Master The BasicsSimple, straightforward practice; these questions are (mostly) context-free, calculation-based problems to develop fluency. I frequently use these as quick starters, in place of textbook exercises or as revision.
This page is simply an index of all the Master the Basics activities I currently have uploaded. They are optimised for whiteboard display and, in most cases, also have an answer page. You can use Ctrl-F (on a PC) to search the page for a specific topic, or try the Resources by Topic section. |
Number: Properties and calculations - Place value and ordering
Multiply and divide by 10, 100, 1000 Mixed problems, including powers of 10
Standard form (1) Working both ways, positive and zero powers of 10 only
Number: Properties and calculations - Rounding and estimation
Rounding to 10s, 100s and nearest integer Mostly rounding to 10s and 100s
Rounding to decimal places A mixture of rounding to 1, 2 and 3 decimal places
Number: Properties and calculations - Four operations
Short division Division by a single digit, mostly without remainders
Adding and subtracting negative numbers Working with positive and negative integers
Multiplying and dividing negative numbers Working with positive and negative integers
Order of operations A variety of problems using BIDMAS
Number - Properties and Calculations - Factors, Multiples and Primes
Factors and multiples Mixture of questions on factors and multiples
HCF and LCM Five questions, simple two-digit numbers
Product of primes Ten questions, PPF of two-digit numbers
Number - Properties and Calculations - Powers and Roots
Square numbers Calculate using squares and square roots
Cube numbers Calculate using cubes and cube roots
Squares and cubes A mixture of calculations with squares and cubes
Integer indices Evaluate using integer bases and powers, no algebra
Number: Fractions, decimals and percentages - Fraction calculations
Mixed to improper Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions using diagrams.
Mixed and improper conversions Working both ways, converting mixed to improper and improper to mixed.
Adding fractions Adding with like and unlike denominators, including simple mixed number calculations
Number: Fractions, decimals and percentages - Fractions and decimals
Multiplying decimals Multiplying a decimal by an integer; multiplying two decimals
Dividing decimals Dividing a decimal by a decimal
Four operations with decimals A mixture of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of decimals
Recurring decimals as fractions Convert recurring decimals to their simplified fraction form
Number: Fractions, decimals and percentages - Percentages
FDP conversions Common fraction, decimal and percentage equivalences
Algebra: Basic skills - Algebraic manipulation
Simple laws of indices Multiplication and division laws using algebra
Expanding brackets Expanding single and linear brackets; expanding two brackets and simplifying
Algebra: Basic skills - Quadratic expressions
Completing the square Questions graded in difficulty from simple problems up to negative coefficients of x squared and problems involving factorising first.
Finding turning points by completing the square Standard ten-problem exercise requiring pupils to apply CTS to find turning points of quadratics
Finding turning points using symmetry Pupils find turning points using symmetry.
Algebra: Basic skills - Substitution and formulae
Substitution (positive integers) Simple substitution with positive integers, including powers and brackets
Substitution tables (positive integers) Substitution tables with powers and brackets
Substitution into area formulae Finding missing lengths and areas using standard formulae for rectangles and triangles
Algebra: Equations and Inequalities - Linear equations and inequalities
One operation linear equations Single operation with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Standard two-step linear equations Double-operation with no division/fractions
Equations with brackets Linear equations which require expansion of brackets to solve
Equations with unknowns both sides Unknown appears on both sides; including some equations with brackets
Algebra: Equations and inequalities - Quadratic equations and inequalities
Solving by factorising with rearrangement Forms of quadratics that require some rearrangement first; includes problems with a>0
Algebra: Sequences, functions and graphs - Linear graphs
Gradient and y-intercept from equation of a line Use y = mx + c to identify the gradient and y-intercept; includes simple rearrangement
Algebra: Sequences, functions and graphs - Sequences and functions
Generating sequences Finding 5th and 50th term in a sequence, generating sequences from the nth term rule
Finding the nth term of a linear sequence Standard nth term problems
Proportion, ratio and rates of change - Proportion
Simple proportion calculations Standard unit-pricing problems
Proportion, ratio and rates of change - Ratio
Splitting into a ratio Dividing an amount into a two- or three-part ratio
Shape - Calculations and Measures - Units, Measurements and Drawings
Changing between mm, cm and m Conversion between common metric length measurements
Shape - Calculations and Measures - Pythagoras and Trigonometry
Writing trig ratios Given a triangle with side measurements, write the three trig ratios as fractions
Shape: Calculations and measures - Area and volume
Area of rectangle, triangle, parallelogram Standard area of 2D shape problems
Finding the circumference Find circumference given radius or diameter
Finding the area of a circle Find area given radius or diameter
Circumference and area of a circle Finding both circumference and area using radius or diameter
Multiply and divide by 10, 100, 1000 Mixed problems, including powers of 10
Standard form (1) Working both ways, positive and zero powers of 10 only
Number: Properties and calculations - Rounding and estimation
Rounding to 10s, 100s and nearest integer Mostly rounding to 10s and 100s
Rounding to decimal places A mixture of rounding to 1, 2 and 3 decimal places
Number: Properties and calculations - Four operations
Short division Division by a single digit, mostly without remainders
Adding and subtracting negative numbers Working with positive and negative integers
Multiplying and dividing negative numbers Working with positive and negative integers
Order of operations A variety of problems using BIDMAS
Number - Properties and Calculations - Factors, Multiples and Primes
Factors and multiples Mixture of questions on factors and multiples
HCF and LCM Five questions, simple two-digit numbers
Product of primes Ten questions, PPF of two-digit numbers
Number - Properties and Calculations - Powers and Roots
Square numbers Calculate using squares and square roots
Cube numbers Calculate using cubes and cube roots
Squares and cubes A mixture of calculations with squares and cubes
Integer indices Evaluate using integer bases and powers, no algebra
Number: Fractions, decimals and percentages - Fraction calculations
Mixed to improper Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions using diagrams.
Mixed and improper conversions Working both ways, converting mixed to improper and improper to mixed.
Adding fractions Adding with like and unlike denominators, including simple mixed number calculations
Number: Fractions, decimals and percentages - Fractions and decimals
Multiplying decimals Multiplying a decimal by an integer; multiplying two decimals
Dividing decimals Dividing a decimal by a decimal
Four operations with decimals A mixture of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of decimals
Recurring decimals as fractions Convert recurring decimals to their simplified fraction form
Number: Fractions, decimals and percentages - Percentages
FDP conversions Common fraction, decimal and percentage equivalences
Algebra: Basic skills - Algebraic manipulation
Simple laws of indices Multiplication and division laws using algebra
Expanding brackets Expanding single and linear brackets; expanding two brackets and simplifying
Algebra: Basic skills - Quadratic expressions
Completing the square Questions graded in difficulty from simple problems up to negative coefficients of x squared and problems involving factorising first.
Finding turning points by completing the square Standard ten-problem exercise requiring pupils to apply CTS to find turning points of quadratics
Finding turning points using symmetry Pupils find turning points using symmetry.
Algebra: Basic skills - Substitution and formulae
Substitution (positive integers) Simple substitution with positive integers, including powers and brackets
Substitution tables (positive integers) Substitution tables with powers and brackets
Substitution into area formulae Finding missing lengths and areas using standard formulae for rectangles and triangles
Algebra: Equations and Inequalities - Linear equations and inequalities
One operation linear equations Single operation with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Standard two-step linear equations Double-operation with no division/fractions
Equations with brackets Linear equations which require expansion of brackets to solve
Equations with unknowns both sides Unknown appears on both sides; including some equations with brackets
Algebra: Equations and inequalities - Quadratic equations and inequalities
Solving by factorising with rearrangement Forms of quadratics that require some rearrangement first; includes problems with a>0
Algebra: Sequences, functions and graphs - Linear graphs
Gradient and y-intercept from equation of a line Use y = mx + c to identify the gradient and y-intercept; includes simple rearrangement
Algebra: Sequences, functions and graphs - Sequences and functions
Generating sequences Finding 5th and 50th term in a sequence, generating sequences from the nth term rule
Finding the nth term of a linear sequence Standard nth term problems
Proportion, ratio and rates of change - Proportion
Simple proportion calculations Standard unit-pricing problems
Proportion, ratio and rates of change - Ratio
Splitting into a ratio Dividing an amount into a two- or three-part ratio
Shape - Calculations and Measures - Units, Measurements and Drawings
Changing between mm, cm and m Conversion between common metric length measurements
Shape - Calculations and Measures - Pythagoras and Trigonometry
Writing trig ratios Given a triangle with side measurements, write the three trig ratios as fractions
Shape: Calculations and measures - Area and volume
Area of rectangle, triangle, parallelogram Standard area of 2D shape problems
Finding the circumference Find circumference given radius or diameter
Finding the area of a circle Find area given radius or diameter
Circumference and area of a circle Finding both circumference and area using radius or diameter