Year 3 Mental Arithmetic

Complete Daily Practice with Thinking Strategies & Progress Tests: Supports the Year 3 Curriculum and 11+ Early Skills (Ages 7-8)

Second Edition

This Year 3 Mental Arithmetic book helps children develop confidence, speed and fluency in mental maths while strengthening their understanding of key numerical strategies.

Designed to complement the Year 3 Maths Complete Study Companion and Year 3 Maths Workbook, it forms part of the Year 3 Maths Mastery series and supports pupils progressing through the Year 3 maths curriculum while beginning to develop early reasoning skills useful for later 11+ preparation.

Unlike many mental arithmetic resources that simply present questions, this book introduces a teaching-first approach. Each question includes a short tip or strategy to help pupils understand the mental steps involved in solving the problem.

What this book includes

• 30 short tests covering key mental maths skills including number bonds, doubling, halving, times tables, fractions, time, money and early problem-solving
• Step-by-step tips under each question to guide children through the mental strategies required
• 6 progress tests without tips to help assess learning and reinforce recall
• Core skills sections covering number bonds, near doubles and other essential mental maths strategies
• Progress tracking charts to help pupils reflect on their learning
• Full answer section to support self-checking and guided practice

About this book

This resource focuses on helping children understand how to think through mental calculations, rather than simply practising answers. By providing small strategy prompts alongside each question, pupils gradually build stronger number sense, greater flexibility in their thinking and increased confidence in mental maths.

Short tests can be completed in a single sitting, making the book suitable for regular practice at home or school.

Suitable for

• Year 3 pupils developing mental arithmetic skills
• Children who would benefit from structured daily maths practice
• Parents and tutors looking for curriculum-aligned mental maths practice

Part of the Year 3 Maths Mastery Series

This book forms part of the Year 3 Maths Mastery Series, a structured three-book programme designed to support pupils progressing through the Year 3 maths curriculum.

The series includes:

• Year 3 Maths Complete Study Companion – Core concepts, worked examples and structured teaching
• Year 3 Maths Workbook – Practice activities, self-evaluation and progress tracking
• Year 3 Mental Arithmetic – Short tests with mental strategies and progress checks

Together, these resources provide a structured approach to building number fluency, confidence and mathematical understanding.