Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
How many for Y8?
- 26
- 14
- 4
- 12
Answer: 12 — Each symbol stands for 2, so count the symbols and multiply.
11+ pictograms questions
Pictograms 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
- The key is the whole question. One picture usually stands for more than one thing.
- If one symbol means 5, then four symbols mean 20 — count the symbols, then multiply.
Where marks get lost: Half a symbol is half the key's value. Watch for them at the end of a row.
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
Which has the most?
- Red
- Blue
- Purple
- Pink
Answer: Purple — Each symbol stands for 2, so count the symbols and multiply.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
Which has the most?
- Pink
- Purple
- Orange
- Blue
Answer: Pink — Each symbol stands for 2, so count the symbols and multiply.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
What is the total?
- 610
- 190
- 240
- 50
Answer: 610 — Each symbol stands for 10, so count the symbols and multiply.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
What is the difference between History and English?
- 220
- 260
- 700
- 480
Answer: 260 — Each symbol stands for 20, so count the symbols 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 pictograms with a tutor that explains
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