Mathematics in Year 6

By the end of Year 6, children are expected to be confident with the use of all four standard methods for written calculations, and to have secured their knowledge of the key number facts for the four operations. Their work will focus more on fractions, ratio, proportion and the introduction of algebra.

Number and Place Value

• Work with numbers to up ten million (10,000,000) including negative numbers
• Round any number to any required number of digits or magnitude

Calculations

• Use the standard method of long multiplication for calculations of four-digit numbers by two-digit numbers
• Use the standard method of long division for calculations of four-digit numbers by two-digit numbers
• Identify common factors, common multiples and prime numbers
• Carry out complex calculations according to the mathematical order of operations
• Solve complex problems using all four operations

Fractions and Decimals

• Use common factors to simplify fractions, or to add fractions with different denominators
• Place any group of fractions into size order
• Multiply pairs of fractions together
• Divide fractions by whole numbers
• Use division to calculate the decimal equivalent of a fraction
• Know and use common equivalences between fractions, decimals and percentages

Ratio and Proportion

• Find percentages of quantities, such as 15% of £360
• Use ratio to explain relationships and solve problems
• Use simple scale factors for drawings, shapes or diagrams

Algebra

• Use simple formulae
• Describe sequences of numbers where the increase between values is the same each time
• Solve missing number problems using algebra
• Find possible solutions to problems with two variables, such as a + b = 10

Measurements

• Convert between any metric units and smaller or larger units of the same measure
• Convert between miles and kilometres
• Use a given formula to find the area of a triangle or parallelogram

Shape and Position

• Draw 2-d shapes using given sizes and angles
• Use knowledge of 2-d shapes to find missing angles in triangles, quadrilaterals and other regular shapes
• Name and label the radius, diameter and circumference of a circle
• Find missing angles in problems where lines meet at a point or on a straight line
• Use a standard grid of coordinates including negative values

Graphs and Data

• Construct and understand pie charts and line graphs
• Calculate the mean average of a set of data