11+ Maths: What to Expect and How to Prepare Across All Exam Boards

Mathematics is one of the two subjects tested by every 11+ exam board -- the other being English. Regardless of whether your child is sitting a GL, CEM, CSSE, or SET exam, maths will form a significant part of the test. The good news is that the content is broadly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. The challenge is that 11+ maths questions frequently go beyond what is typically covered in Year 5 classroom teaching. They demand speed, accuracy, and -- critically -- the ability to apply knowledge to unfamiliar problems under timed conditions.

This guide covers the core topics your child needs to master, explains how the maths component differs across the four main exam boards, and provides practical advice on how to prepare effectively.

Core Topics Tested Across All Boards

While the format and difficulty vary between exam boards, the underlying mathematical content is remarkably consistent. The following topic areas appear in some form across all four boards. Your child should aim for confident fluency in every one of them.

Number and Place Value

A secure understanding of number is the foundation for everything else. Your child should be comfortable working with numbers up to at least one million, understanding the value of each digit, and comparing and ordering numbers of different sizes. Rounding to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, or to a given number of decimal places is routinely tested. Negative numbers come up in the context of temperature, number lines, and sequences. Roman numerals may also appear in GL papers.

The Four Operations

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers must be fluent and accurate. This includes multi-digit calculations, long multiplication, and both short and long division. Your child also needs to handle these operations with decimals -- adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimal numbers confidently. The ability to estimate answers using rounding is important for checking work and for eliminating obviously wrong answers in multiple-choice papers.

Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages

This is one of the most heavily tested areas across all boards. Children need to understand the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages and convert fluently between them. Key skills include simplifying fractions, finding equivalent fractions, ordering fractions with different denominators, and calculating fractions of amounts. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions (including mixed numbers) are all fair game. Percentage calculations -- finding a percentage of an amount, expressing one quantity as a percentage of another, and working with percentage increase and decrease -- appear frequently.

Ratio and Proportion

Sharing a quantity in a given ratio is one of the most common question types. Children should also be comfortable with scaling problems -- for example, adjusting a recipe for a different number of servings -- and simple proportion problems that require them to find a unit rate and then scale up or down. Converting between units (such as working out how many small containers can be filled from a large one) often falls into this category.

Algebra Basics

The algebra tested at the 11+ level is introductory, but it still catches many children off guard because it may not have been covered in depth at school. Key areas include: finding missing numbers in equations (e.g. 3 x ___ = 45), recognising and continuing number sequences, using function machines, substituting values into simple expressions, and understanding basic algebraic notation. Some boards present these as straightforward calculations; others embed them in word problems.

Geometry

Geometry covers a wide range of skills. Your child should know the properties of common 2D shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, circles) and 3D shapes (cubes, cuboids, prisms, cylinders, cones, spheres). Angle facts are important -- angles in a triangle, angles on a straight line, angles around a point, and vertically opposite angles. Calculating the area and perimeter of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, and compound shapes is essential, as is working out the volume of cuboids. Coordinates in all four quadrants, lines of symmetry, reflection, rotation, and translation also appear.

Measurement

Questions on measurement test your child's ability to work with units of length (mm, cm, m, km), mass (g, kg), capacity (ml, l), and time (seconds, minutes, hours, days). Converting between units within each system is a common source of questions. Time calculations -- working out durations, reading timetables, and converting between 12-hour and 24-hour formats -- appear across all boards and are frequently answered incorrectly.

Statistics and Data Handling

Children need to read and interpret information from tables, bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, and pictograms. Calculating the mean, median, mode, and range of a data set is commonly tested. Some boards also include basic probability -- understanding the likelihood of events, expressing probability as a fraction, and interpreting probability scales. The key skill here is not just reading the data but drawing conclusions from it and using it to answer questions that require an additional step of reasoning.

How Maths Differs by Exam Board

Although the topics are largely the same, the way maths is tested varies significantly between boards. Understanding the format your child will face is essential for targeted preparation.

GL Assessment

GL maths papers are entirely multiple choice. Questions cover all the core topics listed above and are relatively straightforward in their presentation -- the emphasis is on accuracy and speed rather than extended reasoning. Children select their answer from four or five options and record it on a separate answer sheet. There is no requirement to show working, which means the focus is on getting to the right answer as efficiently as possible.

The multiple-choice format has implications for preparation. Children should learn to use estimation and elimination to narrow down options when they are unsure. They should also be aware that careless errors -- misreading a question, selecting the wrong option, or making a small arithmetic slip -- can be costly when there is no partial credit for working.

Time pressure is a significant factor in GL papers. Most children will find that the number of questions is manageable if they work at a steady pace, but spending too long on any single question can leave them short at the end.

Practise with LearningBro's GL 11+ Mathematics course. For a full overview of all GL subjects, see our GL 11+ Complete Guide.

CEM

CEM maths papers are less predictable than GL in terms of format. Questions may be multiple choice, but the structure of the paper can change from year to year. One of CEM's distinguishing features is that maths questions are sometimes interleaved with non-verbal reasoning questions within the same section, which means children need to switch between different types of thinking quickly.

CEM questions may also present familiar mathematical concepts in unfamiliar ways. A question about fractions might be embedded in a real-world scenario that requires the child to identify the relevant information before performing the calculation. This means that strong mathematical reasoning -- not just procedural fluency -- is important for CEM.

Because CEM deliberately varies its format to discourage specific coaching, the best preparation is a deep understanding of the underlying maths rather than rote learning of question types. Children who truly understand why a method works, rather than simply knowing how to apply it, tend to perform better on CEM papers.

Practise with LearningBro's CEM 11+ Mathematics course. For more on what to expect from CEM, see our CEM 11+ Complete Guide.

CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex)

CSSE takes a notably different approach to maths by splitting it into two distinct papers:

• Arithmetic and Number -- This paper focuses on core calculation skills. It tests fluency with the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, and other numerical procedures. The emphasis is on accuracy and confidence with standard mathematical techniques.
• Problem Solving and Reasoning -- This paper presents maths in the form of multi-step word problems, logic puzzles, and questions that require children to apply their mathematical knowledge in less straightforward ways. The ability to break a problem down into steps, decide which operations to use, and work through a solution methodically is essential.

Crucially, CSSE papers are not multiple choice. Children must write their answers and, in many cases, show their working. This changes the preparation strategy significantly. Children cannot rely on estimation and elimination -- they need to be able to perform calculations accurately from start to finish. Clear, logical presentation of working is also important, as it can earn marks even if the final answer is incorrect.

Practise Arithmetic and Number with LearningBro and Problem Solving and Reasoning with LearningBro. For a full overview of the CSSE exam, see our CSSE 11+ Complete Guide.

SET (Selective Eligibility Test)

SET also divides maths into two separate components:

• Number and Arithmetic -- Similar in scope to the CSSE arithmetic paper, this section tests core numerical skills and calculation fluency.
• Reasoning and Problem Solving -- This section tests the application of mathematical knowledge to multi-step problems and less familiar scenarios.

A distinctive feature of the SET exam is that it is administered in two stages. Stage 1 is the initial test. Stage 2 is a more demanding follow-up that not all candidates will sit. The Stage 2 maths content is noticeably harder, with more complex multi-step problems and a greater emphasis on reasoning. Children preparing for SET should therefore aim to build skills that go beyond the basics, as strong performance at Stage 2 can make the difference in a competitive field.

Practise Number and Arithmetic with LearningBro and Reasoning and Problem Solving with LearningBro. For a full overview of the SET exam, see our SET 11+ Complete Guide.

Problem Solving and Reasoning

Across all boards, the ability to solve problems -- rather than simply perform calculations -- separates the strongest candidates from the rest. Many children can calculate 3/4 of 240 when presented with it as a straightforward question. Fewer can extract the same calculation from a paragraph of text about sharing sweets between friends.

Problem solving requires a specific set of habits:

• Read the question carefully. Many errors come from misunderstanding what is being asked. Children should read the question at least twice before starting to calculate.
• Identify what operation is needed. The question may not tell the child to multiply or divide -- they need to recognise this from the context. Words like "altogether," "remaining," "shared equally," and "each" are important clues.
• Show working clearly. On papers that require written answers (CSSE, SET), clear working can earn marks even if the final answer is wrong. It also helps children keep track of their own reasoning.
• Check whether the answer is sensible. If a question asks for the length of a classroom and the child's answer is 3 centimetres, something has gone wrong. A quick sense-check can catch errors before they are committed to the answer sheet.

Building these habits takes time and deliberate practice. Word problems should be a regular part of your child's preparation from the outset, not something introduced only when practice papers begin.

Mental Maths and Speed

Every 11+ exam rewards fast, accurate calculation. Time pressure is a deliberate feature of the test design -- it ensures that the exam differentiates between children who are fluent and those who are still relying on slow, procedural methods.

The single most important foundation for speed is times tables knowledge. Your child should know all multiplication facts up to 12 x 12 instantly -- not after a few seconds of thought, but immediately. This fluency underpins so much of the rest of the test: division, fractions, ratio, factors, multiples, and many word problems all rely on rapid recall of multiplication facts.

Beyond times tables, children should develop mental strategies for the four operations:

• Addition -- partitioning numbers, bridging through 10 or 100, using near-doubles.
• Subtraction -- counting up from the smaller number (the "shopkeeper's method"), adjusting (e.g. subtracting 99 by subtracting 100 and adding 1).
• Multiplication -- using factors (e.g. multiplying by 6 as x2 then x3), doubling and halving, multiplying by 10/100/1000.
• Division -- using known multiplication facts, halving, dividing by factors in stages.

Daily mental maths practice -- even just five to ten minutes -- builds the speed and confidence that pay dividends on exam day.

How to Prepare

Effective preparation for 11+ maths is a process that unfolds over months, not weeks. Here is a practical framework.

Start building strong foundations in Year 4. The 11+ is typically sat in September of Year 6, which means the bulk of preparation happens during Year 5. But the groundwork -- especially times tables, place value, and the four operations -- should be secure before intensive preparation begins.

Cover all topic areas systematically. Work through each of the core topics listed above, ensuring your child understands the concepts and can apply them. Do not skip areas that seem easy -- gaps have a way of appearing under exam pressure.

Identify and address weaknesses. Once your child has covered all topics at a basic level, use practice questions to identify which areas need further work. Fractions, time, and multi-step word problems are common areas of difficulty. Target these with additional practice.

Practise word problems regularly. From the beginning of preparation, include word problems alongside standard calculation practice. This builds the reasoning and comprehension skills that are tested across all boards.

Build up to timed conditions. Start with untimed practice to build understanding and confidence. As the exam approaches, introduce time limits to develop pace. Gradually reduce the time allowed until your child is working at or slightly above exam speed.

Use practice papers to develop exam stamina. In the final months before the exam, full practice papers under realistic conditions are invaluable. They help your child learn to manage their time across an entire paper, handle the pressure of the clock, and move on from questions they find difficult rather than getting stuck.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Knowing the common pitfalls can help your child sidestep them.

Misreading the question. This is the single most common source of errors. Children answer the question they think they see rather than the one that is actually being asked. Encourage your child to underline key words in the question.

Calculation errors with fractions and decimals. These topics are inherently more error-prone than whole number arithmetic. Common mistakes include forgetting to find a common denominator before adding fractions, misplacing the decimal point in multiplication and division, and confusing the rules for multiplying and dividing fractions.

Not showing working on non-multiple-choice papers. On CSSE and SET papers, marks are available for method even when the final answer is wrong. Children who write nothing but an incorrect answer lose everything. Encourage your child to write out each step, even when they think they can do it in their head.

Running out of time. Children who spend too long on difficult questions early in the paper may never reach easier questions at the end. The strategy should be: attempt every question, mark any you are unsure of, and return to them if time allows.

Panicking on unfamiliar questions. The 11+ will almost certainly include questions that look different from anything your child has practised. This is by design. Children who panic and skip these questions miss opportunities. Encourage your child to break the question down, identify what they do know, and have a go. Even on multiple-choice papers, an educated guess is better than no answer at all.

Prepare with LearningBro

LearningBro offers targeted maths courses for all four major 11+ exam boards. Each course covers the full range of topics and question styles your child will encounter, with practice questions designed to build both fluency and reasoning skills.

• GL 11+ Mathematics -- multiple-choice practice covering all core maths topics in the GL format.
• CEM 11+ Mathematics -- questions designed to develop the flexible thinking that CEM exams reward.
• CSSE 11+ Arithmetic and Number -- focused practice on the calculation skills tested in the CSSE arithmetic paper.
• CSSE 11+ Problem Solving and Reasoning -- multi-step problems and word-based challenges in the CSSE style.
• SET 11+ Number and Arithmetic -- core numerical fluency practice for the SET exam.
• SET 11+ Reasoning and Problem Solving -- reasoning and multi-step problem practice for both Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Whichever exam board your child is preparing for, consistent practice across all the core topic areas -- combined with regular word problem work and timed conditions as the exam approaches -- is the most reliable path to a strong result. Start early, work systematically, and build confidence through familiarity. The maths tested in the 11+ is demanding, but it is entirely learnable with the right preparation.