Preparing for Maths in the GL Assessment 11+ format requires a different approach from generic Maths revision. The format dictates which question types appear, which techniques are rewarded, and which topics are most tested.
Where this combination is used
GL Maths is used in Kent, Medway, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Bexley, Kingston, Enfield, Redbridge and many other GL-based grammar areas. Children sitting these tests benefit from format-specific preparation rather than generic Maths work — the gap between a child who knows the underlying maths or English and one who knows the format-specific question idioms is routinely 10 to 15 standardised points.
What Maths looks like in GL Assessment
GL Maths comprises 50 multiple-choice questions in 50 minutes, covering the full KS2 syllabus plus a small number of higher-level concepts (basic algebra, ratio, percentages above 100%). Question phrasing is brisk and unambiguous. The questions tend to follow predictable patterns once you have seen enough of them, which is exactly the case for systematic format-specific practice over scattergun "11+ workbook" purchases.
Highest-leverage topics
Highest-leverage topics for GL Maths are: fractions (especially fraction-of and fraction-equivalence), ratio and proportion, percentages, perimeter/area/volume, and the four operations on negative numbers. These five topics together account for roughly 60% of marks.
Common mistakes
The single most common mistake is poor pacing. Children who spend too long on the first 15 questions never reach the harder back-of-paper questions where their knowledge would have scored well. Practise pacing by setting a 30-minute hard stop at question 30. The pattern across many tutoring practices is the same: children who score middle-of-the-road on practice papers usually have one or two recurring error types rather than broad weakness. Identify those, drill them specifically, and the score moves quickly.
Recommended practice rhythm
Sit one timed GL-style Maths paper per fortnight from the summer of Year 5, then weekly from August of Year 6. Mark the paper, identify the topic of every wrong answer, and drill that specific topic before the next paper.
Cross-references
For wider context on the GL Assessment format, see the dedicated GL Assessment format guide. For broader Maths preparation, see the Maths deep-dive. To find practice papers in this format, browse all Maths papers on the site.