Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
What number comes next? 24, 26, 28, 30, ?
- 34
- 30
- 33
- 32
Answer: 32 — The sequence adds 2 each time.
11+ number series questions
Number series 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 number series follows a rule. Find the STEP between each pair.
- Here each number goes up by 2. Keep the step going: the next is 10.
Where marks get lost: Tip: some series multiply instead of add — always check the pattern first.
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 number comes next? 26, 28, 30, 32, ?
- 34
- 36
- 35
- 32
Answer: 34 — The sequence adds 2 each time.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
What number comes next? 4, 12, 36, 108, 324, ?
- 969
- 324
- 975
- 972
Answer: 972 — The sequence multiplies by 3 each time.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
What number comes next? 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, ?
- 486
- 489
- 162
- 483
Answer: 486 — The sequence multiplies by 3 each time.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
What number comes next? 45, 52, 59, 66, 73, ?
- 87
- 73
- 80
- 81
Answer: 80 — The sequence adds 7 each time.
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 number series with a tutor that explains
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