11+ maths papers ask between 40 and 60 questions in 50 minutes. There's no time for long working — most questions need to be solved mentally or with a quick jotting. Here are the techniques top scorers use.
1. Doubling and halving
To multiply by 4: double, then double again. To multiply by 5: halve, then multiply by 10. To divide by 5: divide by 10, then double. These cut working time dramatically.
2. Compatible numbers (compensation)
368 + 197 = 368 + 200 - 3 = 565. Round, add, then adjust. Faster than column addition.
3. Multiplying by 9 (the finger trick)
Hold up 10 fingers. To multiply 7 × 9, bend down the 7th finger. Fingers to the left = tens (6), fingers to the right = units (3). Answer: 63.
4. Fractions and percentages of amounts
10% = divide by 10. 20% = 10% then double. 25% = divide by 4. 50% = halve. 1% = divide by 100. From these, any percentage can be assembled (e.g. 35% = 25% + 10%).
5. Square numbers to 20
Memorise: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225, 256, 289, 324, 361, 400. Examiners use square numbers constantly.
6. Times tables to 12 × 12
Not negotiable. Every weak times-table fact costs seconds across the paper. By Year 5 entry, every fact should be recallable in under 2 seconds.
7. The "round and adjust" trick for tricky subtractions
1003 - 487 = 1003 - 500 + 13 = 516. Round the subtrahend, then add back.
Practice that builds speed
Daily 5-minute drills are more effective than weekly 30-minute sessions. Quest Arena's maths worksheets include daily mental-maths sets.