Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
Work out 4 + 32 × 8
- 260
- 228
- 288
- 268
Answer: 260 — Brackets first, then × and ÷, then + and −.
11+ order of operations (bodmas) questions
Order of operations (BODMAS) 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
- Not left to right. Brackets first, then times and divide, then add and subtract.
- In 2 + 3 × 4, the 3 × 4 happens first. Left to right would give 20, and that is the trap.
Where marks get lost: If brackets are there, they change the order on purpose: (2 + 3) × 4 really is 20.
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
Work out (2 + 4) × 2
- 14
- 12
- 10
- 8
Answer: 12 — Brackets first, then × and ÷, then + and −.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
Work out 13 + 12 × 6
- 150
- 85
- 73
- 91
Answer: 85 — Brackets first, then × and ÷, then + and −.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
Work out (6 + 28) × 7
- 210
- 245
- 238
- 202
Answer: 238 — Brackets first, then × and ÷, then + and −.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
Work out 25 − 20 ÷ 5
- 21
- 1
- 26
- 22
Answer: 21 — Brackets first, then × and ÷, then + and −.
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 order of operations (bodmas) with a tutor that explains
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