11+ Maths: Solving Word Problems Involving Measures (CEM & GL)
21 October 2026
Solving word problems with measures
Word problems involving measures are a key part of the 11+ maths exam, especially in CEM and GL styles. These questions test whether children can apply maths to real-life situations, such as length, mass, capacity, time and speed.
How to approach measure problems
Start by reading the question carefully. Underline the numbers and the units given. Check what the question is actually asking for, and make sure you know which units your answer should be in.
Unit conversions matter
If the units in the question are different from the unit needed in the answer, convert them before you start calculating. For example, change minutes to hours, or centimetres to metres, using simple facts: 1 km = 1,000 m, 1 litre = 1,000 ml, 60 minutes = 1 hour.
Worked example
A rectangular garden is 5 m long and 3 m wide. What is its area in square metres?
First, underline the important numbers: 5 m and 3 m. The question asks for area in square metres.
To find the area of a rectangle, multiply the length by the width.
5 × 3 = 15
The correct answer is 15 square metres.
Check and encourage
After working through the steps, check that the units are correct and the answer makes sense. Encourage your child to practise with different types of measure problems, including those involving time, mass and capacity.
Key insight: Breaking problems into small steps and checking units at each stage helps children avoid common mistakes and builds confidence for the 11+ exam.
