11+ Problem Solving & Word Problems Online Tests
Word problems are where the 11+ separates children who can perform calculations from children who can decide which calculation to perform. The arithmetic involved is often simpler than in the rest of the paper; the difficulty lies in reading carefully, choosing operations and carrying out several steps in the right order.
These questions typically combine two or three topics - a fraction of an amount followed by a subtraction, or a ratio followed by a unit conversion. They carry the most marks per question on most papers, and they are the questions that reward slow, deliberate reading.
21 free Problem Solving & Word Problems tests
Timed and marked instantly, with an explanation for every question. No sign-up needed.
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Easy Test 1 Easy 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Easy Test 2 Easy 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Easy Test 3 Easy 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Easy Test 4 Easy 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Easy Test 5 Easy 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 1 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 2 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 3 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 4 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 5 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 6 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 7 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Medium Test 8 Medium 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 1 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 2 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 3 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 4 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 5 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 6 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 7 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
- Problem Solving & Word Problems: Hard Test 8 Hard 15 questions · 15 min
What these Problem Solving & Word Problems tests cover
- Multi-step problems combining several operations
- Choosing the right operation from the wording
- Money problems, including change and best value
- Working backwards from a given answer
- Logic puzzles and reasoning questions
- Real-life contexts: shopping, journeys, recipes and measurements
Problem Solving & Word Problems: tips that earn marks
- Read the question twice before writing anything. The second reading is where the crucial detail usually surfaces.
- Underline the numbers and circle what is actually being asked. Many lost marks come from answering a question that was not set.
- Write down each step as you go. Method marks are frequently available even when the final answer is wrong.
- At the end, check the answer against the question. If a child's change from a ten pound note comes to twelve pounds, something has gone wrong earlier.
Questions parents ask about Problem Solving & Word Problems
Why are word problems the hardest part of the 11+?
Because they test reading and mathematics at once. A child must extract the mathematics from the prose before any of their arithmetic skill can help them.
How can a child improve at word problems?
By practising the reading rather than the arithmetic - identifying what is being asked, and what information is relevant, before calculating anything.
Are marks given for working?
On most 11+ papers, yes, particularly for multi-step questions. Written working is worth the seconds it costs.