11+ Maths
Finding the value of one item first, then scaling — classic proportion technique for the 11+.
Unitary Method appears in 13 of our 338 ready papers (19 tagged questions). It averages 1.5 questions a paper worth about 1.84 marks each. The typical question allows around 1.2 min.
The unitary method is how many “best buy” and proportion questions get solved: find one, then multiply. Papers ask for the cost of one item when a pack price is given, or for how many you can buy with a fixed amount. Children who scale incorrectly (or who find one then forget to multiply) lose marks after a good start. Teach a spoken script: “first find one, then find many.” Link this hub to ratio and percentages when the same idea appears in different clothes. Under timed conditions, write the “one” line explicitly so the method stays visible. If the pack size does not divide the money evenly, decide whether the question wants whole packs only before you scale.
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 unitary method is the problem? Mark any past paper on 11plusSolved and the report tells you which topics are costing marks — and how many.
