Speed Drills: Mixed Methods Set 3
Speed Drills: Mixed Methods Set 3 is a strictly timed mental-arithmetic drill mixing several calculation types, including times tables, number bonds, quick fraction and percentage facts, and simple written methods. It is designed to build the speed and accuracy that 11+ non-calculator papers demand, since many marks are lost purely to running out of time rather than not knowing the method.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Work through the questions in order rather than hunting for easy ones, since a timed drill is scored on total correct in the time limit, not on question difficulty.
- Use known number facts (times tables to 12x12, doubles, halves, and key fraction, percentage and decimal equivalents) to answer instantly rather than calculating from scratch.
- For quick multiplication, split a number into tens and units and multiply each part separately, then add, for example 7 x 23 = 7x20 + 7x3.
- For quick division, look for a simpler equivalent calculation first, for example dividing by 5 is the same as dividing by 10 and then doubling.
- Write only the final answer, not full working, on drill questions unless the paper specifically requires working, to save time.
- Keep a steady pace, roughly one question every few seconds, rather than spending too long on a single tricky item.
- If a question is not immediately obvious, mark it and move on, then return to it if time remains at the end.
Worked example
Answer as quickly as possible: (a) 8 x 9, (b) half of 84, (c) 15% of 40, (d) 7 x 23.
- (a) Recall from the times tables: 8 x 9 = 72.
- (b) Halve 84 by splitting it into 80 and 4: half of 80 is 40, half of 4 is 2, so half of 84 = 42.
- (c) 15% of 40: find 10% (which is 4), find 5% (half of 10%, which is 2), then add them: 4 + 2 = 6.
- (d) 7 x 23: split 23 into 20 and 3, so 7x20=140 and 7x3=21, then add: 140 + 21 = 161.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q16 x 7Show answer
Answer: 42
Q2Double 39Show answer
Answer: 78
Q3Half of 96Show answer
Answer: 48
Q49 x 12Show answer
Answer: 108
Q520% of 65Show answer
Answer: 13 (10% of 65 = 6.5, doubled = 13)
Q6144 / 12Show answer
Answer: 12
Q78 x 25Show answer
Answer: 200
Q81/4 of 88Show answer
Answer: 22
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Work out 6 x 8, then add 15% of 40 to your answer, giving a final total.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Work out (9 x 7) - (100 / 4), then double the result. Show each stage of your working.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the speed drills: mixed methods set 3 worksheet pack - 18 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 19 of 11+ Maths Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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