Calculating probability as favourable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, expressing as fractions (and converting to decimals/percentages).
Where your child meets this in real life: Calculating chances with dice, cards, spinners, or selections
Each SEAG paper has 28 maths questions. Questions 29 to 50 are multiple choice with five possible answers, and questions 51 to 56 need a short written answer. With 56 questions in 60 minutes across English and maths, that is about a minute per question.
SEAGReady breaks calculate simple probabilities into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Calculate probability using favourable outcomes divided by total outcomes when the favourable outcome is directly stated
Calculate probability when favourable outcomes must be identified and counted based on a condition
Try three free questions from our calculate simple probabilities course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Rachel picks one counter at random from the bag shown. What is the probability she picks a blue counter?
The diagram shows the possible outcomes when James rolls a fair six-sided die. What is the probability of rolling a number less than 5?
The letter cards shown are placed in a bag. One card is picked at random. What is the probability of picking a letter that appears more than once?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Isla has a bag with 3 red counters, 2 blue counters, and 5 green counters. She picks one counter without looking.
What is the probability of picking a red counter?
P(red) = ?
Set up a table with a Counter column and a Red? column
Step 1 of 5
Isla has a bag with 3 red counters, 2 blue counters, and 5 green counters. She picks one counter without looking.
What is the probability of picking a red counter?
The probability of picking a red counter is ³⁄₁₀.
The key insight: Probability is always favourable on top, total on the bottom!
Common mix-up: P(red) = ¹⁰⁄₃ (total on top). The favourable outcomes must be the numerator, total outcomes the denominator.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in calculate simple probabilities, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with calculate simple probabilities? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed