The “Trap” Question That Fails 80% of BKSB Students (Math Section)

You’ve brushed up on your times tables. You’ve reviewed basic fractions. You feel ready.

Then you sit down for the BKSB Initial Assessment, you see a question that looks simple, you answer it confidently… and you just capped your score at Level 1.

The BKSB (Basic Key Skills Builder) isn’t just testing your ability to do math. It is testing your ability to read logic. And there is one specific type of question—we call it “The Remainder Trap”—that filters out 80% of students from achieving Level 2 Functional Skills on their first try.

If you are prepping for an apprenticeship, a nursing course, or a job application, you cannot afford to get this wrong.

Here is the trap, why it works, and how to beat it.

The Question

Look at this question. Read it once. Pick your answer.

James earns £2,000 a month. He spends 40% of his income on rent. He then spends 20% of the remainder on groceries. How much money does he have left?

Most students (approx. 80%) calculate it like this:

1. Okay, 40% on rent + 20% on groceries = 60% total.
2. He spends 60% of £2,000.
3. That leaves 40% remaining.
4. 40% of £2,000 is £800.

If you answered £800, you just fell into the trap.

Why You Got It Wrong

The BKSB exam is famous for phrasing. The key word in that sentence was “remainder.”

By adding 40% and 20% together, you assumed the grocery money came out of the original total. It didn’t. It came out of what was left after the rent was paid.

Here is the correct Level 2 calculation:

1. Step 1 (Rent): 40% of £2,000 = £800.
   • Remaining money: £2,000 – £800 = £1,200.
2. Step 2 (Groceries): He spends 20% of the remainder (£1,200).
   • 20% of £1,200 = £240.
3. Step 3 (Final Total): £1,200 – £240 = £960.

The difference is £160. In the real world, that’s a grocery bill. In the BKSB exam, that error is the difference between a Level 2 result and a Level 1 result.

Why The BKSB Is Different (And Why Free Tests Fail You)

Most people try to revise for the BKSB using generic “Maths Worksheets” they find on Google Images.

This is a mistake.

The BKSB is an adaptive test. This means the questions change based on your previous answers. If you fall for the “Remainder Trap” early in the test, the algorithm assumes you lack foundational logic skills. It will stop showing you high-level questions, making it mathematically impossible for you to achieve the score you need for your course or job.

You can’t just practice “Math.” You need to practice The Exam.

How to “Trap-Proof” Your Score

You don’t need to be a mathematician to pass the BKSB. You just need to recognize the patterns.

At WePrepYou, we don’t just give you random math problems. We have analyzed thousands of BKSB patterns to build practice tests that mirror the actual logic, phrasing, and traps of the real exam.

• We replicate the “Trap” wording.
• We simulate the difficulty progression.
• We provide detailed breakdowns so you never make the same mistake twice.

Don’t let a trick question cost you your placement.

Stop Guessing. Start Passing. [Click here to take a WePrepYou Practice Test specifically designed for the BKSB Exam.]