Navigating the 11+ journey can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle. As a parent, you want to ensure your child is prepared, but with so much to cover, it’s easy to worry that crucial topics might be missed. Where do you even begin?
The key to effective and stress-free preparation is structure. A haphazard approach leads to gaps in knowledge and a shaky foundation. That’s why we at elevenplus.com have created this definitive 11+ Maths topic checklist.
This is the most comprehensive guide available for parents of children in Year 4 and Year 5. Use this checklist to structure your revision, identify weak spots, and build the rock-solid mathematical foundation required for 11+ success.
In this definitive guide, you will find:
- The Four Key Pillars of 11+ Maths.
- A complete, printable checklist of every topic your child needs to know.
- An expert explanation of how the GL Assessment exam is formatted.
- Actionable tips on how to structure your revision effectively.
The Four Pillars of 11+ Maths
The 11+ Maths exam isn’t just about calculation. It tests a broad range of skills across four key pillars. Here is what you need to know.
Pillar 1: Number & Arithmetic
This is the bedrock of the entire exam. Without instant recall and fluency in these topics, your child will struggle to access the more complex reasoning and problem-solving questions.
[Image: A sample question from our Number & Arithmetic practice pack showing a calculation with fractions.]
The Checklist:
- Place Value: Understand the value of digits in numbers up to 10,000,000.
- The Four Operations: Master addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
- Times Tables: Have instant recall of all times tables up to 12×12. This is non-negotiable for speed.
- Fractions:
- Equivalent fractions (e.g. 1/2 = 2/4).
- Simplifying fractions.
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions.
- Finding fractions of amounts.
- Decimals:
- Understanding place value in decimals.
- The four operations with decimals.
- Rounding decimals to the nearest whole number or decimal place.
- Percentages:
- Finding percentages of amounts (e.g. 10%, 25%, 50%).
- Understanding percentage increase and decrease.
- Fractions, Decimals & Percentages (FDP) Conversions: Fluently convert between all three (e.g. 0.75 = 75% = 3/4).
- Negative Numbers: Understand and calculate with numbers below zero.
- Factors, Multiples, and Primes: Know the definitions and be able to find them for any given number.
- Square and Cube Numbers: Recognise and calculate them.
Expert Tip: Fluency in FDP conversions is a superpower. It saves vital time and unlocks many multi-step problems. Our platform’s “Topic Blast” quizzes are perfect for drilling these essential skills.
Pillar 2: Problem Solving & Reasoning
This is where mathematical understanding is applied. Examiners use these questions to separate good mathematicians from great ones.
[Image: A sample multi-step word problem from our practice papers, showing how a complex question is structured.]
The Checklist:
- Multi-Step Word Problems: Decode complex questions, identify the necessary steps, and solve them logically.
- Ratio and Proportion: Understand the relationship between quantities and solve ratio problems.
- Simple Algebra: Find the value of a missing number in an equation (e.g., 3a + 5 = 17).
- Sequences: Identify the rule in a number sequence and find the next term.
- Money Problems: Calculate with money, including finding change and solving multi-step financial puzzles.
- Time Problems: Calculate time durations, read timetables, and solve problems involving the 24-hour clock.
- Logic Puzzles: Use deductive reasoning to solve problems that may not involve complex calculation.
Is your child struggling to apply their knowledge? Our 11+ Maths Problem-Solving Practice Pack is filled with worked examples that teach the method behind solving these tricky questions, not just the answer.
Pillar 3: Geometry & Measurement
This pillar tests spatial awareness and the ability to apply mathematical rules to shapes and measures.
The Checklist:
- 2D Shapes: Identify and know the properties of triangles (isosceles, equilateral, scalene), quadrilaterals (square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram, kite), and other polygons.
- 3D Shapes: Know the properties (faces, edges, vertices) of cubes, cuboids, prisms, and pyramids. Be able to identify nets of 3D shapes.
- Angles: Understand and calculate angles on a straight line, around a point, in a triangle, and in a quadrilateral.
- Symmetry: Identify lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry.
- Coordinates: Read and plot coordinates in all four quadrants.
- Reflection & Translation: Reflect and translate shapes on a coordinate grid.
- Measurement & Conversions:
- Convert between units of length (mm, cm, m, km).
- Convert between units of mass (g, kg).
- Convert between units of capacity (ml, l).
- Area and Perimeter: Calculate the area and perimeter of squares, rectangles, and compound shapes.
Pillar 4: Data Handling
The ability to read and interpret data is a crucial life skill and a core part of the 11+ exam.
The Checklist:
- Bar Charts, Pictograms, and Line Graphs: Read, interpret, and compare data presented in these formats.
- Pie Charts: Understand how to interpret pie charts and calculate the values of their sections.
- Timetables and Tables: Extract information and answer questions based on data in tables.
- Averages: Calculate the mean, median, mode, and range of a set of data.
How is 11+ Maths Tested? A Guide to the Exam Format
Understanding the topics is only half the battle. You also need to understand how they will be tested. For parents in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, the exam board you need to know is GL Assessment.
The GL Assessment Format:
- Paper-Based: The exam is taken on paper, not on a computer.
- Multiple-Choice: Questions typically have five options (A, B, C, D, E), and your child must choose the correct one.
- Separate Answer Sheet: Your child will have a question booklet and a separate answer sheet. They must shade in a lozenge for their chosen answer. This requires good concentration to avoid marking the wrong line.
- Timed Sections: The exam is broken down into timed sections. Good time management is essential, and children must be taught to move on from a question if they are stuck.
- Core Knowledge Focus: The GL exam has a strong focus on core curriculum knowledge. This means that a solid understanding of the topics on our checklist is the single best way to prepare.
How to Use This Checklist
- Diagnose: Go through the list with your child. Use a traffic light system: Green for confident, Amber for needs practice, and Red for unsure.
- Prioritise: Focus your efforts on the “Red” and “Amber” topics first.
- Structure: Plan your weekly revision around 1-2 topics from this list. Little and often is the key.
Feeling overwhelmed? The best first step you can take is to get a clear, objective baseline of your child’s abilities.
➡️ Download our free 11+ Starter Pack, which includes a printable version of this checklist and a sample Maths practice paper.
➡️ For the most comprehensive analysis, try our free 45-minute 11+ Diagnostic Test. It will assess your child against every topic on this list and provide you with a detailed report identifying their top 3 areas for development.
With a structured plan and the right resources, you can transform 11+ maths prep from a source of stress into a journey of confident improvement.
