Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
What is 4/7 of 42?
- 6
- 73.5
- 18
- 24
Answer: 24 — Divide 42 by 7, then multiply by 4.
11+ fraction arithmetic questions
Fraction arithmetic 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
- To ADD or SUBTRACT you need the same bottom number. Find a common denominator first.
- Never add the bottoms. 1/2 + 1/4 is 3/4, not 2/6.
Where marks get lost: To MULTIPLY, go straight across: tops together, bottoms together, then simplify. To divide, flip the second one and multiply.
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
What is 6/7 − 1/5?
- 23/12
- 5/2
- 6/35
- 23/35
Answer: 23/35 — Use a common denominator of 35 before you subtract.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
What is 5/6 + 2/8?
- 13/12
- 1/2
- 5/24
- 26/7
Answer: 13/12 — Use a common denominator of 48 before you add.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
What is 2/3 of 27?
- 19
- 40.5
- 9
- 18
Answer: 18 — Divide 27 by 3, then multiply by 2.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
What is 2/7 ÷ 12/14?
- 3
- 2/3
- 12/49
- 1/3
Answer: 1/3 — Turn the second fraction upside down and multiply.
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 fraction arithmetic with a tutor that explains
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