11 Plus Maths Practice Tests: Topics, Tips & Free Online Papers
Everything parents need to know about 11+ Maths — the full topic checklist, GL vs CEM differences, how to tackle word problems, and a year-by-year preparation schedule.
How 11+ Maths Differs from School Maths
The content of 11+ Maths is drawn from the KS2 curriculum — the same topics your child covers in Years 3 to 6. However, the exam applies this content in significantly more demanding ways than standard classroom tests.
The key differences are: questions are multi-step (requiring two or more operations), word problems require careful interpretation before any calculation, the pace is fast (roughly 60 seconds per question), and multiple-choice format means there is no method mark — only the final answer counts.
This means a child who is strong at school Maths may still need targeted preparation for the 11+ format. Our free online 11+ Maths practice tests are designed to match the exact format and difficulty of real exam papers, with instant marking and detailed worked solutions.
Key Features of 11+ Maths
Based on KS2 curriculum content (Years 3–6)
Applied in multi-step, unfamiliar contexts
Strict time pressure — ~60 seconds per question
Multiple-choice format for GL Assessment
No method marks — correct answer only
Word problems are a major component
Mental arithmetic speed is essential
Complete 11+ Maths Topic Checklist
Use this checklist to track which topic areas your child has covered and which need more practice.
Place value: Thousands, millions, decimals. Ordering and comparing numbers.
Addition and subtraction: Column methods, mental strategies, negative numbers.
Multiplication and division: Times tables to 12×12, long multiplication, short division, remainders.
Order of operations: BODMAS/BIDMAS. Brackets, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction.
Factors, multiples and primes: HCF, LCM, prime factorisation, square numbers, cube numbers.
Fractions: Simplifying, equivalent fractions, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing.
Mixed numbers and improper fractions: Converting between forms and performing operations.
Decimals: Place value, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing. Rounding.
Percentages: Finding a percentage of an amount, percentage increase/decrease, reverse percentages.
Fractions, decimals and percentages: Converting between all three forms and comparing.
Ratio: Simplifying ratios, dividing amounts in a given ratio, ratio problems.
Proportion: Direct proportion, best-value problems, scaling recipes.
Speed, distance and time: Calculating speed, distance or time when given the other two.
Number patterns and sequences: Term-to-term and position-to-term rules. Finding missing terms.
Simple equations: Solving one- and two-step equations. Finding unknowns.
Function machines: Input-output problems. Reverse operations.
Using formulae: Substituting values into simple formulae.
Angles: Measuring, estimating. Angles in triangles, quadrilaterals, on straight lines and at a point.
Perimeter and area: Rectangles, triangles, compound shapes. Units and conversion.
Volume: Cuboids and other 3D shapes. Counting unit cubes.
2D shapes: Properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons. Symmetry.
3D shapes: Faces, edges, vertices. Nets of cubes and cuboids.
Coordinates: Four quadrants. Reflections and translations.
Mean, median, mode and range: Calculating each average. Choosing the appropriate one.
Bar charts and pictograms: Reading and interpreting frequency data.
Line graphs and pie charts: Interpreting trends and proportions.
Probability: Basic probability as a fraction, decimal or percentage. Simple probability problems.
Multi-step problems: Problems requiring two or more operations, with information given in prose form.
Money problems: Change, best value, profit, loss, currency.
Time problems: Start and end times, durations, timetables.
Measurement problems: Converting units, practical measurement scenarios.
Word Problems: The Most Common Challenge
Multi-step word problems are the area where many children lose the most marks in 11+ Maths — not because of gaps in mathematical knowledge, but because of how problems are read and structured.
Read once for understanding
On first reading, focus on what the question is asking — not the numbers. Understanding the goal of the problem before looking at the data prevents misinterpretation.
Identify the operations required
Before calculating, write down the steps needed: "I need to find the total, then subtract, then divide." Planning the method before writing prevents mid-calculation confusion.
Check the answer makes sense
After calculating, briefly check whether the answer is plausible given the context. A speed of 5,000 mph for a car, or a cost of £0.02 for a holiday, signals an error in the method.
Skip and return if stuck
If a word problem is taking more than 90 seconds, mark it and move on. Other questions may be quicker. Return to difficult problems at the end if time allows.
Year-by-Year 11+ Maths Study Schedule
A phased approach gives the best results. Here is how to structure Maths preparation by year group.
Secure all times tables to 12×12
Consolidate place value, column addition and subtraction
Introduce fractions and decimals at curriculum level
2–3 short sessions per week (20–30 mins each)
Work through all 11+ Maths topic areas systematically
Use diagnostic tests to identify specific weak topics
Introduce timed practice once topics are understood
3–4 sessions per week; begin mixing topics in papers
Shift to full timed Maths practice papers
Target weak areas with additional topic drills
Work on word problem technique — slow, deliberate reading
4+ sessions per week; track scores and trends
Full-length timed papers under strict exam conditions
Review and patch remaining weak spots only
Practise time management — skip hard questions, return at end
Keep sessions focused; avoid introducing new content
Start Free 11+ Maths Practice Tests
300+ maths questions covering all topics above. Instant marking, detailed worked solutions showing every step. No registration needed.
Try Maths Practice Tests FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions from parents about 11+ Maths.
The content of 11+ Maths is broadly aligned with the KS2 national curriculum, covering the same topics taught in Years 3 to 6. However, the exam applies this content in more challenging ways: questions are multi-step, involve less familiar contexts, and are presented under strict time pressure. Word problems are particularly demanding. The pace required — roughly 60 seconds per question — is also harder than standard classroom tests.
The 11+ Maths exam covers: number and arithmetic (place value, factors, primes, operations), fractions and decimals and percentages, ratio and proportion, algebra (sequences, simple equations, function machines), geometry and measures (angles, perimeter, area, volume, shapes), data handling (averages, charts, probability), and multi-step word problems. GL Assessment and CEM both test these areas, though CEM tends to have more word problem content.
GL Assessment tests Maths as a separate, dedicated paper, typically 45–60 minutes with 40–50 questions. Questions are mostly multiple-choice. CEM tests Maths within combined papers alongside English comprehension and reasoning; the maths questions tend to be more word-problem heavy and the pace is faster. For GL, topic-by-topic practice works well. For CEM, practising mixed-paper formats and extended word problems is particularly valuable.
As a general benchmark, scoring consistently above 75% on timed, exam-standard Maths papers suggests solid preparation. For highly selective schools, scores of 85%+ under timed conditions are typically required. Early in preparation (Year 4, early Year 5), lower scores are normal — the important measure is consistent improvement over time, not a single result.
Start by identifying which topic areas are weakest using a diagnostic test. Work through those topics systematically — topic-by-topic worksheets and practice questions — before returning to mixed timed papers. Ensure times tables (to 12×12) are fully secure, as they underpin a large portion of 11+ Maths. Once topic knowledge is solid, shift to timed practice under exam conditions. Review every wrong answer using worked solutions.
Ideally, all times tables up to 12×12 should be secure by the end of Year 4. This gives Year 5 and Year 6 preparation the best possible foundation, as times tables underpin fractions, ratio, factors, and much of the numerical reasoning tested. If tables are still shaky in Year 5, prioritise them above other preparation — they are the single highest-impact item in 11+ Maths preparation.
Many children find multi-step word problems the most challenging part of 11+ Maths, not because of the underlying mathematics, but because translating a written description into a calculation requires careful reading and logical thinking. Regular practice with word problems — reading them slowly, identifying what is being asked, and planning the steps before calculating — significantly improves performance in this area.