Mental Maths Tips for the 11+

In the 11+ Maths paper, speed matters as much as knowing the method. Quick, accurate mental maths frees up precious time for harder questions. Here’s how to build it.

Start with rock-solid times tables

Times tables are the foundation of fast maths. A child who knows them instantly — up to 12×12, in and out of order — has a huge advantage. Drill them until recall is automatic, not calculated.

Learn number bonds and doubles

Instant recall of number bonds (pairs that make 10, 20, 100) and doubles/halves speeds up almost every calculation. These are quick wins worth practising daily.

Teach useful shortcuts

• ×10, ×100: shift the digits, don’t “add zeros”.
• ×5: multiply by 10, then halve.
• ×9: multiply by 10, then subtract the number.
• Adding near-round numbers: round, then adjust (e.g. +99 = +100 − 1).

Estimate to check

Encourage a quick estimate before and after a calculation. If the answer is wildly off the estimate, something’s wrong — a simple habit that catches careless errors.

Little and often

Five minutes of mental maths a day beats an occasional long session. Quick-fire practice — in the car, at breakfast — keeps skills sharp and builds the speed the 11+ rewards.

Put mental maths to the test with our free 11+ practice test, or see what the 11+ Maths paper covers.