Mental Arithmetic Paper 4
This fourth 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
- Immediately before the paper, refresh instant recall of times tables, number bonds and simple fraction and percentage facts, since there will be no time to work them out from scratch.
- Listen to or read each question fully once, identifying exactly what final value is being asked for, before writing anything down.
- Jot down only the key numbers and the operation required, since a full written method rarely fits the time available.
- Choose the quickest mental method for the numbers given, such as rounding and adjusting, partitioning, or a known times-table fact.
- If a question is not answered within a few seconds, write a sensible estimate and move on straight away, since time spent on one question is time taken from the rest.
- Use any time remaining at the end to check that each answer is a sensible size for the question asked.
Worked example
A mental arithmetic question, read aloud once: 'Take 19 away from 50, then multiply by 3. What is your final answer?'
- Start with the subtraction: 50 - 19.
- 19 is close to 20, so subtract 20 from 50 to get 30, then add back the 1 that was over-subtracted: 30 + 1 = 31.
- Now multiply the result by 3: 31 x 3.
- Work out 31 x 3 as 30 x 3 + 1 x 3 = 90 + 3 = 93.
- The final answer is 93.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1What is 12 more than 59?Show answer
Answer: 71
Q2Multiply 7 by 9.Show answer
Answer: 63
Q3What is a quarter of 88?Show answer
Answer: 22
Q4Take 27 away from 82.Show answer
Answer: 55
Q5What is 9 times 4, plus 8?Show answer
Answer: 44
Q6Divide 91 by 7.Show answer
Answer: 13
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
This is question 5 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'Multiply 7 by 8, then subtract 6. 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 13 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'I have 72 stickers. I share them equally between 8 friends, then each friend is given 5 more stickers. How many stickers does each friend have now?'
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 21 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'Find 20% of 47, round your answer to the nearest whole number, then double it. What is your final answer?'
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 4 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 9 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 4, 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.