11+ Maths Syllabus 2026: 4+, 7+, 13+, GCSE Mapped

How UK Maths Progresses: 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+, GCSE

These exams are not one “syllabus”; they sit on top of the National Curriculum and then add stretch through problem-solving, multi-step reasoning, and speed under timed conditions. 4+ and 7+ focus on number sense and early reasoning; the 11+ expects secure Key Stage 2 fluency plus selective-school problem types; 13+ typically extends breadth and depth (often aligned to Key Stage 3); GCSE assesses a full two-year secondary programme with formal algebra and geometry.

For statutory expectations by year group, view the framework on GOV.UK. When schools say “working at Greater Depth”, they usually mean a child can pick an efficient method, explain why it works, and avoid common traps under time pressure.

11+ in context: what “selective difficulty” really means

The 11+ maths syllabus usually stays within Key Stage 2 content, but questions are engineered to test logic: hidden steps, unfamiliar contexts, and multiple constraints. A child who can do routine fractions may still drop marks on an 11+ paper if they misread units, miss a condition, or choose a slow method (for example, repeated addition instead of ratio scaling).

Stage-by-Stage Topic Map (What to Master and What Gets Stretched)

The safest way to revise is to separate “core” (must be automatic) from “stretch” (selective problem-solving). The table below shows what typically matters most for each stage, with the 11+ column reflecting what most Grammar and selective Independent schools commonly test.

Here is your stage-by-stage mathematics curriculum and selective stretch comparison table.

11+ Maths: High-Frequency Topics and How Marks Are Won

Across GL-style and school-set papers, most 11+ marks come from a predictable cluster: fractions/decimals/percentages, ratio/proportion, arithmetic fluency, measures, and word problems. The difference between “pass” and “top set” is usually not extra topics, but faster methods and fewer avoidable errors.

Below is a practical breakdown of what to secure and how it is commonly tested.

Here is your 11+ high-frequency maths topics and execution strategies comparison table.

Mastering the Logic with the CPA Method (Built for 11+)

Selective exams reward children who can represent a problem clearly, not children who guess. CPA is the fastest route from “I can do it with help” to “I can do it under timed conditions”. We use it because it reduces careless errors and improves transfer to unfamiliar question types.

CPA example: ratio sharing (a classic 11+ mark-setter)

Step 1 (Concrete): Use counters to represent total parts. If a sum is shared in the ratio 2:3, physically place 2 counters for A and 3 for B.

Step 2 (Pictorial): Draw a bar model split into 5 equal parts. Label 2 parts and 3 parts.

Step 3 (Abstract): Total parts = 5. One part = total ÷ 5. Then multiply for each share. This method avoids the most common error: multiplying the ratio numbers by the total directly.

Common Misconceptions & Exam Traps (What Costs Marks)

Most lost marks in 11+ maths are predictable and fixable. Parents can spot them by reviewing corrections: if the answer is “nearly right” but wrong, it’s usually a trap rather than a topic gap.

Example Question: A bottle holds 1.5 litres. Sam drinks 300 ml. How much is left?
Common Error: Subtract 300 from 1.5 without converting units, giving a nonsense answer.
Correct Method: Convert 1.5 litres to 1500 ml first, then 1500 − 300 = 1200 ml (or 1.2 litres). Write units on every line.

Example Question: Find 3/5 of 250.
Common Error: Do 250 ÷ 3 × 5 (inverting the fraction incorrectly).
Correct Method: Divide by the denominator: 250 ÷ 5 = 50, then multiply by the numerator: 50 × 3 = 150. This is faster and safer under time.

Keep a mistake notebook with three columns: question type, error type (unit, reading, method), and the corrected method. After 3–4 weeks, patterns emerge and scores jump without adding more hours.