The 11+ maths exam tests arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, shape and space, and word problems built from the KS2 curriculum, often under tight time limits that reward speed as much as accuracy. GL Assessment's papers are typically multiple choice; some regional and school-set papers require full written working instead.
What's in the 11+ maths paper?
GL Assessment, the largest 11+ test publisher, describes its own maths practice materials around five core areas:
| Topic area | Example content |
|---|---|
| Times tables | Rapid recall of multiplication and division facts |
| Mental arithmetic | Quick calculation without a calculator, often against the clock |
| Shape, space and measures | Properties of 2D/3D shapes, angles, units of measurement |
| The four operations | Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, including with fractions and decimals |
| Graph and data reading | Interpreting tables, charts and graphs |
Word problems — questions that describe a real-world scenario your child must translate into a calculation — run through several of these areas rather than forming a separate section, and are frequently where otherwise-fluent children lose marks. As with English, content and structure vary between providers: some regional papers, such as Essex's CSSE maths paper (around 60 minutes), go slightly beyond GL Assessment's core list, so it is worth checking your specific area's syllabus rather than assuming a single national standard.
How is the paper structured and timed?
GL Assessment's maths papers are typically multiple choice and machine-marked, with results reported as standardised scores rather than a raw percentage, so a child's score reflects performance relative to other children the same age. Calculators are not normally permitted. Because many papers include a mental-arithmetic or rapid-calculation component, timing is often tighter, question for question, than a typical KS2 SATs paper — the exam is testing fluency and speed, not just whether your child can eventually reach the right answer. Confirm the exact timing and calculator policy with your local authority or target school, since these details differ by provider.
How to prepare for the 11+ maths exam
- Consolidate core KS2 arithmetic fluency first. Times tables, the four operations, and mental maths underpin almost everything else in the paper — most 11+ maths content builds directly on this foundation rather than testing anything genuinely new.
- Practise timed arithmetic sprints to build speed as well as accuracy. Many providers, including GL Assessment, include a mental-maths or rapid-calculation component under strict time pressure, so accuracy alone is not enough.
- Identify and drill your child's specific weak topics — fractions, percentages, or angles, for example — rather than working generic mixed papers cover to cover. A focused list of three or four weak spots closes gaps faster than broad, unfocused revision.
- Practise translating worded scenarios into number sentences specifically. Word problems are where children who are otherwise fluent in raw calculation often lose marks under exam conditions, because the maths itself is rarely the hard part.
- Build up to full past-paper timing practice in the final weeks, so your child experiences the real time pressure of the exam before test day, rather than for the first time in the exam hall itself.
- Confirm your area's or school's exact format and calculator policy well ahead of the test. Regional papers such as Essex's CSSE differ in timing and structure from GL Assessment's standard papers, so the wrong practice materials can waste preparation time.
FAQ
Does the 11+ maths exam allow a calculator?
No — 11+ maths papers are sat without a calculator in almost all areas, which is one reason mental arithmetic and rapid calculation are tested so directly. Always confirm the exact policy with your child's local authority or target school before the test.
Is 11+ maths harder than KS2 SATs maths?
The underlying content overlaps heavily with the KS2 curriculum, so it is not necessarily "harder" in terms of topics covered. What typically makes it feel harder is the time pressure: many 11+ maths papers, particularly GL Assessment's, are timed tightly enough that speed becomes as important as accuracy.
How much of the 11+ maths test is mental arithmetic?
GL Assessment's own guidance lists quick mental arithmetic as one of five core areas in its maths practice materials, alongside times tables, shape and space, the four operations, and graph reading — so it is a significant but not the only component. The exact weighting can vary between specific papers and providers.
Are all 11+ maths papers multiple choice?
No. GL Assessment's most widely used papers are typically multiple choice and machine-marked, but other providers and school-set papers, such as some independent-school entrance tests, may require full written working instead. Check which format your specific area or school uses before you start practising.
For tailored, one-to-one maths support that builds real number fluency rather than just exam tricks, explore aitutors.me.