Conquering 11+ Maths: A Parent’s Guide to Common Challenges and Solutions

11+ Maths: A Parent’s Guide

Conquering 11+ Maths: A Parent’s Guide to Common Challenges and Solutions

Mathematics is one of the most challenging sections of the 11+ GL Assessment for many children. Even confident students can struggle due to time pressure, tricky word problems, or small calculation errors.

This parent-friendly guide explains the most common 11+ maths challenges and offers practical solutions to help your child improve accuracy, speed, and confidence.

Why 11+ Maths Feels Difficult for Many Children

The 11+ maths exam doesn’t just test knowledge — it tests how quickly and accurately a child can apply that knowledge under pressure.

Common reasons children struggle include:

  • Working too slowly

  • Misreading questions

  • Weak problem-solving skills

  • Lack of exam-style practice

Understanding these challenges is the first step to overcoming them.

Common 11+ Maths Challenges (and How to Fix Them)

🔢 1. Careless Calculation Mistakes

Simple errors in addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division can cost valuable marks.

How parents can help:

  • Encourage showing all working

  • Practise mental maths daily

  • Ask children to double-check answers if time allows

Accuracy improves with repetition and good habits.

📖 2. Difficulty with Word Problems

Word problems are a major obstacle in the GL Assessment. Children often know the maths but struggle to understand what the question is asking.

Solutions:

  • Teach your child to underline key information

  • Encourage reading the question twice

  • Practise translating words into maths steps

Breaking the problem into smaller steps makes it more manageable.

⏱️ 3. Time Pressure During the Exam

Many children run out of time, even if they understand the topics.

How to improve speed safely:

  • Start with untimed practice

  • Move to short timed quizzes

  • Progress to full timed mock exams

Speed should be built gradually — rushing too early can reduce accuracy.

📐 4. Weakness in Fractions, Percentages & Ratios

These topics frequently appear in 11+ maths papers and often cause confusion.

Helpful strategies:

  • Use visual examples (pie charts, number lines)

  • Practise real-life applications (discounts, sharing, comparisons)

  • Revisit basics before attempting exam-style questions

Strong foundations make advanced questions much easier.

🧠 5. Guessing Instead of Problem-Solving

Under pressure, some children guess rather than applying logic.

Encourage your child to:

  • Eliminate incorrect answers first

  • Use estimation to sense-check answers

  • Stay calm and attempt every question logically

Confidence grows with familiarity.

How Mock Exams Help Improve 11+ Maths Performance

Mock exams play a crucial role in maths preparation because they:

✅ Simulate real exam conditions
✅ Improve time management
✅ Highlight weak topics
✅ Build exam stamina

At Exam Plus Mock, our maths questions are designed to closely reflect GL Assessment standards, helping children practise in a realistic environment.

How Parents Can Support Maths Preparation at Home

You don’t need to be a maths expert to help your child succeed.

✔ Encourage regular short practice
✔ Focus on understanding, not memorisation
✔ Praise effort and improvement
✔ Review mistakes together calmly

A supportive approach boosts both performance and confidence.

Final Thoughts

11+ maths success is not about being “naturally good at maths” — it’s about practice, strategy, and confidence.

By addressing common challenges early and using realistic mock exams, your child can approach the 11+ GL Assessment maths paper feeling prepared and positive.

👉 Explore our 11+ GL maths mock exams to help your child practise with confidence under real exam conditions.