Fractions carry more 11+ maths marks than almost any other single topic, and they hide inside decimals, percentages and ratio too. The exam favourites are always the same: fraction of an amount (like three-fifths of 40), ordering mixed numbers, simplifying, and one-step additions with different denominators. Master those and you protect a large slice of the paper. This guide teaches every method step by step, shows the traps that quietly cost marks, and points you to the free graded worksheets and timed mocks on Quest Arena so a child can practise straight away.
What 11+ fractions questions actually cover
At 11+ level, "fractions" is a family of linked skills rather than one topic. A confident child needs to handle equivalent fractions, simplifying to lowest terms, converting between improper fractions and mixed numbers, ordering and comparing, the four operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide), and finding a fraction of an amount. Because the modern exam is dominated by GL Assessment after CEM's separate papers were phased out around 2022-2023, most questions are multiple-choice with answers A to E on a separate answer sheet. Our free worksheet library grades every one of these sub-skills across four tiers so a child can enter at their level and climb.
The named methods, worked step by step
Give your child a name for each method and they will recall it under pressure. Here are the three that unlock most marks.
The equivalent-fraction ladder
To add or compare fractions you need a common denominator. To add one-quarter and one-third: the lowest common denominator of 4 and 3 is 12. Climb the ladder by multiplying: 1/4 becomes 3/12 and 1/3 becomes 4/12. Now the denominators match, so add the numerators only: 3/12 + 4/12 = 7/12. The denominator never gets added.
Keep-change-flip for dividing
To divide by a fraction, keep the first fraction, change the divide sign to multiply, and flip the second fraction. So 3/5 divided by 2/7 becomes 3/5 multiplied by 7/2 = 21/10, which is 2 and 1/10. To multiply fractions, simply multiply the tops and multiply the bottoms, then simplify.
Fraction of an amount
To find three-fifths of 40: divide by the bottom, then multiply by the top. 40 divided by 5 is 8; 8 multiplied by 3 is 24. Say it as "divide by the denominator, times by the numerator" every time and the order stops slipping.
A fraction-decimal-percentage table worth memorising
Fractions, decimals and percentages are three languages for the same value, and the GL paper switches between them without warning. Learning this table by heart turns slow calculations into instant recall.
| Fraction | Decimal | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.5 | 50% |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 25% |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | 75% |
| 1/3 | 0.333... | 33.3% |
| 1/5 | 0.2 | 20% |
| 1/10 | 0.1 | 10% |
| 1/8 | 0.125 | 12.5% |
The same conversion skill drives our decimals and percentages worksheets, so treat these three topics as one revision block rather than three separate ones.
Common mistakes and exam traps
Most dropped fraction marks are not calculation errors; they are method slips a child could avoid with a checklist.
- Adding the denominators. 1/4 + 1/3 is not 2/7. Find a common denominator first, every time.
- Forgetting to simplify. An answer like 6/12 is correct but the mark scheme wants 1/2, and in a multiple-choice paper the simplified form is the option listed.
- Mishandling mixed numbers. Convert 2 and 1/3 to the improper fraction 7/3 before multiplying or dividing.
- The switched question. The last line of a worded problem often flips what is asked ("how many were left?" not "how many were eaten?"). Underline it before you answer.
How to tackle a worded fractions problem
Worded questions reward a routine. Teach your child these four steps and practise them on our timed mock papers: underline exactly what the question asks; list what you are given; choose the operation (of an amount, add, subtract, multiply, divide); then check the units and whether the answer needs simplifying. A worked example: "A jug holds 600 ml. Maya drinks two-fifths, then pours away 90 ml. How much is left?" Two-fifths of 600 is 600 divided by 5 (120) times 2, which is 240 ml drunk. That leaves 360 ml, minus 90 ml poured away, so the final answer is 270 ml.
How this appears in a real GL 11+ paper
A typical GL maths paper is around 50 questions in about 50 minutes, so the target is roughly a minute per question, with no calculator and answers marked A to E on a separate OMR sheet. Fractions appear both as quick standalone items and folded into ratio, measures and money questions. Raw scores are converted to a Standard Age Score (SAS, roughly 69 to 141 with 100 as average), which is age-adjusted so younger children in the year are not penalised; many grammar schools look for around 111 or above, though exact marks vary by area. See our 11+ process guide and key dates page to plan the year.
Difficulty progression: Year 5 versus Year 6
The same skill scales up. An easier Year 5 question might be "What is 1/2 + 1/4?" (find twelfths or quarters, answer 3/4). The exam-level Year 6 version layers on steps: "A recipe needs 3/4 of a 500 g bag of flour. Sam uses 2/3 of what is needed. How many grams does he use?" That is 375 g needed, then two-thirds of 375, which is 250 g. Our worksheets pair every skill with both an entry-level and an exam-level sheet, plus a free timed on-site mini-mock, so a child climbs from Foundation to Greater Depth without a paywall.
Frequently asked questions
Is a calculator allowed in the 11+ fractions questions?
No. GL papers are non-calculator, so mental methods and neat written working matter. Practise the divide-then-multiply routine until it is automatic.
How many fractions questions are on the paper?
There is no fixed number, but fractions are among the most frequent maths topics and also appear inside ratio, decimal and percentage questions, so their real weight is higher than a headcount suggests.
What order should we practise in?
Start with equivalence and simplifying, then fraction of an amount, then the four operations, and finally mixed worded problems. Do 15 to 20 minutes daily rather than one long weekend session, and let full mock papers keep secured skills warm.