Reducing fractions to their simplest form by dividing by the highest common factor.
Where your child meets this in real life: Expressing answers in simplest form for clarity (e.g., 6/8 = ¾)
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 simplify fractions into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Simplify fractions by dividing both numerator and denominator by a common factor they share
Building block, not tested on its own
Identify the highest common factor and reduce fractions completely to their simplest (lowest terms) form
Try three free questions from our simplify fractions 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.
The diagram shows 9 counters, with 6 shaded. What fraction is shaded, in its simplest form?
Simplify 12/16 to its lowest terms.
Poppy says 14/21 simplifies to 7/14. Luke says it simplifies to 2/3. Who is correct?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Ruby baked a tray of 9 brownies. She saved 6 of them for her mum.
Write the fraction of brownies she saved in a simpler form.
⁶⁄₉ = ?
Look at 6 and 9. What number goes into both?
Step 1 of 3
Ruby baked a tray of 9 brownies. She saved 6 of them for her mum.
Write the fraction of brownies she saved in a simpler form.
Ruby saved ²⁄₃ of the brownies for her mum.
The key insight: Dividing top and bottom by the same number gives an equivalent fraction!
Common mix-up: ⁶⁄₉ = ³⁄₆ (dividing by different numbers). You must divide both numerator and denominator by the SAME number.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in simplify fractions, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with simplify fractions? 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