Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
Find the missing number: 4 + ▢ = 16
- 13
- 16
- 12
- 11
Answer: 12 — 4 + 12 = 16.
11+ missing numbers questions
Missing numbers comes up in the maths paper of every major 11+ format. Here is what the questions look like, the method that works under time pressure, and five worked examples with the full reasoning, from a gentle start to a hard paper.
Maths · examined by GL and CEM · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- A box means a number is missing. Use the OPPOSITE operation to find it.
- To undo + , subtract: 12 − 7 = 5.
Where marks get lost: So the missing number is 5. Check: 7 + 5 = 12 ✓
Worked examples
Every question below is generated by the same engine your child practises on, and every answer is derived by our checker rather than written by hand — which is why we can put them on a public page at all.
Example 2 · level 2 — typical of early practice
Find the missing number: 4 + ▢ = 5
- 5
- 2
- 1
- 0
Answer: 1 — 4 + 1 = 5.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
Find the missing number: 29 + ▢ = 55
- 27
- 26
- 25
- 55
Answer: 26 — 29 + 26 = 55.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
Find the missing number: 70 - ▢ = 64
- 64
- 5
- 6
- 7
Answer: 6 — 70 - 6 = 64.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
Find the missing number: 40 + ▢ = 143
- 143
- 102
- 103
- 104
Answer: 103 — 40 + 103 = 143.
How to practise this at home
- Work in short, frequent sessions. Ten minutes daily beats an hour at the weekend, because the recall gap is what builds memory.
- Insist on written working, even for questions your child can do in their head — under exam pressure the method is what survives.
- When an answer is wrong, ask them to explain their reasoning before you correct it. The error is almost always in one step, not the whole approach.
Practise missing numbers with a tutor that explains
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