Help at home · Maths
How to help with Maths at home
Number, fractions, ratio, algebra, measures, shape and data, the way schools teach them now. Pick a topic for a short note you can read in two minutes and use tonight.
Maths topics
How to explain number
Quick questions on place value, factors, primes, negative numbers and written calculations, usually multiple choice and always without a calculator.
How to explain fractions, decimals and percentages
A big 11+ topic: fractions and percentages of amounts, calculating with fractions and decimals, converting between them and putting them in order.
How to explain ratio and proportion
Share amounts in a ratio (e.g. £45 in the ratio 2:3), scale recipes, or work out one quantity from another.
How to explain algebra
Solve equations like 3n + 5 = 26, use simple formulae, put numbers in place of letters, and work out function machines.
How to explain sequences
Find 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…
How to explain units of measurement
Convert between metric units (mm, cm, m, km; g, kg; ml, l) and solve problems about weighing, pouring and measuring.
How to explain time
Work 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?'
How to explain speed, distance and time
Problems using speed = distance ÷ time, e.g. 'A car travels 150 km in 2½ hours. What is its average speed?'
How to explain area and perimeter
Find the perimeter and area of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms and other shapes, often from a diagram 'not drawn to scale'.
How to explain shapes
Name and describe 2D and 3D shapes by their properties, find missing angles and spot lines of symmetry.
How to explain position and direction
Read and plot coordinates, follow compass directions and turns, and move shapes on a grid.
How to explain averages: mean, median, mode and range
Find the mean, median, mode or range of a set of numbers, or work backwards from a mean to a missing value.
How to explain charts, graphs and tables
Read bar charts, pictograms, line graphs, tables and timetables, then answer questions like 'how many more?' or 'what was the total?'
How to explain probability
Use 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.
How to explain word problems
A short story with several steps (shopping, sharing, timings) where your child must decide which calculations to do and in what order.
Know which topics to work on
Academy11+ marks every paper by topic and shows the right home-help note next to each topic your child finds hard.