11 maths understanding proportion practice
21 October 2026
Understanding proportion
Proportion is about comparing two quantities and seeing how they relate to each other. In 11+ maths, children are often asked to solve problems where one amount changes in direct proportion to another.
Why proportion matters for 11+
Proportion questions appear regularly in 11+ exams. Children may need to scale recipes, share money, or adjust quantities while keeping the relationship between them the same.
Key insight: Look for the link between the numbers in the question. Using the unitary method. Finding the value for one part first. Often makes proportion problems much simpler to solve.
Worked example
A recipe needs 3 eggs to make 12 pancakes. How many eggs are needed for 20 pancakes?
First, find out how many pancakes one egg makes. Divide 12 pancakes by 3 eggs: 12 ÷ 3 = 4.
So, 1 egg makes 4 pancakes.
Next, work out how many eggs are needed for 20 pancakes. Divide 20 by 4: 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
The correct answer is 5 eggs.
Supporting your child
Encourage your child to break proportion problems into clear steps. Practising with real-life examples, like recipes or sharing, can help make the concept more concrete and memorable.
