Mental Maths in Years 5 and 6
Children in Years 5 and 6 should be doing a mental maths test every week. We would
hope to see their scores gradually increasing as they get more familiar with the tests
and quicker at working things out in their heads.
Children who do well in the mental maths tests generally do better in their written
maths tests too.
Key vocabulary
Digit: Number
Total: Add
Difference: Take away
Subtract: Take away
Product: Multiply
Multiply: Times
Multiple: In that times table (e.g: multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30,
33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75….. etc)
Factor: A whole number that divides exactly into another number (e.g: 2 is a factor if
6)
Double: Multiply by 2
Half: Divide by 2 (split into 2 equal parts)
Squared: Multiplied by itself (6 squared = 6x6 = 36)
Square root: What number multiplied by itself gives that answer? (e.g: The square root
of 49 is 7 because 7x7 = 49)
Prime number: A number that can only be divided by itself and 1 (e.g: 3, 5, 7, 11, 13)
Mode: The most common value
Write in figures: Write in numbers
Halfway between: Exactly in the middle of
Equivalent: The same
Fraction: Part of a shape or number
One quarter: Divide into 4 equal parts
One third: Divide into 3 equal parts
Remainder: The amount left over after dividing
Triangle: A shape with 3 sides and 3 angles/ corners
Isosceles triangle: A triangle with 2 equal sides and 2 equal angles
Right-angled triangle: A triangle with 1 right angle
Equilateral triangle: A triangle with 3 equal sides and 3 equal angles
Scalene triangle: A triangle with no equal sides or angles
Quadrilateral: A shape with 4 sides and 4 angles/ corners
Pentagon: A shape with 5 sides and 5 angles/ corners
Hexagon: A shape with 6 sides and 6 angles/ corners
Heptagon: A shape with 7 sides and 7 angles/ corners
Octagon: A shape with 8 sides and 8 angles/ corners
Line of symmetry: A line that divides exactly in half
Regular: All sides and angles are equal
Irregular: The sides and angles are not all equal
Triangular prism:
Hexagonal prism:
Cube:
Cuboid:
Square-based pyramid:
Vertices: Corners
Acute angle: Less than 90 degrees
Obtuse angle: Between 90 and 180 degrees
Reflex angle: More than 180 degrees
Right angle: 90 degrees, a quarter turn
Quarter turn: 90 degrees, a right angle
Half turn: 180 degrees, 2 right angles
Clockwise: The same direction that the hands of a clock go
Anti-clockwise: The opposite direction to the way the hands on a clock go
Perimeter: The distance around the edge of a shape
Area: The amount of space a surface takes up
Horizontal line: Parallel to the horizon, straight across
Vertical line: At right angles to the horizon, straight up and down
Parallel: Lines that are the same distance apart all the way along
Perpendicular: Lines that are at right angles to each other
Sequence: An ordered set of numbers or shapes
Key facts to learn
100 centimetres = 1 metre
10 millimetres = 1 centimetre
1000 grams = 1 kilogram
1000 millilitres = 1 litre
90 degrees = 1 right angle = a quarter turn
180 degrees = 2 right angles= a straight line = a half turn
360 degrees = 4 right angles = a full turn
60 seconds = 1 minute
60 minutes = 1 hour
24 hours = 1 day
7 days = 1 week
1 fortnight = 2 weeks
4 weeks = 1 month
The order of the days of the week and the months of the year
The number of days in each month: January 31, February 28 or 29, March 31, April 30,
May 31, June 30, July 31, August 31, September 30, October 31, November 30,
December 31
12 months = 1 year
100 pence = £1
Times tables
Number bonds to 100
How to tell the time
Compass directions:
Typical mental maths test questions
Find the total of __ and __
Write in digits/ figures the number __
What is the square root of __?
What is half of __?
Look at your answer sheet. Tick the prisms.
What is __ more than __?
How many millilitres are there in __?
Multiply __ by __
What number must be multiplied by __ to give __?
What is the difference between __ and __?
Look at your answer sheet. Write the next number in the sequence?
Write __ as it would appear on a 12 hour digital clock.
Look at your answer sheet. Circle all the factors of __
__ cost £__. If you buy __ how much change will you get from £__?
Double __
How many __s are there in __?
Add __, __ and __
Look at your answer sheet. Estimate the size of the angle.
What is __/__ of __?
What fraction of a kilogram is __g?
What number must be multiplied by __ to give __?
How many __ pence coins do you need to make __?
What is the remainder if __ is divided by __?
What is the next prime number after __?
How many hours are there in ___ days?
When a number is divided by __, the answer is __ remainder __. What is the number?
Write __ as a decimal number.
What is 10% of __?
Subtract the total of __, __ and __ from __
What time is half an hour before/ after __?
A regular __ has sides of __. What is its perimeter?
Look at your answer sheet. Circle the time when you would normally be __
How many vertices are there on a __?
Look at your answer sheet. Circle the pair of lines that are parallel.
Two angles in an isosceles triangle are __ degrees each. What is the size of the third
angle?
Circle the fraction that is equal to __
What number is exactly halfway between __ and __?
Useful websites
Maths dictionary:
http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/dictionary.html
Games and activities:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/number/mental_maths/play.shtml
http://www.netagency.co.uk/keyedin2/mental.html
http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/maths/index.html
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/EducationalGames.aspx?cat=16
http://www.counton.org/games/
http://www.mathszone.co.uk/
http://uk.ixl.com
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/mentalmachine2.html
http://www.primaryonline.co.uk/sitetour/marthshort.html
http://www.supermathsworld.com/
Links to many maths activities and games can also be found on Fronter.
Mental maths tests:
http://www.schoolslinks.co.uk/resources_mentalmaths.htm
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/quizes/brain1.htm