Solving percentage problems for 11+ maths
21 October 2026
Why percentages matter in 11+ maths
Understanding percentages is an important part of 11+ maths. Children will need to solve percentage problems in the exam and in real life, from working out discounts to understanding data. Helping your child to break down these questions builds long-term confidence.
Step-by-step method for percentage problems
The best way to approach percentage questions is to follow a clear set of steps. This makes even tricky problems feel more manageable.
Worked example: finding 25% of 80
Step 1: Think about what 25% means. It is the same as one quarter, or 0.25 as a decimal.
Step 2: Convert 25% into a decimal. Divide by 100 to get 0.25.
Step 3: Multiply the decimal by the quantity. 0.25 × 80 = 20.
Step 4: The answer is 20. So, 25% of 80 is 20.
Supporting your child with practice
Encourage your child to take each percentage problem step by step. Remind them to always convert the percentage to a decimal before multiplying. Practising these methods at home will make percentage questions much less daunting.
Key insight: Breaking percentage problems into simple, repeatable steps helps children build confidence and accuracy for 11+ maths and beyond.
