Word problems, multi-step calculations and unfamiliar contexts are where most 11+ Maths marks are won — or lost. A child who understands fractions perfectly can still fail a word problem about fractions because they misread what was being asked. This guide teaches the systematic approach our tutors use with every student.
Why word problems are harder than they look
The 11+ Maths paper doesn't just test whether your child knows their times tables or can add fractions. It tests whether they can identify which operation to use, extract the relevant information from a wordy scenario, and apply that operation correctly under time pressure.
GL Assessment deliberately uses unfamiliar contexts — train journeys, recipe scaling, shop discounts — to stop students from pattern-matching to questions they've seen before. The good news is that unfamiliarity doesn't matter if you have a reliable process. Here's ours.
The 5-Step Problem Solving Method
1Read the whole question before writing anything
Most students start calculating the moment they see a number. Resist this. Read every word of the problem first. Underline the question — the actual thing being asked — which is usually in the last sentence. Many children answer a different question to the one being asked because they stopped reading halfway through.
A shop sells apples for 35p each. Mia buys 6 apples and pays with a £5 note. How much change does she receive?
Students who jump straight in often calculate 35 × 6 = 210, write 210p, and move on — missing that the question asks for change, requiring a second step.
2Identify what you know and what you need to find
Write two things at the top of your working: Given: (the facts) and Find: (the answer). This sounds basic but it dramatically reduces errors because it forces the brain to distinguish between information and goal. For multi-part problems, do this for each part separately.
3Choose your operation — and say why
Before any calculation, ask: what type of problem is this? The main types are:
- Ratio / proportion — if one thing scales, does another scale with it?
- Percentage — find the whole, find a part, or find the percentage?
- Rate — speed × time = distance; price × quantity = total cost
- Inverse — working backwards from a result to find the input
- Multi-step — two or more of the above in sequence
Naming the type out loud (even mentally) prevents children from applying the wrong operation — the single most common error in 11+ Maths.
4Work in logical steps and show them
Never try to do everything in one line. Break every calculation into clearly labelled steps. This has two benefits: (a) you are less likely to make arithmetic errors, and (b) even if you do make one, an examiner can see your method and your understanding remains demonstrable. Get into the habit of writing units (£, cm, kg) at every step — this also helps catch errors where the answer is in the wrong unit.
Cost of 6 apples = 35p × 6 = 210p = £2.10
Change = £5.00 − £2.10 = £2.90
5Check your answer makes sense
With 30 seconds left on a problem, do a quick sanity check. Ask: is this answer in the right ballpark? Does the magnitude make sense? Have I answered what was actually asked? For example, if a question asks what percentage of students passed an exam and you get 340%, something has gone wrong. Catching this kind of error is worth substantial marks over a full paper.
The most commonly examined problem types
Percentages in context
GL Maths loves percentage questions dressed in real-world clothing. The key distinction is: find X% of a number (multiply), find what percentage X is of Y (divide and multiply by 100), or find the original before a percentage was applied (reverse percentage). Practise identifying which type you're looking at before calculating anything.
Ratio and proportion
Recipe questions, map scale questions and sharing problems all use ratio. The most reliable method is the unitary method: find the value of one unit first, then scale. "A recipe for 4 people uses 300g of flour. How much for 7 people?" → 300 ÷ 4 = 75g per person → 75 × 7 = 525g. Clean, reliable, hard to go wrong.
Area, perimeter and compound shapes
These are almost always multi-step. The most common error is students mixing up area and perimeter formulas, or forgetting to convert units (cm to m, etc.) before calculating. Draw the shape. Label everything you know. Work out unknown lengths before applying area or perimeter formulas.
Time and speed
The triangle: Speed = Distance ÷ Time, Distance = Speed × Time, Time = Distance ÷ Speed. The gotcha: time must be in hours for speed in mph, not minutes. Convert first, always.
- Answering a different question than was asked
- Forgetting to convert units (pence to pounds, minutes to hours)
- Stopping after step 1 of a multi-step problem
- Rounding too early (always round at the final answer, not in between)
- Writing the answer without the correct unit (35 instead of 35p or £0.35)
How to practise this method effectively
Don't practise problems in silence. Have your child talk through each step out loud using the five-step framework — even if it feels awkward. Verbalising forces clarity and reveals exactly where thinking breaks down. When a child says "I don't know what to do next," the issue is almost always at step 2 (they haven't clearly identified what they need to find) or step 3 (they haven't named the operation type).
Once the process is secure on straightforward questions, move to unfamiliar contexts deliberately. The goal isn't to practise every type of question — it's to practise the process until it becomes automatic on any question.
Practice with real 11+ questions
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