No single activity does more for 11+ English than reading. It builds vocabulary, comprehension, spelling and writing all at once — and, unlike practice papers, children can actually enjoy it. Here's an 11+ reading list mixing classics, modern favourites, poetry and non-fiction, roughly in order of difficulty within each section.
Every child is different, so treat these as suggestions, not a syllabus. Check that a book suits your child's maturity before handing it over, and don't force a book they're not enjoying — swap it for another on the list.
Classic fiction
11+ comprehension passages often come from older books, with longer sentences, richer vocabulary and less familiar settings. Reading classics makes those passages feel normal. Some are best read aloud together at first.
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — C. S. Lewis
- Charlotte's Web — E. B. White
- Black Beauty — Anna Sewell
- The Secret Garden — Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Wind in the Willows — Kenneth Grahame
- The Jungle Book — Rudyard Kipling
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — Lewis Carroll
- Tom's Midnight Garden — Philippa Pearce
- The Hobbit — J. R. R. Tolkien
- Treasure Island — Robert Louis Stevenson
- A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens
- Carrie's War — Nina Bawden
Modern fiction
Brilliant modern novels are just as valuable — they're often easier to love, which means more pages read. Look for books with rich language and characters whose feelings you can discuss.
- Matilda — Roald Dahl
- The Boy at the Back of the Class — Onjali Q. Raúf
- Wonder — R. J. Palacio
- Holes — Louis Sachar
- Kensuke's Kingdom — Michael Morpurgo
- Journey to the River Sea — Eva Ibbotson
- The Explorer — Katherine Rundell
- Goodnight Mister Tom — Michelle Magorian
- Skellig — David Almond
- Private Peaceful — Michael Morpurgo
- Northern Lights — Philip Pullman
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone — J. K. Rowling
Poetry
Many 11+ papers include a poem — the ISEB Pre-Test English module, for example, often pairs a prose passage with poetry. Reading poems aloud helps children hear rhythm, imagery and figurative language.
- "The Highwayman" — Alfred Noyes
- "The Listeners" — Walter de la Mare
- "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" — William Wordsworth
- "The Owl and the Pussy-cat" — Edward Lear
- "From a Railway Carriage" — Robert Louis Stevenson
- "Jabberwocky" — Lewis Carroll
- "The Tyger" — William Blake
- A children's poetry anthology — dipping into a varied collection is a great way to find favourite poets
Non-fiction and news
11+ passages aren't always stories. Reading non-fiction builds general knowledge and the vocabulary of explanation and argument.
- A weekly children's newspaper or news magazine — short, current articles on real events.
- Horrible Histories — Terry Deary: history with humour and plenty of vocabulary.
- Children's encyclopaedias and illustrated reference books on science, nature and space.
- Biographies of scientists, explorers, athletes and campaigners.
- Books about a hobby — football, cooking, animals, coding. Motivation matters most.
- Atlases and travel books — great for the descriptive writing of real places.
- Letters and diaries written for children, which model the forms often set in writing tasks.
- Audiobooks of the classics above, listened to while following the text.
How to get more from every book
- Talk about it. "Why do you think he did that?" "How did the author make that scene scary?" These are exactly the inference and language questions of the 11+.
- Collect words. Keep a notebook of new words, then learn them properly — or add them as custom words in the Elevenplus FC app to review with spaced repetition.
- Steal great sentences. Copy out a brilliant description and try writing one like it.
- Read aloud together — even with confident readers. Hearing expressive reading of a difficult text helps understanding.
- Keep it enjoyable. Reading for pleasure is the goal. A child who loves books will do far more of it.
Elevenplus FC's comprehension practice includes genuine extracts from Dickens, Kipling, Kenneth Grahame and Wordsworth, with tap-for-definition on any word. See 11+ comprehension practice.
Frequently asked questions
Why is reading so important for the 11+?
Reading builds almost every skill the 11+ English and verbal reasoning papers test: vocabulary, understanding of sentence structure, inference, spelling and a feel for good writing. Children who read widely and regularly usually find comprehension and writing much easier.
Should my child read classic books for the 11+?
A mix is best. Classics are especially useful because 11+ passages often use older texts with long sentences and unfamiliar vocabulary. But modern fiction keeps reading enjoyable — and a child who loves reading will read far more.
How much should my child read each day?
Around 20 to 30 minutes a day is a good target. Reading aloud together still helps at this age, especially with harder classics.
What if my child doesn't like reading?
Start with what they enjoy — graphic novels, funny books, non-fiction about a favourite topic, or audiobooks alongside the printed text. Build the habit first, then gradually introduce harder books.