Mental Arithmetic Paper 5
Mental Arithmetic Paper 5 is a full, strictly timed mental arithmetic practice paper in the style used in the mental maths section of GL Assessment and CEM/CSSE 11+ tests, a sequence of around twenty to thirty calculation questions, read aloud or shown briefly one at a time, that must be answered with no calculator and only a few seconds' thinking time. It draws on the four operations, fractions, percentages and simple time or money conversions, combined within single questions.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Before starting, refresh instant recall of number bonds to 10, 20 and 100, and times tables up to 12 x 12, so you are not re-deriving basic facts under time pressure.
- Listen to or read each question fully before writing anything, so you calculate exactly what is asked rather than restarting partway through.
- Note down only the key numbers as you hear them, not every word of the question, so your hands can keep pace with your ears.
- Choose a mental strategy that fits the numbers, for example rounding a number like 19 or 21 to the nearest ten and adjusting, rather than always working with the exact figure.
- If an answer will not come within a few seconds, write your best estimate and move on immediately; a blank answer only costs one mark, but dwelling on one question can cost several.
- In any final seconds, glance back over your answers and check each one is a sensible size for the question asked.
Worked example
A mental arithmetic question, read aloud once: 'Multiply 6 by 9, then subtract 14. What is your final answer?'
- Start with the multiplication: 6 x 9.
- Recall the times-table fact: 6 x 9 = 54.
- Now subtract 14 from 54.
- 54 - 14 = 40.
- The final answer is 40.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1What is 7 more than 85?Show answer
Answer: 92
Q2Multiply 8 by 6.Show answer
Answer: 48
Q3What is half of 74?Show answer
Answer: 37
Q4Take 27 away from 60.Show answer
Answer: 33
Q5What is 5 times 9, minus 3?Show answer
Answer: 42
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: 'Add 8 to 6, then multiply your answer by 5. What is your answer?'
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This is question 9 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'I have 56 marbles. I share them equally between 8 bags, then take 3 marbles out of each bag. How many marbles are left in each bag?'
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This is question 15 of a mental arithmetic paper, read aloud once: 'A ribbon is 84 cm long. It is cut into 4 equal pieces, then 6 cm is trimmed from one piece. How long is that piece now?'
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the mental arithmetic paper 5 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 11 of 11+ Maths Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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