It's time for another set of mental arithmetic questions for years 4, 5 and 6. Number sequences and fractions top the bill in the year 4 questions.  Children will need to listen carefully as the numbers are called out, quickly work out what the pattern is (eg add 3) and then work out what the next numbers in the sequence will be. The fractions work in year 4 gets harder, with children expected to work out simple equivalence (eg two fifths is the same as four tenths) as well as finding quarters and fifths of numbers.They will also become familiar with converting simple fractions to decimals (eg 4 tenths = 0.4). There are plenty of tricky questions in the year 5 mental arithmetic, including factors, square numbers and sequences involving negative numbers. Square numbers up to 100 should be recognised and learnt off by heart (they are part of learning tables). The year 6 questions concentrate on some pretty hard mental addition and subtraction. This includes adding two 3-digit numbers mentally. By now children should have a range of techniques for doing this, depending on the numbers in the question. For example 646 take away 545 can be done by taking away 546 from 646 (100) and then adjusting the one (making 101) or it can be done by adding 100 to 545 (making 645) and then adding another 1 (making 101). There are other ways which may take a little longer. Go to Year 4 mental arithmetic Go to Year 5 mental arithmetic Go to Year 6 mental arithmetic