Achieving Academic Excellence
Achieving Academic Excellence
Achieving Academic Excellence
Achieving Academic Excellence
🚨 URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT: The BRGS Exam Accelerator Programme starts in 5 DAYS! Enrollment is closing soon!
When reviewing the 11+ maths topics, it is clear that three areas carry the most weight and frequently catch students off guard. This guide is designed to highlight these essential foundations, ensuring your child focuses their efforts efficiently. This focused approach is essential for achieving success in competitive entrance tests, such as those set by Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS).
Many parents feel overwhelmed, unsure if they are covering the right ground or just drowning their child in endless practice papers. The truth is, success in the 11+ isn’t about covering every topic; it’s about mastering the right topics.
Based on 18 years of experience preparing students for competitive entrance exams, and through extensive experience delivering and analysing 11+ mock exams, we have seen the mistakes that students make in maths time and again! We’ve identified the three key maths topics that consistently feature and that, when mastered, secure a solid pathway to a passing score. Stop guessing where to focus your child’s energy—read on to discover the non-negotiable foundations they must have before exam day.
The 11 plus maths paper isn’t just about rote memorisation; it tests a child’s ability to apply core concepts under pressure. Knowing where to concentrate your revision efforts can make all the difference, transforming overwhelm into confidence.
The foundation of all 11+ maths topics lies in advanced arithmetic fluency. It’s not enough for your child to simply know their times tables; the exam demands they perform calculations with speed, accuracy and apply them to complex scenarios involving larger numbers, decimals and fractions.
Mastery of these specific arithmetic skills is crucial:
Long multiplication and division: Beyond basic facts, can they confidently tackle multi-step operations?
Order of Operations (BODMAS): Understanding the correct sequence for calculations is vital for accuracy in all 11+ maths topics.
Fractions, Decimals, Percentages: Converting between these forms and performing operations with them swiftly.
Tip for Parents: Encourage regular, short bursts of timed practice. Mental maths games and challenging arithmetic puzzles can significantly boost both speed and confidence. Accuracy is paramount, so focus on working systematically.
This is often where students stumble. The 11+ maths topics related to problem-solving are frequently wrapped up in real-world scenarios, testing not just calculation skills but comprehension. These problems require students to:
Read for understanding: Extract all relevant information and ignore distractions.
Identify multiple operations: Recognise that several calculations are needed in a specific sequence.
Apply various concepts: Often a single word problem might involve fractions, money, and time all at once!
Tip for Parents: Use Estimation to Check Answers. Children often write an incorrect answer because they forget to ask: “Is this a sensible number?” The fastest way to catch careless mistakes is to use estimation.
Your 2-Step Routine:
Estimate: Quickly round the numbers to get a rough idea of the answer.
Compare: After calculating, check if your final answer is close to your estimate.
This simple habit develops intuition and stops senseless answers in their tracks!
While algebra and number work often get the lion’s share of revision time, quick and accurate knowledge in Geometry and Measure can be the difference-maker. Mastery of the measurement concepts is crucial, and the 11+ maths topics related to Geometry and Measure are:
Perimeter, Area, and Volume: Especially for composite shapes (shapes made of two or more simpler shapes).
Unit Conversion Mastery: Being able to quickly and accurately convert between standard units (e.g., kilograms to grams, meters to kilometres, time formats).
Understanding Scale: Interpreting maps, diagrams, and simple ratio problems related to size and measurement.
Tip for Parents: Use real-world examples at home to practice measures. Ask your child to estimate the area of a room or convert cooking measurements to reinforce these skills in a practical context.
Don’t let uncertainty derail your child’s confidence. Our small-group online tuition is expertly designed to plug the exact gaps found in these critical 11+ Maths topics, ensuring focused practice and real progress.
The new BRGS Exam Accelerator Programme starts on 6th January 2026! Contact Helen TODAY to book your FREE Student Success Plan and ensure your child is fully prepared!
You’ve seen the three key foundations that determine success. Knowing the topics is the first step—mastering them under pressure is the next. Ready to ensure your child masters these key areas? Secure their spot in the BRGS Exam Accelerator Programme today. Only 5 days remain!