Speed in maths exams often comes from not having to stop and work out small steps on paper. A few minutes of mental maths each day makes simple calculations feel automatic.
Start with the basics
Before using tricks, know these cold:
- Multiplication tables up to 20 or at least 12.
- Squares up to 25, and cubes up to 10.
- Common fractions and their percentages: 1/2 is 50%, 1/4 is 25%, 1/5 is 20%, 1/8 is 12.5%.
Handy techniques
Break numbers apart. 47 x 6 = (40 x 6) + (7 x 6) = 240 + 42 = 282.
Round and adjust. 99 x 7 = (100 x 7) - 7 = 693.
Percentages from 10%. For 15% of 240, take 10% = 24, add half of that (12), total 36.
Squaring numbers ending in 5. For 35, multiply 3 x 4 = 12, then write 25: 1225.
Multiply by 11. For 34 x 11, add the digits (3 + 4 = 7) and place it in the middle: 374.
A daily drill
Ten minutes a day is enough.
- Use the random number generator to get pairs of numbers.
- Add, subtract or multiply them in your head.
- Time a set of ten questions with the stopwatch.
- Note your time and accuracy. Try to beat your own record the next day.
Where brain games fit
Puzzles, memory and number games can be a fun warm-up, and the games section has some to try. They are good for building the habit of quick thinking, but do not expect them to replace practice with real exam-style questions.
Speed and accuracy
A fast wrong answer earns nothing. Aim first for accuracy, then add speed. If you make more than one or two mistakes in ten, slow down.
Mix in exam practice
- Do timed sets of questions from past papers.
- Skip a question that takes too long and return to it.
- Check the answer’s size. If a result looks far too large or small, recheck.
For percentage questions, the percentage calculator can check your mental answers after you try them.
Rest matters
Practise regularly but do not drill to exhaustion. Short sessions with good sleep work better than late-night marathons.
Keep a record
A small notebook with your date, time and score for each drill shows progress. It also shows which areas, such as division or fractions, need more practice.