Understand the rule first
Translate the story into one calculation at a time. Estimate first, keep units beside the numbers, then check whether the final answer fits the question.
Arithmetic & multi-step problems 11+ practice
Choose the correct operations and keep a multi-step calculation organised.
A theatre sells 6 family tickets at £18 each and pays a £25 booking fee. What is the total cost?
- Ticket cost: 6 × £18 = £108.
- Add the one-off fee: £108 + £25 = £133.
- Estimate: about £110 + £25, so £133 is sensible.
A common misconception
Doing every operation in the order the numbers appear, instead of following the meaning of the problem.
Reusable method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.Question 1 of 10 MathscoreFour boxes contain 24 pencils each. Nine pencils are used. How many remain?
- A87
- B96
- C105
- D15
Need a hint?
Find the total in four boxes before subtracting the used pencils.
Show worked answer
Answer A: 87
4 × 24 = 96, then 96 − 9 = 87.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 2 of 10 MathscoreA coach holds 52 people. Three coaches arrive, but 17 seats are empty altogether. How many people arrive?
- A139
- B121
- C156
- D173
Need a hint?
Work out all available seats, then remove the empty ones.
Show worked answer
Answer A: 139
3 × 52 = 156 seats. 156 − 17 = 139 people.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 3 of 10 MathscoreMaya saves £8 each week for 7 weeks, then spends £19. How much remains?
- A£37
- B£45
- C£56
- D£75
Need a hint?
Multiply to find everything saved before considering the spending.
Show worked answer
Answer A: £37
7 × £8 = £56. £56 − £19 = £37.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 4 of 10 Mathsexam-styleA shop packs 144 oranges equally into 8 crates. It sells 5 full crates. How many oranges are sold?
- A18
- B40
- C72
- D90
Need a hint?
Find oranges per crate, then multiply by the number sold.
Show worked answer
Answer D: 90
144 ÷ 8 = 18 oranges per crate; 18 × 5 = 90.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 5 of 10 Mathsexam-styleA school buys 9 packs of 35 notebooks and gives away 168. How many notebooks remain?
- A147
- B157
- C315
- D483
Need a hint?
Calculate the number bought before subtracting.
Show worked answer
Answer A: 147
9 × 35 = 315; 315 − 168 = 147.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 6 of 10 MathscoreCalculate 864 ÷ 8 + 37.
- A145
- B108
- C182
- D253
Need a hint?
Complete the division before adding 37.
Show worked answer
Answer A: 145
864 ÷ 8 = 108, then 108 + 37 = 145.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 7 of 10 MathscoreA school buys 15 trays of 24 pencils and uses 86 pencils. How many remain?
- A264
- B274
- C284
- D446
Need a hint?
Find the total number bought, then subtract those used.
Show worked answer
Answer B: 274
15 × 24 = 360 pencils; 360 − 86 = 274.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 8 of 10 MathscoreFour coaches each have 53 seats. Altogether, 29 seats are empty. How many passengers are travelling?
- A159
- B171
- C183
- D241
Need a hint?
Calculate all the seats before removing the empty ones.
Show worked answer
Answer C: 183
4 × 53 = 212 seats; 212 − 29 = 183 passengers.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 9 of 10 MathsexamA theatre sells 325 tickets on Friday and 187 on Saturday. It then refunds 46 tickets. How many tickets remain sold?
- A420
- B446
- C476
- D466
Need a hint?
Add both days, then subtract the refunds.
Show worked answer
Answer D: 466
325 + 187 = 512; 512 − 46 = 466 tickets.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.
Question 10 of 10 MathsstretchA number is multiplied by 6 and then 45 is subtracted. The result is 333. What was the number?
- A63
- B48
- C55
- D72
Need a hint?
Undo the subtraction before undoing the multiplication.
Show worked answer
Answer A: 63
Add 45: 333 + 45 = 378. Then 378 ÷ 6 = 63.
Quick method: Underline the quantities and write one operation per line.