Mental Arithmetic Paper 3
This third mental arithmetic paper keeps the same strictly timed, no-calculator format as the earlier papers in the series: a sequence of calculation questions read aloud or shown briefly, one at a time, covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and simple fractions or percentages. Continued practice with this format builds the speed and instant recall that 11+ mental arithmetic sections reward.
Method
- Refresh your instant recall of key number facts, times tables, number bonds and simple fraction and percentage equivalents, immediately before the paper, since there is no time to derive them.
- Listen or read the whole question once, working out exactly what final value is being asked for, before starting to calculate.
- Keep any jottings to the bare minimum: the key numbers and the operation, not a full written method.
- Pick the quickest mental route for the numbers given, such as rounding and adjusting, partitioning, or a known times-table fact, rather than a standard column method.
- If a question is not solved within a few seconds, write your best estimate and move on immediately, since time lost on one question is time taken from every question after it.
- Use any final moments to sense-check each answer against the size of the numbers in the question.
Worked example
A mental arithmetic question, read aloud once: 'Multiply 12 by 5, then add 17. What is your final answer?'
- Start with the multiplication: 12 x 5.
- Use the fact that 12 x 5 is half of 12 x 10: 12 x 10 = 120, so 12 x 5 = 60.
- Now add 17 to the result: 60 + 17.
- Work out 60 + 17 = 77.
- The final answer is 77.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1What is 15 more than 39?Show answer
Answer: 54
Q2Multiply 9 by 7.Show answer
Answer: 63
Q3What is a third of 45?Show answer
Answer: 15
Q4Take 24 away from 71.Show answer
Answer: 47
Q5What is 8 times 5, plus 6?Show answer
Answer: 46
Q6Divide 108 by 9.Show answer
Answer: 12
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
This is question 2 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'Add 9 to 6, then multiply by 4. What is your answer?'
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This is question 14 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'I have 63 marbles. I share them equally between 9 friends, then each friend is given 4 more marbles. How many marbles does each friend have now?'
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This is question 20 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'What is 10% of 90, tripled?'
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the mental arithmetic paper 3 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 8 of 11+ Maths Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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