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Years 3 to 6

Arithmetic World

Arithmetic World covers the number skills in KS2 Paper 1: place value, mental adding and taking away, the written column methods, multiplication, division and calculating with fractions.

Method cards show each written method one step at a time, and “Show me how” walks through long multiplication and long division with your child.

Year 3: reading place value counters
Year 3: reading place value counters
Year 3 and 4: column subtraction
Year 3 and 4: column subtraction
Year 6: long multiplication, with “Show me how”
Year 6: long multiplication, with “Show me how”

Years 3 and 4: getting started

The Year 3 and 4 skills. Younger children start here, and older children can use them for a recap.

Place value to 1,000

Hundreds, tens and ones. Find 1, 10 or 100 more or less.

  • read the counters
  • value of a digit
  • hundreds + tens + ones
  • 1, 10, 100 more or less

Place value to 10,000 and rounding

Thousands, hundreds, tens and ones. Round to the nearest 10, 100 or 1,000.

  • value of a digit
  • 1,000 more or less
  • rounding

Adding and taking away in your head

Add or take away ones, tens or hundreds from a 3-digit number.

  • add or take away ones
  • add or take away tens
  • add or take away hundreds
  • add 9 or 11

Column methods: 3-digit numbers

Add and take away 3-digit numbers in columns.

  • 3-digit + 3-digit
  • 3-digit + 2-digit
  • 3-digit − 3-digit
Method card: Column addition

Multiplying 2-digit numbers

Multiply a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number. Split it into tens and ones.

  • × 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 10
  • any 2-digit × 1-digit
  • three numbers
Method card: Short multiplication

Dividing and remainders

Divide using your times tables. Sometimes there is some left over: a remainder.

  • using times tables
  • 2-digit ÷ 1-digit
  • remainders

Negative numbers

Count back past zero. Numbers below zero have a minus sign.

  • count back past zero
  • sequences
  • temperature

Roman numerals

I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100. A smaller one before a bigger one means take it away.

  • I to XII, like on a clock
  • up to 100
  • write it in Roman numerals

Years 5 and 6: next steps

The Year 5 and 6 skills, building up to the KS2 SATs.

× and ÷ by 10, 100, 1000

Multiply and divide by 10, 100 and 1000. Digits move left or right.

  • × whole numbers
  • ÷ whole numbers
  • × decimals
  • ÷ to make decimals

Mental adding and taking away

Add and take away in your head. Use tens and ones, or round and adjust.

  • add 2-digit numbers
  • take away 2-digit numbers
  • add big round numbers
  • take away from round numbers

Column addition

Add big numbers in columns. Start on the right and carry.

  • 4-digit + 4-digit
  • 5-digit + 4-digit
  • 6-digit numbers
  • three numbers
Method card: Column addition

Column subtraction

Take away big numbers in columns. Exchange when the top digit is smaller.

  • 4-digit − 4-digit
  • 5-digit − 4-digit
  • 6-digit numbers
  • numbers with zeros
Method card: Column subtraction

Short multiplication

Multiply a big number by a 1-digit number. Carry as you go.

  • 3-digit × 1-digit
  • 4-digit × 1-digit
Method card: Short multiplication

Long multiplication

Multiply by a 2-digit number. Two rows, then add. "Show me how" can walk you through.

  • 2-digit × 2-digit
  • 3-digit × 2-digit
  • 4-digit × 2-digit
Method card: Long multiplication

Short division

Divide by a 1-digit number (or 11 and 12) with the bus stop method.

  • 3-digit ÷ 1-digit
  • 4-digit ÷ 1-digit
  • ÷ 11 or 12
Method card: Short division

Long division

Divide by a 2-digit number. List the multiples first. "Show me how" can walk you through.

  • 3-digit ÷ 2-digit
  • 4-digit ÷ 2-digit
Method card: Long division

Order of operations

Brackets first. Then × and ÷. Then + and −.

  • + and ×
  • brackets
  • − and ÷
  • two × parts

Square and cube numbers

Squared means × itself. Cubed means × itself, then × itself again.

  • squared
  • cubed
  • squares and cubes together

Decimals

Add, take away and multiply decimals. Line up the decimal points.

  • adding decimals
  • taking away decimals
  • × by a 1-digit number

Adding fractions: same bottom

When the bottom numbers are the same, add or take away the top numbers.

  • adding
  • taking away
  • simplest form

Fractions: different bottoms

Make the bottom numbers the same first. Then add or take away.

  • one bottom fits the other
  • take away, one bottom fits
  • find a common bottom

Mixed numbers

Add and take away mixed numbers like 2 and a quarter.

  • adding
  • taking away
  • whole number − fraction

Multiplying fractions

Fraction × fraction: tops times tops, bottoms times bottoms. Fraction × whole: times the top.

  • fraction × fraction
  • fraction × whole number

Dividing fractions

Divide a fraction by a whole number. Make the bottom number bigger.

  • top divides easily
  • any fraction ÷ whole

Fractions of amounts

To find a fraction of an amount: divide by the bottom, then times by the top.

  • 1/something of
  • 3/5 of… and more

Percentages of amounts

Find 10% by dividing by 10. Build other percentages from 10%, 5% and 1%.

  • 10%, 50%, 25%, 1%
  • 20%, 5%, 15%, 75%…
  • 35%, 12%, 65%…

How Arithmetic World works

  • A short, no-pressure quick check finds the right starting point. It isn’t a test.
  • Every question can be read aloud, and hints show a picture first.
  • Each level has its own boss battle, unlocked once your child has had plenty of practice.
  • Practice is untimed.