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Academy11+

11+ Maths · Topic explained

Money problems

Something costs £3.65 and you pay with a £5 note. What's your change?

The big idea

Keep to one unit (pounds or pence), and count up to find change.

Picture it

Like a shopkeeper counting coins into your hand, up to the note you paid with.

Key words

pence
100p = £1.
change
The money you get back: paid − cost.
best value
The cheapest price for each item.

Worked examples

  1. 1Warm-up

    A comic costs £3.65. You pay with a £5 note. How much change?

    • £3.65 → £3.70 (5p) → £4 (30p) → £5 (£1)
    • 5p + 30p + £1 = £1.35
  2. 211+ standard

    3 notebooks at £1.45 each and a pen at 89p. How much change from £10?

    • 3 × £1.45 = £4.35
    • £4.35 + £0.89 = £5.24
    • £10 − £5.24 = £4.76
  3. 311+ standard

    Which is better value: 4 yoghurts for £1.20 or 6 for £1.50?

    • £1.20 ÷ 4 = 30p each
    • £1.50 ÷ 6 = 25p each
    • 6 for £1.50 is better value
  4. 411+ standard

    Sara saves £2.50 every week. How many weeks until she has £20?

    • £2.50 × 4 = £10 in 4 weeks
    • So £20 takes 8 weeks

The common mistake

The mistake

£2.40 + 85p = £87.40

Instead

Use one unit: 240p + 85p = 325p = £3.25.

Why: 85p is 85 pence, not 85 pounds. Mixing pounds and pence muddles the place value.

Where it comes up in the 11+

Shopping lists, change, best buys and saving up: multi-step problems with pounds and pence.

The video

Video coming soon

We're making a short video that explains money problems step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.

Free printable

Money problems worksheet

Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.

Download the worksheet (PDF)

Free account needed: it takes a minute.

Quick quiz

Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.

  1. 1. Something costs £6.72. How much change do you get from £10?

    • £4.38
    • £3.28
    • £3.38
    • £4.28
    Show the answer

    £3.28

    £6.72 → £7 is 28p, → £10 is £3: £3.28.

  2. 2. How much do 5 pens at 65p each cost?

    • £3.25
    • £3.05
    • £32.50
    • £2.25
    Show the answer

    £3.25

    5 × 65p = 325p = £3.25.

  3. 3. Which is better value: 3 for £2.40 or 5 for £3.75?

    • 3 for £2.40
    • 5 for £3.75
    • They are the same
    • You can't tell
    Show the answer

    5 for £3.75

    £2.40 ÷ 3 = 80p each; £3.75 ÷ 5 = 75p each.