BIDMAS order of operations practice for 11+ maths
21 October 2026
BIDMAS made simple
Understanding BIDMAS
BIDMAS stands for Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. It tells us the order to follow when solving maths problems with more than one operation.
Why order matters
If you do not follow the correct order, you can get a completely different answer. That is why BIDMAS is so important in the 11+ and beyond.
Worked example
Calculate 6 + 2 × (5 - 3)²
Step 1: Brackets first. Work out (5 - 3) = 2
Step 2: Indices next. 2² = 4
Step 3: Multiplication. 2 × 4 = 8
Step 4: Addition. 6 + 8 = 14
The correct answer is 14.
Key insight: Encourage your child to underline or circle each operation in order as they solve. This helps them avoid skipping steps and builds confidence with BIDMAS questions.
