KS2 SATs-Style Maths Paper (Arithmetic 2)
The second arithmetic-only practice paper follows the same format as the official Key Stage 2 Paper 1: a straight run of calculations with no words to interpret, most worth one mark, and the long multiplication and long division questions worth two marks each with a method mark available. It gives extra practice once the first arithmetic practice paper feels comfortable, and it draws on a different set of number facts: adding and subtracting decimals with different numbers of decimal places, multiplying and dividing decimals, negative number calculations, square and cube numbers, converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, and calculations that use brackets.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- For adding or subtracting decimals with different numbers of decimal places, line up the decimal points first, and fill any empty places with a zero so every number has the same number of digits after the point.
- For multiplying a decimal by a whole number, ignore the decimal point, multiply the whole numbers, then put the decimal point back in the answer so it has the same number of decimal places as the original decimal.
- For dividing a decimal by a whole number, use the bus stop method exactly as with whole numbers, keeping the decimal point in the answer directly above the decimal point in the number being divided.
- For negative number calculations, picture a number line: adding moves right, subtracting moves left, and subtracting a negative number is the same as adding, so 5 - (-3) becomes 5 + 3.
- Learn the square numbers up to 12 x 12 and the cube numbers up to 5 x 5 x 5 by heart, since these appear as instant-recall facts rather than as something to calculate from scratch.
- To convert a fraction to a decimal, divide the numerator by the denominator; to convert a decimal to a percentage, multiply by 100. Learn the common ones, a half is 0.5 or 50 percent and a quarter is 0.25 or 25 percent, so you do not have to calculate them every time.
- For a calculation with brackets, always work out the bracket first, then follow the usual order: multiplication and division before addition and subtraction.
- Redo the long multiplication and long division questions in any spare time at the end, since these are worth two marks and are the questions most likely to contain a small slip.
Worked example
Work out 7.25 + 3.6, then 5 squared plus 3 cubed, then 3/4 as a decimal and as a percentage, showing your method for each.
- For 7.25 + 3.6, line up the decimal points and write 3.6 as 3.60 so both numbers have two decimal places: 7.25 + 3.60.
- Add as with whole numbers, keeping the decimal point in line: 7.25 + 3.60 = 10.85.
- For 5 squared, multiply 5 by itself: 5 x 5 = 25. For 3 cubed, multiply 3 by itself twice more: 3 x 3 x 3 = 27.
- Add the two results together: 25 + 27 = 52.
- For 3/4 as a decimal, divide the numerator by the denominator: 3 divided by 4 = 0.75.
- For 3/4 as a percentage, multiply the decimal by 100: 0.75 x 100 = 75, so 3/4 is 75 percent.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Work out 12.4 + 5.75.Show answer
Answer: 18.15.
Q2Work out 9.3 - 4.68.Show answer
Answer: 4.62.
Q3Work out 0.6 x 7.Show answer
Answer: 4.2, because 6 x 7 = 42, and 0.6 has one decimal place, so the answer is 4.2.
Q4Work out 8.4 divided by 4.Show answer
Answer: 2.1.
Q5Work out -6 - 5.Show answer
Answer: -11, because moving 5 more to the left of -6 on the number line gives -11.
Q6Work out 4 - (-9).Show answer
Answer: 13, because subtracting a negative number is the same as adding, so 4 - (-9) = 4 + 9 = 13.
Q7Work out 7 squared minus 2 cubed.Show answer
Answer: 41, because 7 squared is 49, 2 cubed is 8, and 49 - 8 = 41.
Q8Write 2/5 as a decimal and as a percentage.Show answer
Answer: 0.4 and 40 percent, because 2 divided by 5 = 0.4, and 0.4 x 100 = 40.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS1 and KS2 SATs exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Work out 273 x 34 using a formal written method.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Work out 1517 divided by 37 using a formal written method.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Work out (15 - 7) x (2 + 9), showing each step.
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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 ks2 sats-style maths paper (arithmetic 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.
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