Year 6 · SATs preparation
Year 6 arithmetic skills
25 skills for the KS2 arithmetic test. Each one has a worked example to teach the method, then a 25-question worksheet and an answer sheet to practise it.
Choose a skill
The skills run in a sensible teaching order, from adding and subtracting through multiplying, dividing and fractions to the order of operations. Open a skill to see the worked example and download the sheets.
Skill 1A: Adding 10, 100 and 1,000
Add 10, 100 or 1,000 to numbers up to 5 digits by changing the right digit.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 1B: Subtracting 10, 100 and 1,000
Take away 10, 100 or 1,000, including exchanges and subtracting from 100 and 1,000.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 2A: Adding a 3-digit number to a 4-digit number
Use column addition with carrying to add a 3-digit number to a 4-digit number.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 2B: Subtracting a 3-digit number from a 4-digit number
Use column subtraction with exchanging to take a 3-digit number from a 4-digit number.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 3A: Missing numbers and inverse operations
Use inverse operations to find the missing number in addition and subtraction calculations.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 4A: Subtracting a decimal from a whole number
Take a decimal number with up to 3 decimal places away from a whole number.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 4B: Adding and subtracting decimals with different decimal places
Add and subtract decimals that have different numbers of decimal places.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 5A: Smile multiplication
Multiply multiples of 10, 100 and 1,000 quickly by counting the zeros.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 5B: Long multiplication
Use the formal written method to multiply up to 4-digit numbers by 2-digit and 3-digit numbers.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 6A: Short division with no remainders
Use the bus stop method to divide 4-digit numbers by a single digit exactly.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 6B: Short division with remainders
Use the bus stop method to divide by a single digit and write the remainder as a fraction.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 6C: Long division with no remainders
Use the formal written method to divide 4-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers exactly.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 6D: Long division with remainders
Use long division to divide by 2-digit numbers and write the remainder as a fraction.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 7A: Multiplying decimals by whole numbers
Multiply decimals with up to 2 decimal places by 1-digit and 2-digit whole numbers.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 8A: Percentages of amounts
Find a percentage of an amount by building it from 10%, 5% and 1%.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 9A: Multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000
Multiply and divide whole numbers and decimals by 10, 100 and 1,000.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 10A: Adding and subtracting proper fractions
Add and subtract fractions with different denominators, giving answers in simplest form.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 10B: Adding and subtracting a mixed number and a proper fraction
Add and subtract a mixed number and a fraction with different denominators.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 10C: Adding and subtracting mixed numbers
Add and subtract two mixed numbers with different denominators.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 11A: Multiplying two proper fractions
Multiply two proper fractions and simplify the answer.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 11B: Fractions of amounts
Find a fraction of a whole-number amount.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 11C: Multiplying mixed numbers by whole numbers
Multiply a mixed number by a whole number.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 12A: Dividing fractions by whole numbers
Divide a proper fraction by a whole number and simplify.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 13A: Order of operations (BIDMAS)
Use the order of operations with brackets, powers, multiplication, addition and subtraction.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersSkill 14A: Place value: finding the missing part
Partition whole numbers and decimals and find the missing part.
Worked example · 25 questions · answersHow each sheet works
- 25 questions laid out in five columns, numbered like the KS2 arithmetic test, with an answer line and room for working.
- A separate answer sheet in the same layout, with one mark for each correct answer.
- Editable Word files in plain, spaced-out Arial, based on dyslexia-friendly design guidance.
Ways to use them
- Teach the method with the worked example, then give the sheet for independent practice.
- Use a skill sheet as a ten-minute starter, or as targeted catch-up before the test.
- Keep the working space: the test gives marks for a correct method in long multiplication and long division.
Ready to test? Make an arithmetic test Track your class