The complete list of 11+ maths topics (and how to master each one)
· 11 min read
Every 11+ Maths topic your child needs — from number and place value to ratio, algebra, and problem-solving — with practical mastery tips for each.
The short answer
11+ Maths builds on the Year 5/6 National Curriculum but routinely tests one to two years ahead of expected age-level depth. Your child needs fluency in: number and place value, the four operations, fractions/decimals/percentages, ratio and proportion, measure, geometry and shape, position and direction, statistics, and algebra. They also need fast, accurate problem-solving across all of these — typically multi-step, worded, and time-pressured. The full topic list and mastery tips are below. For step-by-step worked solutions across these topics, see our 11+ maths worked examples.
Number and place value
What they need: read, write, compare, order, and round numbers up to at least 10 million. Understand negative numbers, roman numerals, and the value of each digit in decimals. Mastery tips: daily mental-maths warm-ups covering place value and rounding. Use number-line visualisations for negative numbers (many children learn to compute with them before they understand them conceptually, and that gap shows up on multi-step problems).
The four operations (+, −, ×, ÷)
What they need: mental and written fluency with all four operations, including long multiplication and long division. Instant recall of times tables up to 12x12. Understanding of inverse operations and how to use them to check answers. Mastery tips: times-tables fluency is the single highest-leverage Maths skill at 11+ — 5 minutes a day of times-table practice pays off disproportionately. Use quick-check routines ('is that answer reasonable?') to catch arithmetic slips.
Fractions, decimals and percentages
What they need: convert fluently between the three forms. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. Calculate percentages of amounts and apply percentage increases/decreases. Work with equivalent fractions and simplification. Mastery tips: build a 'conversion triangle' habit — whenever your child sees 3/4, they should also think 0.75 and 75% instantly. Word problems involving discounts, VAT, and sale prices are common 11+ applications.
Ratio and proportion
What they need: understand and use ratios (e.g. 'in the ratio 3:5'). Scale up and down in proportion. Solve direct and inverse proportion problems. Calculate with rates (speed, density, unit price). Mastery tips: ratio questions are disproportionately common on competitive papers (Bucks, Kent, Trafford, Sutton). Practise the 'what is one part worth?' approach — it unlocks most ratio problems.
Algebra (introductory)
What they need: use letters for unknowns, form and solve simple equations, work with sequences and their rules, substitute values into formulae. Mastery tips: introduce algebra through pattern-spotting (sequences) rather than rule memorisation. Children who understand that algebra is 'a shorthand for patterns' grasp the substitution and equation-solving questions much faster than those taught rules first.
Measurement and units
What they need: convert fluently between metric units (mm/cm/m/km, g/kg, ml/l). Convert between metric and common imperial (miles ↔ km approximately, pints ↔ litres). Calculate time problems across hours, minutes, and seconds. Solve perimeter, area, and volume for standard shapes. Mastery tips: many 11+ time questions hinge on understanding that time is not base-10 (60 minutes, not 100, in an hour). Practise worded time problems weekly.
Geometry: 2D and 3D shapes
What they need: recognise and name 2D and 3D shapes, know their properties (faces, edges, vertices), calculate angles (straight line, triangle, quadrilateral, around a point). Understand congruence, similarity, and basic symmetry. Apply Pythagoras is rare but not impossible at super-selective level. Mastery tips: draw the shape on every geometry question. Children who try to solve angle and area questions from the text alone make avoidable errors; a sketch with labelled sides costs 30 seconds and saves the mark.
Position, direction and coordinates
What they need: plot and read coordinates across all four quadrants. Translate, reflect, and rotate shapes. Use compass directions (N, E, S, W and their subdivisions). Mastery tips: practise with squared paper weekly. Transformation questions are visual — verbal reasoning alone is insufficient.
Statistics and data handling
What they need: read and interpret tables, bar charts, line graphs, pictograms, and pie charts. Calculate mean, mode, median, and range. Interpret frequency and probability informally. Mastery tips: real-world examples help. Use a printed train timetable or football league table for practice — it forces the child to decode information under mild time pressure, which mirrors the exam.
Problem-solving (the hidden topic)
What they need: read a multi-step worded problem, identify what is being asked, select the right operations, work through systematically, and check the answer. This is not a 'topic' in the curriculum sense — it's a meta-skill tested across every topic. Mastery tips: build a habit of underlining the question sentence, listing the known values, and writing the working steps. Most 11+ Maths errors are not arithmetic errors — they're comprehension errors or skipped steps. NRICH problems (free from Cambridge) are the best single resource for developing this skill.
How to plan your Maths practice
Aim for 15-20 minutes of Maths, four to five days a week, from the start of Year 4. Rotate topics across the week. Weekly: one mixed-topic practice paper under rough time pressure. Monthly: a full timed mock paper. When your child gets a question wrong, work through the solution together rather than just marking the answer — the goal is for them to understand the technique, not to absorb the specific answer. This applies across Kent, Bucks, Essex CSSE, Trafford, and every other region.
How to spot and close specific Maths weaknesses
When your child gets 6/10 on a Maths mock, the headline score tells you almost nothing useful. Re-mark the paper by topic and you'll typically find the drop concentrated in one or two areas (commonly ratio/proportion, fractions, or time problems). Close those two gaps and the next paper will move from 6/10 to 8/10 — no broad intensification needed. Keep a running 'topic error log' each month to spot persistent weaknesses. Three weeks of targeted practice on a specific weakness will almost always close it; generic 'more Maths' rarely does.
Where GrammarPrep fits
GrammarPrep's Maths path covers every topic above with adaptive difficulty. The engine tracks which topics your child has mastered and which still need work, generating daily practice sessions that target real weaknesses rather than drilling already-strong areas. Parents see a topic-mastery heatmap so you can tell at a glance whether you're ready for a mock paper. Start with our free diagnostic: grammarprep.uk/onboarding. Regional Maths emphasis varies: Kent and Bucks weight reasoning heavily (which Maths feeds into), while Essex CSSE tests free-response Maths explicitly and rewards depth over speed.