11+ Maths
Reflection, rotation and translation of shapes on grids — moving figures without changing their size.
Transformations appears in 8 of our 338 ready papers (24 tagged questions). It averages 3 questions a paper worth about 1.25 marks each. The typical question allows around 1 sec.
Transformation questions ask children to reflect, rotate or translate a shape on a squared grid. Each move has a precise rule: reflections need a mirror line and equal distance; translations need a clear shift; rotations need a centre and angle. Children who sketch roughly without counting squares lose marks even when the idea is right. Teach one transformation at a time, then mix them. Independent papers enjoy combining a reflection with a follow-up coordinate question. Practise on squared paper and count every square aloud for the first few attempts. Link symmetry for line-of-symmetry overlap, and coordinates when the grid is numbered.
A real tagged question from our catalogue — method included, not paywalled.
Ranked from our tagged catalogue — open a paper to practise the questions that actually test this topic.
Not sure whether transformations is the problem? Mark any past paper on 11plusSolved and the report tells you which topics are costing marks — and how many.
