CSSE Essex Style Maths Paper 2
The CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) entrance test is sat as two papers, and Paper 2 covers maths together with non-verbal reasoning in the same timed sitting, in standard written-answer format rather than multiple choice. Its main demand is switching cleanly between numerical calculation and visual or spatial reasoning within one paper, while still covering the full range of KS2 maths content, number, measurement, geometry, statistics and simple algebra, without a calculator.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Notice which part of the paper you are in, maths or non-verbal reasoning, from the question style, since the two are not always clearly labelled as separate sections.
- For a maths question, write out your working in the space given, even for questions that look simple, since the paper is marked on the final written answer.
- Cover the full range of KS2 maths topics in your revision, not just arithmetic, since the paper draws on measurement, shape, statistics and simple algebra as well as number.
- Manage your time across the whole paper rather than the maths section alone, since a non-verbal reasoning question can take just as long as a maths one if you let it.
- For any question involving a diagram or shape, check whether it is drawn to scale before assuming you can measure it directly with your eye.
- Keep answers in the units and format requested, such as as a decimal, a fraction, or rounded, since an unclear or wrongly formatted answer can lose the mark.
- If you finish with time remaining, use it to check calculation-heavy answers rather than rereading answers you are already confident in.
Worked example
A swimming pool is 25m long and 10m wide. It is surrounded by a path 1.5m wide on all sides. (a) Find the area of the pool. (b) Find the area of the pool together with the path around it.
- (a) Multiply the pool's length by its width: 25 x 10 = 250 square metres.
- (b) Add the path width to both sides of the length: 25 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 28m.
- Add the path width to both sides of the width: 10 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 13m.
- Multiply the new length by the new width: 28 x 13 = 28 x 10 + 28 x 3 = 280 + 84 = 364.
- The pool together with the path covers 364 square metres.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Find the area of a rectangle with length 12cm and width 5cm.Show answer
Answer: 60 square cm.
Q2A shape has 4 equal sides of 9cm each. What is its perimeter?Show answer
Answer: 36cm.
Q3What is the mean of 6, 8, 10 and 12?Show answer
Answer: 9 (36 divided by 4).
Q4Solve: y - 8 = 15.Show answer
Answer: y = 23.
Q5Convert 2.5 hours into minutes.Show answer
Answer: 150 minutes.
Q6A triangle has angles of 50 degrees and 65 degrees. Find the third angle.Show answer
Answer: 65 degrees (180 - 50 - 65).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A classroom is arranged with 6 rows of 5 tables, and each table seats 4 pupils. (a) How many tables are there in the classroom? (b) How many pupils can the classroom seat in total? (c) If 3 tables are removed, how many pupils fewer can now be seated?
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A record of books read by four pupils in a month shows: Amir read 8, Beth read 12, Chidi read 6, and Dana read 10. (a) Calculate the total number of books read by all four pupils. (b) Calculate the range of the number of books read. (c) Calculate the mean number of books read.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the csse essex style maths paper 2 worksheet pack - 4 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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