Good 11+ maths practice covers two things at once: solid arithmetic and mental maths, plus the reasoning that turns those skills into answers. Build fluency in the basics first, so number work, fractions and percentages feel automatic. Then apply that fluency to word problems and multi-step questions, which is where the real marks sit. Save timed practice under exam conditions for the final months, once the content is secure.
- 11+ maths needs both arithmetic fluency and problem-solving reasoning.
- Build the basics first: number, fractions, percentages and times tables.
- Then apply them to word problems and multi-step questions.
- Add timed practice in the final months, ideally from about six months out.
The two sides of 11+ maths
11+ maths is not just sums. It asks for quick, accurate arithmetic and for the reasoning to choose the right steps in an unfamiliar problem.
Strong children tend to have both. They can calculate without effort and they can read a wordy question, work out what it is really asking, and plan a route to the answer. Practice should grow both sides, which is part of what the maths paper tests.
Build the basics first
Fluency comes first because everything else stands on it. A child who hesitates over times tables or fractions will run out of time before they reach the thinking.
Drill the core gently and often: times tables, number bonds, place value, fractions, decimals and percentages. Mental maths in everyday moments, such as totting up shopping or halving a recipe, keeps it alive without feeling like homework.
Accuracy first, speed second. When the basics are automatic, speed follows naturally. Pushing a child to go faster before the facts are secure usually adds mistakes rather than marks.
Then apply it to problems
Once the basics are reliable, shift the focus to reasoning. This is where most 11+ maths marks are won or lost, in multi-step word problems that hide the maths inside a story.
Teach your child to underline what is being asked, jot the steps, and check the answer makes sense. Asking them to explain their thinking out loud is a simple way to expose shaky logic and fix it early. Because the maths is wrapped in words, strong reading skills help here too, since the first job is understanding the question.
Add timed practice
Timing is a skill of its own. In the final months, ideally from around six months before the exam, start practising under realistic time limits so your child learns the rhythm of a paper.
The aim is to move steadily, leave a hard question and come back, and not get stuck. This builds naturally towards full mock exams, where the whole experience is rehearsed end to end.
Target weak spots
The fastest gains come from finding the gaps and closing them, rather than redoing topics your child has already mastered. A quick review of recent mistakes usually shows where to aim.
Keep it little and often, in line with a sensible view of how much to study. Practice that adapts to your child helps here: Pip adjusts maths difficulty as they improve, so the questions stay at the right stretch.