How to explain ratio and proportion in practice assessment 2 to your student
27 October 2026
Understanding ratio and proportion helps your child compare groups in a fair way. This example question is designed to show a clear method for working out how many items there are in each group when you know the ratio and part of the total.
Worked example
There are red and blue counters in a bag. The ratio of red to blue counters is 2: 3. There are 10 red counters. How many blue counters are there?
Step 1: Add the parts in the ratio. 2 + 3 = 5 parts in total.
Step 2: Each part is worth the same amount. There are 10 red counters, and red is 2 parts. 10 ÷ 2 = 5. So 1 part = 5 counters.
Step 3: Blue is 3 parts. 3 × 5 = 15 blue counters.
The correct answer is 15 blue counters.
Now your child can spot how ratios work in questions like this. They will be able to use the same steps to solve other ratio and proportion problems in their 11+ maths practice. For more support, you can find similar examples and guidance at maths.com uk.
