Eleven Plus Short Cuts

Is there any way parents and children can take short cuts on the way to the eleven plus examination?

Some short cuts are possible in mathematics:

Double 45

(40 x 2) + (5 x 2)

80 + 10

90

Multiplying by 9

15 x 9

(15 x 10) – 15

150 – 15

135

Multiplying a two digit number by single digit

14 x 4

(10 x 4) + (4 x 4)

40 + 16

56

Decomposition

835 – 67

(800 + 30 + 5) – (60 + 7) = (800 + 20 + 15) – (60 + 7) = (700 + 120 + 15) – (60 + 7)

(700 + 60 + 8) = 768

If these methods do not capture your child’s interest you could consider learning a little Dutch for those `precious’ moments:

“Mum, are we nearly there?”

“Ja, maar het is nog tien minuten rijden, en dan zijn we er.”

Your bright eleven plus child, however, may only take seconds to work out the answer. “Yes, but there is another ten minutes driving, and then we’re there.”

"You mean we would be there now if Dad had not taken that short cut?"