Mental Arithmetic Paper 2
A mental arithmetic paper is a short, strictly timed section of an 11+ test, particularly in the GL Assessment and CEM/CSSE traditions, in which a sequence of calculation questions is read aloud or shown briefly, one at a time, and the pupil must work out and write down the answer with no calculator and almost no time for a full written method. This second paper in the series keeps the same twenty-to-thirty-question format, covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and simple fractions or percentages, so that speed and mental strategy are what is being practised.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Before starting, warm up instant recall of number bonds to 10, 20 and 100, and times tables up to 12 x 12, since these facts must come instantly rather than being worked out.
- Listen to or read each question fully once before writing anything down, so that you calculate exactly what is being asked.
- Write down only the key numbers and the operation needed rather than a full written method, since there is rarely time for one.
- Choose a mental strategy that suits the numbers involved: rounding and adjusting for numbers near a multiple of 10, partitioning larger numbers, or using known doubles and halves.
- If you cannot solve a question within a few seconds, write your best estimate or leave it blank and move straight on, since a wasted 30 seconds can cost more marks than one blank answer.
- In any time left at the end, check that each answer is a sensible size, for example that a 'how many are left' answer is smaller than the starting amount.
Worked example
A mental arithmetic question, read aloud once: 'Add 37 to 58, then take away 15. What is your final answer?'
- Start with the addition: 37 + 58.
- 37 is close to 40, so add 40 to 58 to get 98, then subtract the 3 that was over-added: 98 - 3 = 95.
- Now subtract 15 from the result: 95 - 15.
- Work out 95 - 15 = 80.
- The final answer is 80.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1What is 8 more than 47?Show answer
Answer: 55
Q2Multiply 6 by 9.Show answer
Answer: 54
Q3What is half of 74?Show answer
Answer: 37
Q4Take 18 away from 60.Show answer
Answer: 42
Q5What is 7 times 6, minus 5?Show answer
Answer: 37
Q6Divide 96 by 8.Show answer
Answer: 12
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
This is question 3 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'Multiply 8 by 6, then subtract 9. What is your answer?'
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 1 available
This is question 11 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'I have 56 stickers. I share them equally between 7 friends, then each friend gives away 3 of their share. How many stickers does each friend have left?'
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
This is question 18 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'What is 25% of 48, doubled?'
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the mental arithmetic paper 2 worksheet pack - 9 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 2 of 11+ Maths Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on mental arithmetic paper 2, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.