11+ maths word problems: plan before you calculate

In an 11+ maths word problem, the arithmetic itself is usually familiar Key Stage 2 calculation; the challenge is deciding which steps to take and in what order. Reading the problem twice, writing a short plan in words before calculating, and estimating the rough size of the answer prevents rushed one-step guesses.

In 11+ Mathematics, multi-step word problems bring together money, time, measures, fractions, and the four operations inside everyday scenarios. GL Assessment says the school or local authority chooses the subjects and the balance of question types, so check your own test’s guidance.^[1] When a child slows down for ten seconds to separate planning from calculating, their existing arithmetic fluency can do its job reliably.

A three-step method

1. Read twice and underline the question and the numbers that matter

On the first read, picture the story without trying to calculate anything. On the second read, underline the final question (such as “How much change does she receive from £20?” or “At what time does the train arrive?”) and circle only the numbers and units needed to answer it.

Watch out for number words written in prose (“a dozen”, “half an hour”, “himself and three friends”, which means four people in total) and cross out any extra details that do not affect the calculation, such as a bus route number or a date.

2. Plan the steps in words before calculating

Before writing a sum, jot down the steps as short labels on rough paper — for example:

• Step 1: 2 adults
• Step 2: 3 children
• Step 3: total cost

Naming the steps in words stops a child from grabbing the first two numbers they see, multiplying or adding them, and picking an answer option that matches Step 1 or Step 2 instead of the finished result.

3. Calculate, then estimate and check the answer’s size and units

Work through your labelled steps one at a time, keeping decimal points lined up and units consistent (all in pence or all in pounds; all in minutes or all in hours). Then make a quick rounded estimate — such as 2 × £8 + 3 × £4 = £28 — to confirm that your exact answer (£27.75) is sensible, and re-read the final line of the question to make sure you have answered what was asked.

Common mistakes

• Calculating before reading the whole question: Starting a sum half-way through the paragraph often means solving for the total spent when the question actually asked for the change from a note.
• Using every number even when some are not needed: A question about “the 14:30 train on Platform 4 carrying 120 passengers” may only need the departure time or the passenger count, never the platform number.
• Giving an earlier step instead of the final answer: On multiple-choice papers, the result of Step 1 (£15.00) or Step 2 (£12.75) is almost always included among the distractors.
• Dropping units or writing £27.7 for £27.75: Money answers in pounds need two decimal places (£15.50, not £15.5), and time calculations base on 60 minutes per hour rather than 100.

Practise little and often

1. Give your child three word problems and ask them to write only the two- or three-line plan in words — without doing the arithmetic yet — so planning becomes an automatic first step.
2. Ask them to state a rounded estimate aloud before calculating the exact answer.
3. When reviewing a slip, check whether it happened during the reading, the plan, or the calculation, so the next short session targets the right habit.

Keep practising Mathematics

To try five original 11+ maths questions online with step-by-step worked explanations, start the free 5-question quiz below.