11+ Ratio & Proportion
Ratio and proportion is one of the highest-value 11+ topics because it appears both on its own and hidden inside word problems about recipes, maps, money and mixtures. Children need to understand a ratio as a number of equal 'parts' and be able to work out the value of one part.
The key technique is almost always the same: add up the parts, divide the total by the number of parts to find one part, then multiply back up. Practising that single method until it is automatic covers most questions in this topic.
What the 11+ tests in ratio & proportion
- check_circleSharing an amount in a given ratio
- check_circleFinding one quantity when another and the ratio are known
- check_circleSimplifying and comparing ratios
- check_circleScaling recipes and quantities up or down
- check_circleDirect proportion (unit cost, 'best value' problems)
- check_circleUsing ratio in map scales and real-life measures
Worked example
Amir and Beth share some sweets in the ratio 3 : 5. Beth gets 20 sweets. How many sweets are there altogether?
- Beth's share is 5 parts and equals 20 sweets.
- Find one part: 20 ÷ 5 = 4 sweets per part.
- There are 3 + 5 = 8 parts in total.
- Multiply: 8 parts × 4 sweets = the total.
checkAnswer: 32 sweets
Common mistakes to avoid
- errorDividing by the wrong share — dividing by 3 instead of Beth's 5 parts.
- errorAnswering the wrong question (giving one person's share when the total is asked for).
- errorForgetting to simplify a ratio, e.g. leaving 4 : 6 instead of 2 : 3.
Top tips
- lightbulbUnderline what the question actually asks for — a share, a difference, or the total.
- lightbulbWrite 'one part = …' as a labelled step; it prevents dividing by the wrong number.
- lightbulbCheck the answer fits the ratio: with 3 : 5, the larger share should be bigger — 12 and 20 looks right.
Practise ratio & proportion free
ElevenEdge gives your child adaptive ratio & proportion questions at just the right level, with a worked solution on every one. No card needed to start.
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