11 maths converting units of measure practice
21 October 2026
Why converting units matters
Converting units of measure is a key skill for the 11+ maths exam. Children are often asked to switch between centimetres, metres, grams, kilograms and litres in questions.
Understanding how to move between these units helps avoid mistakes and builds confidence.
Tips for practising at home
Start by making sure your child knows the basic relationships: 100 centimetres in a metre, 1000 grams in a kilogram, 1000 millilitres in a litre.
Use real-life objects to practise. For example, measure a table in centimetres, then convert to metres together.
Worked example: converting centimetres to metres
Step 1: 1 metre is equal to 100 centimetres.
Step 2: Divide 150 by 100 to find the number of metres.
Step 3: 150 ÷ 100 = 1.5 metres.
The correct answer is 150 centimetres is 1.5 metres.
Key insight: understanding unit relationships
Knowing the basic ratios between units makes conversions much easier. Encourage your child to memorise these so they can quickly decide whether to multiply or divide in any question.
