What this page helps you practise
- number sequences and matrix patterns
- logic arithmetic and symbol problems
- data interpretation and proportional reasoning
- multi-step quantitative reasoning under time pressure
EdutestYear 5Numerical Reasoning
Edutest Year 5 Numerical Reasoning Practice
Year 5 Edutest numerical reasoning focuses on mathematical logic rather than routine school exercises. Students need practice finding patterns quickly and applying number sense under pressure.
Year 5 Numerical Reasoning sample questions with worked solutions
Try each question first, then open the worked solution to check your answer and see how to reach it.
1.In a grid, the numbers in each row add up to 20. If a row has 7 and 5, what is the third number?
- A6
- B7
- C8
- D9
Show answer and working
Answer: C (8)
Each row must total 20. The two known numbers add to 7 + 5 = 12. The missing number is the difference between the total and what you have: 20 − 12 = 8. Check: 7 + 5 + 8 = 20. Grid and magic-square questions like this all work by finding what is needed to reach the target.
2.A pizza is cut into 8 slices. Tom eats 1/4 of the pizza. How many slices are left?
- A2
- B4
- C6
- D7
Show answer and working
Answer: C (6)
First work out how many slices 1/4 of the pizza is: 8 ÷ 4 = 2 slices eaten. Then subtract from the whole: 8 − 2 = 6 slices left. The answer 2 is the number of slices Tom ate, not the number left, so read carefully which amount the question asks for.
3.A train has 15 carriages. Each carriage has 40 seats. How many seats are on the train?
- A55
- B400
- C600
- D800
Show answer and working
Answer: C (600)
Multiply the number of carriages by the seats in each: 15 × 40. Break it up: 10 × 40 = 400 and 5 × 40 = 200, so 400 + 200 = 600 seats. The answer 55 adds the numbers instead of multiplying, and 400 only counts ten carriages. 'Each' is a clue that you need to multiply.
4.Find the missing number: 3, 6, 12, 24, __
- A30
- B36
- C40
- D48
Show answer and working
Answer: D (48)
The gaps grow each time (+3, +6, +12), so check for multiplying. Each number is double the one before: 3 × 2 = 6, 6 × 2 = 12, 12 × 2 = 24. The next number is 24 × 2 = 48. The answer 30 adds 6, which only works for the first step of the pattern.
5.1, 1, 2, 3, 5, __
- A6
- B7
- C8
- D9
Show answer and working
Answer: C (8)
This is the Fibonacci sequence: each number is the sum of the two before it. 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3 and 2 + 3 = 5, so the next number is 3 + 5 = 8. The gaps (0, 1, 1, 2) are not constant, which is a clue to look at pairs of numbers instead of a single rule.
6.What is the next number: 80, 40, 20, __
- A15
- B10
- C5
- D0
Show answer and working
Answer: B (10)
Each number is half of the one before: 80 ÷ 2 = 40 and 40 ÷ 2 = 20. So the next number is 20 ÷ 2 = 10. The gaps get smaller (−40, −20), which is a sign of dividing rather than subtracting the same amount. The answer 0 would subtract 20 again.
7.If today is Monday, what day is it in 3 days?
- AWednesday
- BThursday
- CFriday
- DSaturday
Show answer and working
Answer: B (Thursday)
Count forward three days from Monday, not including Monday itself: Tuesday is 1, Wednesday is 2 and Thursday is 3. So in 3 days it will be Thursday. A common mistake is to count Monday as day 1, which gives Wednesday, so start counting from the next day.
8.How many minutes in 1.5 hours?
- A60
- B90
- C100
- D120
Show answer and working
Answer: B (90)
One hour is 60 minutes, and half an hour is 30 minutes. So 1.5 hours = 60 + 30 = 90 minutes. You can also multiply: 1.5 × 60 = 90. The answer 100 treats an hour as 100 minutes, which is a common error because time does not use a base-ten system.
9.Complete the sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, __
- A20
- B24
- C25
- D30
Show answer and working
Answer: C (25)
These are square numbers: 1 = 1 × 1, 4 = 2 × 2, 9 = 3 × 3 and 16 = 4 × 4. The next is 5 × 5 = 25. You can also look at the gaps: +3, +5, +7, so the next gap is +9, and 16 + 9 = 25. Both methods give the same answer.
10.If 2 cats have 8 legs, how many legs do 4 cats have?
- A12
- B14
- C16
- D18
Show answer and working
Answer: C (16)
Find the value for one first: 2 cats have 8 legs, so 1 cat has 8 ÷ 2 = 4 legs. Then 4 cats have 4 × 4 = 16 legs. Or notice that 4 cats is double 2 cats, so double the legs: 8 × 2 = 16. The answer 12 adds 4 instead of doubling.
Preparation strategy
1
Teach students to write down the pattern rule before calculating.
2
Use mixed reasoning sets rather than only curriculum maths drills.
3
Practise pacing because scholarship tests often reward fast recognition.
Frequently asked questions
How is Year 5 numerical reasoning different from maths?
Numerical reasoning tests flexible problem solving and pattern recognition, while school maths often focuses more on taught procedures.
How should Year 5 students prepare?
They should practise number patterns, logic puzzles, data questions, and timed mixed sets.