11+ Maths: The Complete Guide
Everything your child needs to prepare for the 11+ (eleven plus) maths exam — the topics that come up, how each one is tested, and how to turn weak spots into confident marks. Then put it into practice with free adaptive practice.
What is the 11+ maths exam?
The 11+ is an entrance exam sat in Year 6 for admission to grammar schools and many independent secondary schools in the UK. The maths paper tests the primary curriculum — but faster, deeper and with more multi-step reasoning than children usually meet at school. Papers are set by boards such as GL Assessment and CEM, or written by individual schools, so it pays to practise a broad range of question styles.
Success comes from two things: solid number fluency, and wide exposure to every topic so nothing is a surprise on the day. The guides below break down each major topic, and ElevenEdge adapts automatically to focus on whatever your child finds hardest.
11+ maths topic guides
Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
Convert between forms, find fractions of amounts, and solve percentage change.
Read the guidearrow_forwardRatio & Proportion
Share amounts in a given ratio, scale quantities, and solve proportion problems.
Read the guidearrow_forwardAlgebra & Sequences
Solve for unknowns, continue patterns, and find the rule (nth term) of a sequence.
Read the guidearrow_forwardPerimeter, Area & Volume
Work out perimeter, area of rectangles and compound shapes, and volume of cuboids.
Read the guidearrow_forwardNumber & Place Value
Read and round large numbers, understand place value, and work with negatives.
Read the guidearrow_forwardWord Problems & Multi-Step Reasoning
Break long problems into steps, choose the right operations, and check the answer.
Read the guidearrow_forwardEvery topic ElevenEdge covers
Practice on ElevenEdge spans all 15 core 11+ maths topics, across five difficulty levels:
- check_circleNumber & Place Value
- check_circleFour Operations
- check_circleFactors, Multiples & Prime Numbers
- check_circleFractions, Decimals & Percentages
- check_circleRatio & Proportion
- check_circleAlgebra & Sequences
- check_circleMeasurement
- check_circlePerimeter, Area & Volume
- check_circleCoordinates
- check_circleSymmetry & Transformation
- check_circleStatistics & Data
- check_circleProbability
- check_circlePowers, Squares & Cubes
- check_circleSpeed, Distance & Time
- check_circleWord Problems & Multi-Step Reasoning
How to prepare for 11+ maths
- Secure the basics first. Times tables and quick mental arithmetic make every other topic faster and less stressful.
- Practise little and often. Short, regular sessions beat occasional long ones for building recall.
- Find the weak spots. Adaptive practice zeroes in on the topics your child gets wrong, so time is spent where it counts.
- Build exam stamina. Use timed mock exams closer to the date so the real paper feels familiar.
- Review mistakes. Every wrong answer with a worked solution is a chance to learn — that is where the biggest gains come from.
11+ maths: frequently asked questions
What topics are on the 11+ maths exam?
11+ maths covers number and place value, the four operations, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratio and proportion, early algebra and sequences, measurement, perimeter, area and volume, geometry, statistics, probability and multi-step word problems. The exact mix depends on the exam board (GL, CEM or a school's own paper).
How can my child prepare for 11+ maths?
Build strong number fluency and times tables first, then practise a wide range of topics little and often. Adaptive practice — where questions get harder or easier based on how your child is doing — is the most efficient way to find and fix weak spots before exam day.
What age is the 11+ maths exam for?
The 11+ is usually sat in Year 6 (age 10–11) for entry to grammar and independent secondary schools, so most preparation happens across Years 4, 5 and 6.
How is ElevenEdge different from a workbook?
ElevenEdge adapts to your child in real time, focusing on the topics they find hardest, tracks their progress with an Elo rating, and includes timed mock exams and printable packs. You start free with no card needed.
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Adaptive questions across all 15 topics, an Elo rating and leaderboard, and worked solutions on every question. No card needed to start.
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