What it tests
Applying the maths your child already learns at school to new problems. Word problems with five answer options. No calculator or ruler.
Question types you’ll practise
Multi-step problems
Several small calculations that build to the answer.
Measurement
Units, length, area and time.
Number
Place value, fractions and patterns.
Chance and data
Likelihood and reading information.
A sample question
A canteen sells fruit cups for 25c, muffins for 35c, and juices for 45c.
Mia buys one item and pays with a $1 coin. She receives change made up of exactly three coins, and all three coins are different values.
Which item could Mia have bought?
Worked solution
Answer: D. Australian coins are 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c. Mia pays $1 = 100c. If she buys a fruit cup for 25c, her change is 100c - 25c = 75c. 75c can be made with exactly three different coins: 50c + 20c + 5c = 75c. So a fruit cup is possible. If she buys a muffin for 35c, her change is 100c - 35c = 65c. 65c can be made with exactly three different coins: 50c + 10c + 5c = 65c. So a muffin is possible. If she buys a juice for 45c, her change is 100c - 45c = 55c. Check all possible sums of three different coins: 5c + 10c + 20c = 35c 5c + 10c + 50c = 65c 5c + 20c + 50c = 75c 10c + 20c + 50c = 80c None of these equals 55c, so a juice is not possible. Therefore, Mia could have bought the fruit cup or muffin only.
Pacing
There are 35 questions in 40 minutes, so a question that takes three minutes costs two others. A full timed mock shows where the time goes.