Word Problems: Understanding Scale: Step-by-Step Example
23 October 2026
Understanding scale in word problems helps your child see how drawings can represent real-life objects. It's a useful skill for 11+ maths, especially when questions involve maps, plans or models.
Worked example
A drawing shows a garden that is 4 cm long and 3 cm wide. The scale is 1 cm = 2 m. What is the actual length and width of the garden?
Step 1
Multiply the drawing length by the scale to find the actual length.
4 cm × 2 m = 8 m
Step 2
Multiply the drawing width by the scale to find the actual width.
3 cm × 2 m = 6 m
Key insight: Always multiply the drawing measurement by the scale to get the real-life size.
Answer
The actual garden is 8 m long and 6 m wide.
After working through this example, your child will know how to use the scale to find actual measurements from a drawing. They can now spot similar questions and apply the same method when practising 11+ maths problems.
