11+ Maths Word Problems: A Step-by-Step Method That Works
By Simply Eleven Plus · Updated 25 October 2026 · 5 min read
Many children who can do the calculations lose marks on word problems because they rush the reading. A simple, repeatable method, often taught in schools as RUCSAC, fixes this.
The method
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Read | Read the whole question, twice if needed. |
| Understand | Underline the actual question and the key numbers. What units is the answer in? |
| Choose | Decide which operations you need, and in what order. |
| Solve | Work it out, writing each step down. |
| Answer | Answer the question that was asked, with units. |
| Check | Does the answer make sense? Estimate to check. |
Example 1: money
A school trip costs £8.50 per child. 32 children go, and the school pays £50 towards the total. How much do the parents pay altogether?
Total cost: £8.50 × 32 = £272. Take away the school’s share: £272 − £50 = £222.
Answer: £222. Check: about £8 × 30 = £240, minus £50 ≈ £190 to £230. ✓
Example 2: ratio
Sam and Priya share 45 sweets in the ratio 2 : 3. How many does Priya get?
2 + 3 = 5 parts. 45 ÷ 5 = 9 sweets per part. Priya has 3 parts: 3 × 9 = 27.
Answer: 27 sweets. Check: Sam gets 18, and 18 + 27 = 45. ✓
Example 3: time
A film starts at 6:45pm and lasts 1 hour 50 minutes. What time does it finish?
6:45pm + 1 hour = 7:45pm. 7:45pm + 50 minutes = 8:35pm.
Answer: 8:35pm
Common traps
- Mixed units: change everything to pence, or metres, or minutes before calculating.
- Answering the wrong question: “how much change?” not “how much did it cost?”.
- Time isn’t decimal: 1 hour 50 minutes is not 1.5 hours.
- Extra information: not every number in the question is needed.
Practise it
The method only sticks with practice. Try maths word problems on Simply Eleven Plus, free to start, with instant marking and an explanation for every answer, or sit a free live mock exam to practise under real exam conditions.
Free 11+ live mock exams
Let your child sit a real-time, timed mock paper online, then go through the trickiest questions together. It’s free.