11+ Preparation
Adaptive questions across arithmetic, number sequences, fractions, and word problems. No calculators. Real exam pressure. Starts at your child's level and advances as they improve.
11+ maths vs school maths
A child can be top of their class in Year 5 and still find themselves caught off guard by the maths section of an 11+ paper. Not because the maths is dramatically harder — though it is more demanding — but because the style of questioning is different, the time pressure is more intense, and the specific topics tested don't always map neatly onto the curriculum.
The 11+ maths paper tests four topic areas: arithmetic, number sequences, fractions, and word problems. Each has its own patterns of difficulty. Understanding where children tend to come unstuck — and practising those areas deliberately — is one of the highest-value things you can do in preparation.
The full guide: which maths topics catch children out most often →
Topic coverage
From two-digit mental arithmetic at level 1 to multi-step compound calculations at level 5. No calculators — fluency is the goal.
Simple +3 patterns at level 1 through to alternating operations and compound rules at level 5. Pattern recognition under time pressure.
Common denominators, simplification, and fractions embedded in multi-step word problems. More demanding than they appear in isolation.
Real-world scenarios requiring children to identify the correct operation before calculating. Tests mathematical reasoning, not just computation.
Common traps
The arithmetic trap: Children who are used to checking their work at school, or reaching for a calculator, find the pace and format of the arithmetic section demanding. A mental arithmetic error early in a multi-step calculation compounds into a wrong answer that looks completely different from the correct one.
1, 5, 10, 16, 23, ___ — what comes next?
The differences between terms (4, 5, 6, 7) are themselves increasing by 1 each step. A child who only practises simple arithmetic sequences won't spot this reliably under exam pressure.
Sarah has 24 sweets. She gives ⅓ to Tom and ¼ to Emma. How many sweets does Sarah have left?
Two separate fraction operations on the same starting number, then add, then subtract. This is a reasoning exercise, not a computation exercise.
The common thread: the topic is familiar, but the format, time pressure, and difficulty level go beyond what the national curriculum requires. Progressive, adaptive practice at the right level is the solution.
Further reading
Four topic areas. Adaptive questions. 7-day free trial, then £20/month.
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