Arithmetic paper strategy
30 minutes for 36 questions. Pace, accuracy, column methods.
The arithmetic paper rewards method automaticity. Most questions are single-step calculations: long multiplication, long division, fraction arithmetic, percentages. Mark scheme awards 1 point per correct answer.
Worked examples
~50 seconds per question average.
Always show working in the box: a wrong answer with correct working can still earn marks.
Skip and return for any question taking more than 90 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Why show working?
Method marks. A long-multiplication question worth 2 marks may give 1 for correct method even if final answer is wrong.
Common time-wasters?
Fraction-of-quantity questions when the numbers are awkward. Practise efficient methods.