How to explain coordinate facts in using coordinates to your child: Example question for 11+
27 October 2026
Understanding how to use coordinates is an important skill for children preparing for the 11+. When children learn coordinate facts, they can spot patterns and find missing points on a grid with confidence.
Worked example
Find the missing coordinate of point C to complete the rectangle with points A(2, 3), B(5, 3), and D(5, 7).
Step 1: Look at points A and B. They have the same y-coordinate (3), so the top side is horizontal.
Step 2: Look at points B and D. They have the same x-coordinate (5), so the right side is vertical.
Step 3: To find point C, it must have the same x-coordinate as A (2) and the same y-coordinate as D (7).
Step 4: So, point C is at (2, 7).
The missing coordinate of point C is (2, 7).
Key insight: Once your child can recognise how the coordinates of points relate to each other, they will find it much easier to solve questions about shapes on a grid. Now your child can practise more questions like this to build their skills.
