm favourites if you want something structured and story-led.

So, what was my advice to that mother? Have a gentle conversation with the tutor. Perhaps the list can be shortened or adjusted to suit her child’s interests. The goal isn’t to tick off titles – it’s to nurture a love of reading. Some children thrive on classics, while others need time to grow into them – and some, like my son, never will.

We all have different tastes. I wouldn’t enjoy horror or romance myself. In the same way, not every child is drawn to every genre. While my books lean towards contemporary and historical fantasy adventures, they’re written with the 11+ exam in mind – for children who want to feel equipped and confident.

Whether your child loves classics or prefers modern stories, the key is confidence, vocabulary and comprehension. That’s what my Vocabulary Novels are designed to build – one story at a time. Original stories written for the 11-Plus tests.