Fractions are the single highest-volume topic across all 11+ Maths formats. A child who is shaky on fractions cannot score in the top quartile.
What this question type tests
Fraction questions test: equivalence, addition and subtraction (same and different denominators), multiplication, division, fraction-of-amount, and conversion between fractions, decimals and percentages.
How it appears in real papers
Fractions appear in roughly 20 to 25 percent of marks in a typical 11+ Maths paper, including in word problems where the fraction is hidden inside the question wording. Recognising the question type within five seconds is the marker of a confident candidate; recognising it after thirty seconds of re-reading typically means a lost mark on a tight paper.
The technique to learn
The technique to embed: equivalent fractions through systematic multiplication, common denominators by finding LCM, and fraction-of-amount via division then multiplication ("of two thirds of 60" = 60 ÷ 3 × 2 = 40).
For mixed-number arithmetic, convert to improper fractions first, do the operation, then convert back. Children who try to add mixed numbers in mixed form make systematic errors.
Worked example
Worked example: "Three quarters of the children in a class are right-handed. There are 32 children. How many are left-handed?" Right-handed = 32 × 3/4 = 24. Left-handed = 32 - 24 = 8. The fraction is the easy bit; the question is making sure the child reads what is being asked.
Common errors
Common error: confusing "fraction of" with "fraction divided by". One in three children gets these mixed up under time pressure. Drill the distinction explicitly.
Practice approach
Use a fractions-only workbook (CGP and Bond both publish strong ones) for two weeks of focused work, followed by mixed-topic papers to embed. Embedding the technique requires repeated exposure across different surface presentations — a child who has only seen one phrasing will be thrown by the next.