The 11+ GL and CEM Maths papers don't test everything in the KS2 curriculum equally. Some topics appear in almost every paper, others barely at all. This guide tells you exactly which topics matter most, what examiners actually test within each one, and how to prioritise your child's revision time.

How to use this guide

Each topic is rated by how frequently it appears in GL Maths papers. High frequency topics appear in virtually every paper and should be mastered first. Medium frequency topics appear regularly and are worth solid revision time. Core foundation topics underpin everything else — gaps here will cost marks across multiple other topics.

1 Fractions, Decimals & Percentages High frequency

The single most tested area in 11+ Maths. Children must be able to convert fluidly between all three forms, find percentages of quantities, work out percentage increases and decreases, and apply fractions in context (e.g. ⅗ of 240). The GL paper also tests equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, and ordering mixed sets of fractions and decimals. Weakness here is extremely costly.

Examiner focus: multi-step problems where a percentage must first be converted, reverse percentage ("a price was reduced by 20% to £48 — what was the original?"), and fraction-of-a-quantity in word problems.

2 Ratio & Proportion High frequency

Sharing in a given ratio, scaling recipes, map scales, and direct proportion are all tested regularly. The unitary method (find the value of one unit, then scale) is the most reliable technique and should be second nature by exam day.

Examiner focus: sharing amounts (e.g. "share £56 in the ratio 3:5"), recipe scaling to an odd number of portions, and problems where the ratio is given but the total must first be calculated.

3 Number & Place Value Core foundation

Place value underpins arithmetic, decimals and rounding. Students need to be secure on rounding to decimal places and significant figures, ordering negative numbers, factors, multiples, prime numbers, square numbers and cube numbers. These appear directly as questions and indirectly as the building blocks for almost every other topic.

Examiner focus: identifying prime numbers, listing factors of two numbers to find the HCF, and rounding in context (e.g. "to the nearest 10p").

4 Algebra & Sequences High frequency

Solving simple equations (4x + 3 = 19), substituting values into expressions, and identifying the rule in a number sequence are all standard. GL papers increasingly include two-step equations and sequences with non-constant differences. Students should be able to express sequence rules both in words and as a formula.

Examiner focus: "find the value of n", continuing sequences with a clear pattern, and working backwards from a result to find an input.

5 Area, Perimeter & Volume High frequency

Calculating the area and perimeter of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms and compound shapes. Volume of cuboids. The most common error is students confusing area and perimeter formulas, or failing to identify that a shape must be decomposed into simpler parts first. Always label every length you know before starting any calculation.

Examiner focus: compound shapes (L-shapes, shapes with rectangles removed), finding a missing dimension when the area is given, and converting between units (cm² to m²).

6 Speed, Distance & Time Medium frequency

The distance-speed-time triangle must be memorised and understood, not just recalled. Students must convert between time formats (hours and minutes) before calculating — this is where most marks are lost. Questions often involve two legs of a journey requiring separate calculations before combining.

Examiner focus: "how long does the journey take?" (answer in hours and minutes, not decimal hours), calculating average speed over a round trip, and time calculations spanning midnight.

7 Data & Statistics Medium frequency

Mean, median, mode and range. Reading and interpreting bar charts, pie charts and line graphs. Calculating the mean when one value is unknown. Students should know the difference between all four measures and when each is most appropriate — examiners sometimes ask this explicitly.

Examiner focus: "the mean of five numbers is 14. Four of them are 12, 16, 11, 15. Find the fifth," and questions requiring data to be read from a chart before a calculation is applied.

8 Angles & Shape Properties Medium frequency

Angles on a straight line (180°), angles around a point (360°), angles in a triangle (180°), angles in a quadrilateral (360°). Properties of parallel lines (alternate and corresponding angles). Properties of regular polygons and 3D shapes. Students should be able to calculate missing angles in multi-step diagrams.

Examiner focus: diagrams requiring two or three angle rules in sequence, interior angles of regular polygons, and identifying shapes from their properties.

9 Coordinates & Transformations Medium frequency

Plotting and reading coordinates in all four quadrants, reflections (in the x-axis, y-axis, and the lines y=x and y=−x), rotations (90° and 180°), translations, and enlargements with a scale factor. Students often find reflections and rotations on a coordinate grid more difficult than they look — these need physical practice on squared paper.

10 Probability Medium frequency

Basic probability as a fraction, decimal or percentage. Probability of an event not happening (1 − P). Simple combined probability (two independent events). The language of probability — certain, likely, unlikely, impossible — and the probability scale from 0 to 1. Most 11+ questions are straightforward here, but the wording can trip students who haven't seen probability framed in different ways.

11 Money & Measures Core foundation

Unit conversion (km to miles, kg to g, litres to ml), reading scales, time calculations, and problems involving money and currency. These appear constantly as the context for problems testing other skills. A student who doesn't know that 1 km ≈ 0.625 miles will lose marks on a proportion question about distances. Unit conversion should be drilled until automatic.

12 Mental Arithmetic & Estimation Core foundation

The GL Maths paper is sat without a calculator. Children who rely heavily on written methods for simple calculations will not finish the paper in time. Mental arithmetic — particularly rapid recall of multiplication tables (up to 12×12), percentage of round numbers (10%, 25%, 50%, 75%) and common fraction-decimal-percentage equivalences — directly determines how many questions a student can attempt.

Examiner focus: the test itself — if mental arithmetic is slow, every question takes longer.

How to sequence your revision

Start with the Core Foundation topics (3, 11, 12). Weaknesses here compound across every other topic. Once number and place value, unit conversion and mental arithmetic are solid, move to the High Frequency topics (1, 2, 4, 5). These topics account for the majority of marks on any GL paper and are well worth the investment of time. Finally, work through the Medium Frequency topics — they appear regularly enough to matter but are less likely to determine a pass or fail on their own.

For each topic, the ideal practice sequence is: (1) learn the concept with a worked example, (2) practise straightforward questions until confident, (3) practise word problems using the 5-step method described in our problem solving guide, (4) practise under timed conditions.

See exactly which topics your child needs

Our free 20-question diagnostic identifies weak areas across all 12 topics and builds an adaptive practice plan around the results.

Try Free Diagnostic →