How to explain place value word problems in counting problems to your child: Example question for 11+
29 October 2026
Place value word problems in counting can seem tricky at first. It helps to break down the number and think about what each digit really means. Here's a clear example to show how we find out how many tens are in a number.
Worked example
Question: In the number 352, how many tens are there in total?
Step 1: Look at the hundreds digit. There are 3 hundreds. Each hundred is 10 tens, so 3 hundreds is 30 tens.
Step 2: Look at the tens digit. There are 5 tens.
Step 3: Add the tens from the hundreds and the tens digit. 30 tens + 5 tens = 35 tens.
Step 4: There are no extra tens in the ones digit.
The correct answer is 35 tens.
| Place | Value | How many tens? |
|---|---|---|
| Hundreds | 3 | 3 × 10 = 30 |
| Tens | 5 | 5 |
| Ones | 2 | 0 |
Now your child can spot how each part of a number adds to the total number of tens. This type of question often appears in 11+ practice, so being able to work it out step by step is a useful skill. Key insight: Understanding place value makes counting problems much easier and builds confidence for more challenging maths.
