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How to help at home
Short, practical notes on 9311+ topics, written for parents. Each one shows how schools teach it now (so you don't teach an old method), a 5-minute activity with things from around the house, a worked example, the mistakes to watch for and what to say when it gets tricky.
Maths
- How to explain numberQuick questions on place value, factors, primes, negative numbers and written calculations, usually multiple choice and always without a calculator.Read the note
- Part of NumberHow to explain place valueQuestions ask the value of a digit, to order or compare large numbers and decimals, or to multiply and divide by 10, 100 and 1,000.Read the note
- Part of NumberHow to explain negative numbersQuestions about temperatures, bank balances or number lines: ordering negative numbers, finding the difference between, say, −6°C and 4°C, or counting through zero.Read the note
- Part of NumberHow to explain factors and multiplesQuestions ask for factors, multiples, common factors or the lowest common multiple, e.g. 'Which number is a multiple of both 6 and 8?'Read the note
- Part of NumberHow to explain prime, square and cube numbersSpot prime numbers, square numbers (49 = 7 × 7) and cube numbers (27 = 3 × 3 × 3), often hidden in a list or a 'which is not…' question.Read the note
- Part of NumberHow to explain long multiplication and divisionWritten calculations without a calculator, such as 346 × 27 or 1,728 ÷ 12, set on their own or hidden inside a word problem.Read the note
- Part of NumberHow to explain missing digits and column methodsA written sum with some digits hidden by boxes, e.g. 3☐6 + 25☐ = 611, and your child works out each missing digit.Read the note
- How to explain fractions, decimals and percentagesA big 11+ topic: fractions and percentages of amounts, calculating with fractions and decimals, converting between them and putting them in order.Read the note
- Part of Fractions, decimals and percentagesHow to explain calculating with fractionsAdd, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers, e.g. 2 1/3 + 1 3/4, and change improper fractions like 11/4 into mixed numbers (2 3/4).Read the note
- Part of Fractions, decimals and percentagesHow to explain fractions of amountsFind a fraction of a quantity, e.g. 3/5 of £40, or work backwards: 'Two-thirds of a number is 18. What is the number?'Read the note
- Part of Fractions, decimals and percentagesHow to explain percentagesFind percentages of amounts (35% of £80), sale prices and increases, or say what percentage one number is of another.Read the note
- Part of Fractions, decimals and percentagesHow to explain converting and ordering fractions, decimals and percentagesChange between fractions, decimals and percentages (3/8 = 0.375 = 37.5%) and put a mixed list in order of size.Read the note
- Part of Fractions, decimals and percentagesHow to explain calculating with decimalsAdd, subtract, multiply and divide decimals, often with money or measures, e.g. 4.6 − 1.85 or 0.3 × 7.Read the note
- Part of Fractions, decimals and percentagesHow to explain rounding and estimatingRound numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000 or whole number, or to 1 or 2 decimal places, and use rounding to estimate answers.Read the note
- How to explain ratio and proportionShare amounts in a ratio (e.g. £45 in the ratio 2:3), scale recipes, or work out one quantity from another.Read the note
- Part of Ratio and proportionHow to explain proportion and scalingScale amounts up or down: a recipe for 4 people made for 6, or 'If 3 pens cost £1.20, how much do 7 cost?'Read the note
- How to explain algebraSolve equations like 3n + 5 = 26, use simple formulae, put numbers in place of letters, and work out function machines.Read the note
- Part of AlgebraHow to explain order of operations (BODMAS)Work out calculations with brackets and mixed operations in the right order, e.g. 6 + 4 × (8 − 5).Read the note
- Part of AlgebraHow to explain solving equationsFind the missing number in an equation, from one step (n + 17 = 42) up to letters on both sides (5x + 3 = 2x + 18).Read the note
- Part of AlgebraHow to explain function machinesA number goes through a machine (e.g. × 4, then − 3) and your child finds the output, the input, or the missing rule.Read the note
- Part of AlgebraHow to explain substitution and bracketsPut numbers in place of letters, e.g. 'If a = 4 and b = 3, what is 5a − 2b?', and sometimes multiply out brackets like 3(x + 2).Read the note
- How to explain sequencesFind the next or a missing number in a pattern, the rule (e.g. 'add 7'), or the 20th term of a sequence like 5, 9, 13, 17…Read the note
- How to explain units of measurementConvert between metric units (mm, cm, m, km; g, kg; ml, l) and solve problems about weighing, pouring and measuring.Read the note
- Part of Units of measurementHow to explain reading scalesRead a value from a ruler, measuring jug, thermometer or weighing scale where only some of the marks are numbered.Read the note
- How to explain timeWork out durations, start and finish times and dates, often from a timetable, e.g. 'A film starts at 6:45 pm and lasts 1 hour 50 minutes. When does it end?'Read the note
- Part of TimeHow to explain 12-hour and 24-hour clockChange between 12-hour times (3:20 pm) and 24-hour times (15:20), and read times from clock faces.Read the note
- How to explain speed, distance and timeProblems using speed = distance ÷ time, e.g. 'A car travels 150 km in 2½ hours. What is its average speed?'Read the note
- How to explain area and perimeterFind the perimeter and area of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms and other shapes, often from a diagram 'not drawn to scale'.Read the note
- Part of Area and perimeterHow to explain compound shapesFind the area or perimeter of an L-shape or another shape made from rectangles, working out any missing side lengths first.Read the note
- Part of Area and perimeterHow to explain volume and surface areaFind the volume of a cuboid (length × width × height) or a shape made of cubes, and sometimes the surface area.Read the note
- How to explain shapesName and describe 2D and 3D shapes by their properties, find missing angles and spot lines of symmetry.Read the note
- Part of ShapesHow to explain anglesFind missing angles in triangles, on straight lines, around a point and between parallel lines, or name angle types (acute, obtuse, reflex).Read the note
- Part of ShapesHow to explain symmetryCount lines of symmetry, or complete a shape or pattern on a grid so that it is symmetrical about a mirror line.Read the note
- How to explain position and directionRead and plot coordinates, follow compass directions and turns, and move shapes on a grid.Read the note
- Part of Position and directionHow to explain coordinatesRead or plot points such as (3, −2), or find the missing corner of a square or rectangle drawn on a grid.Read the note
- Part of Position and directionHow to explain reflection and translationMove a shape on a grid (translate it, e.g. 3 right and 2 down) or reflect it in a mirror line, and give the new coordinates.Read the note
- How to explain averages: mean, median, mode and rangeFind the mean, median, mode or range of a set of numbers, or work backwards from a mean to a missing value.Read the note
- How to explain charts, graphs and tablesRead bar charts, pictograms, line graphs, tables and timetables, then answer questions like 'how many more?' or 'what was the total?'Read the note
- Part of Charts, graphs and tablesHow to explain pie chartsRead a pie chart as fractions or percentages of the total, or work out amounts from angles, e.g. a 120° slice of 60 children.Read the note
- Part of Charts, graphs and tablesHow to explain venn and Carroll diagramsSort numbers or objects into a Venn diagram (overlapping circles) or a Carroll diagram (a yes/no grid), or read how many are in each part.Read the note
- How to explain probabilityUse words like 'certain', 'likely' and 'impossible', or give a probability as a fraction, e.g. the chance of picking a blue counter from a bag.Read the note
- How to explain word problemsA short story with several steps (shopping, sharing, timings) where your child must decide which calculations to do and in what order.Read the note
- Part of Word problemsHow to explain money problemsProblems with prices, change, best value and budgets, e.g. 'Which is better value: 6 rolls for £2.40 or 10 rolls for £3.70?'Read the note
English
- How to explain spellingYour child reads a sentence split into four sections and picks the section with a misspelt word, or N if every word is spelt correctly.Read the note
- How to explain punctuationYour child reads a sentence split into sections and picks the one with a punctuation mistake (capital letters count), or N if there is none.Read the note
- Part of PunctuationHow to explain direct speechYour child spots mistakes in how spoken words are punctuated, like a missing comma or capital, or a question mark after reported speech.Read the note
- Part of PunctuationHow to explain apostrophesYour child spots a missing or wrong apostrophe, such as 'dont', 'the schools playground', 'apple's for sale' or its/it's.Read the note
- How to explain grammarYour child chooses the word that correctly completes a sentence, or the sentence that is grammatically correct, such as 'we saw' rather than 'we seen'.Read the note
- Part of GrammarHow to explain fronted adverbialsYour child finds the fronted adverbial in a sentence, picks the sentence that starts with one, or chooses where its comma goes.Read the note
- Part of GrammarHow to explain relative clausesYour child chooses who, which, whose, where or when to start the extra information in a sentence, like 'the girl whose bike was stolen'.Read the note
- Part of GrammarHow to explain active and passive voiceYour child picks which sentence is written in the passive voice (The window was broken by the ball), or which is active.Read the note
- Part of GrammarHow to explain subject–verb agreementYour child picks the verb that agrees with the subject, as in 'The box of chocolates ___ on the table' (is, are, am, be).Read the note
- Part of GrammarHow to explain verb tensesYour child picks the verb form that fits the time clues in a sentence, such as 'had finished' or 'was raining'.Read the note
- How to explain word classes (word types)Your child reads a sentence and picks the word that belongs to a given word class, such as the adverb, preposition or determiner.Read the note
- How to explain fill in the blanks (cloze)Your child reads a sentence or passage with words (or letters) missing and chooses what fits each gap in both meaning and grammar.Read the note
- How to explain synonymsYour child reads a sentence with one word in bold and picks the option closest in meaning to that word, as it is used there.Read the note
- How to explain word meaning in contextYour child works out what a word or phrase means as it is used in a sentence or passage, often a word they haven't met before.Read the note
- How to explain antonymsYour child reads a sentence with one word in bold and picks the option most nearly opposite in meaning to it.Read the note
- How to explain homophonesYour child picks the pair of words, such as there/their or practice/practise, that correctly fills two gaps in a sentence.Read the note
- How to explain prefixes and suffixesYour child chooses the prefix that makes a word's opposite (un, dis, im, in, il, ir), or says what a prefix means, like tele- (far).Read the note
- Part of Prefixes and suffixesHow to explain suffixesYour child picks the correct spelling when a suffix is added to a word, such as hope + ing = hoping, or chooses a tricky plural.Read the note
- How to explain shuffled sentencesYour child sees the words of a sentence jumbled up with one extra word added, and picks the word that isn't needed.Read the note
- How to explain comprehensionYour child reads a passage (story, poem or non-fiction) and answers questions, from finding facts to explaining feelings and word choices.Read the note
- Part of ComprehensionHow to explain inferenceYour child answers questions whose answers are hinted at, not stated: how a character feels, why they act, or what the writer suggests.Read the note
- How to explain creative writingSome 11+ tests ask your child to write a story, description or persuasive piece from a short prompt or picture, against the clock.Read the note
Verbal Reasoning
- How to explain move a letterYour child moves one letter from the first word into the second word so that both become new, real words.Read the note
- How to explain make a new wordTwo groups show how a word in brackets is built from letters of the words either side; your child builds the missing word the same way.Read the note
- How to explain letter codesA word is written in code by moving its letters along the alphabet; your child spots the rule, then codes or decodes another word.Read the note
- How to explain compound wordsYour child picks one word from each of two groups so that, joined together, they make one longer word.Read the note
- How to explain missing three lettersA word in capitals in a sentence has three letters taken out, and those three letters make a word on their own.Read the note
- How to explain letter analogiesOne pair of letters changes into another (CD is to FG), and your child makes the same change to a third pair.Read the note
- How to explain logic problemsYour child reads a few clues about people (who is taller, who sits where, who goes to which club) and works out the answer.Read the note
- How to explain number sequencesA row of numbers follows a rule, and your child works out the next number in the series.Read the note
- How to explain missing lettersYour child finds one letter that ends the first word and starts the second word in every pair given.Read the note
- How to explain word analogiesYour child completes a sentence like "cat is to kitten as dog is to ?" by finding the same link between words.Read the note
- How to explain closest meaningYour child picks one word from each of two groups so that the two words are closest in meaning.Read the note
- How to explain hidden wordsYour child finds a four-letter word hidden across the end of one word and the start of the next in a sentence.Read the note
- How to explain number codesEach letter stands for a number; using some words and their codes, your child codes or decodes another word.Read the note
- How to explain letter sumsEach letter stands for a number; your child works out a sum using those numbers and gives the answer as a letter.Read the note
- How to explain odd two outFrom five words, your child finds the two that don't belong with the other three.Read the note
- How to explain alphabetical orderYour child puts words or letters in alphabetical order, or counts forwards and backwards along the alphabet.Read the note
- How to explain double meaningsYour child chooses the word that goes equally well with two pairs of words, because it has two different meanings.Read the note
- How to explain missing numbersIn each group the middle number is made from the two outside numbers; your child finds the rule and completes the last group.Read the note
- How to explain letter sequencesA series of letters or letter pairs moves along the alphabet, and your child finds the next one.Read the note
- How to explain opposite meaningYour child picks one word from each of two groups so that the two words are most opposite in meaning.Read the note
Non-Verbal Reasoning
- How to explain rotationsYour child picks which option is the same figure turned round, not flipped over like a mirror image.Read the note
- How to explain reflectionsYour child finds the mirror image of a figure in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal mirror line.Read the note
- How to explain odd one outFour figures share something and your child finds the one figure that doesn't fit.Read the note
- How to explain cube netsYour child looks at a flat net with symbols on its squares and picks the cube it would make when folded.Read the note
- How to explain codesEach figure has a letter code where each letter stands for one feature, and your child writes the code for a new figure.Read the note
- How to explain seriesYour child looks at a row of boxes where figures change step by step and picks the one that comes next.Read the note
- How to explain matricesYour child looks at a grid of figures with one square missing and picks the figure that completes the pattern.Read the note
- How to explain analogiesThe first figure changes into the second; your child makes the same change to a third figure and picks the result.Read the note
See which topics your child needs most
Academy11+ marks every paper and practice round by topic, then shows Readiness by topic with the right home-help note next to each one.