Many parents focus on worksheets, textbooks, and practice tests when preparing their children for NAPLAN. While these resources are important, one of the most effective ways to improve numeracy performance is often overlooked: Mental Maths.
Mental maths is the ability to solve mathematical problems accurately and efficiently without relying heavily on calculators, written methods, or counting aids. Students with strong mental maths skills can process information faster, solve problems more confidently, and perform better in numeracy assessments.
At Easy Teach Academy, we have seen firsthand how strong mental maths foundations can significantly improve student confidence and achievement in NAPLAN Numeracy assessments.
Learn More
Easy Teach Academy
https://easyteachacademy.com/
Online NAPLAN Australia Maths for Kids
https://easyteachacademy.com/online-naplan-australia-maths-for-kids/
Why Mental Maths Matters for NAPLAN
NAPLAN Numeracy assesses more than basic arithmetic. Students must:
- Understand mathematical concepts
- Solve multi-step problems
- Interpret information quickly
- Work efficiently under time pressure
- Apply logical reasoning
Students with strong Fast Calculation Skills spend less time on basic computations and more time focusing on problem-solving and reasoning.
What Is Mental Maths?
Mental Maths refers to performing mathematical calculations in your head without using paper, calculators, or electronic devices.
Examples include:
- Adding numbers mentally
- Calculating percentages
- Estimating answers
- Multiplying quickly
- Comparing quantities
- Solving number patterns
These skills help students become flexible mathematical thinkers.
The Connection Between Mental Maths and NAPLAN Success
Students who perform well in NAPLAN often demonstrate:
- Strong number sense
- Efficient calculation strategies
- Good estimation skills
- Confidence with numbers
- Quick recall of basic facts
Mental maths supports all of these abilities.
Benefit 1: Faster Problem Solving
NAPLAN assessments contain numerous questions that require quick calculations.
Students who can mentally calculate:
- 25% of 80
- 7 × 8
- 350 + 275
save valuable time during the test.
This allows them to focus more attention on complex questions.
Benefit 2: Improved Accuracy
Many students lose marks due to careless calculation mistakes.
Mental maths develops:
- Concentration
- Number awareness
- Mathematical reasoning
Students become more likely to notice when an answer seems unreasonable.
Benefit 3: Better Number Sense
Number sense is a child’s understanding of:
- Quantity
- Relationships between numbers
- Patterns
- Magnitude
Strong number sense helps students:
- Estimate effectively
- Identify mistakes
- Solve unfamiliar problems
These skills are heavily tested in NAPLAN Numeracy.
Benefit 4: Increased Confidence
Many children feel anxious when faced with maths questions.
Mental maths practice builds confidence because students learn that they can solve problems independently without relying on calculators or written methods.
Confident students often perform better in assessments.
Essential Mental Maths Strategies for NAPLAN
1. Make Tens Strategy
Example:
8 + 7
Think:
8 + 2 = 10
10 + 5 = 15
Answer:
15
This strategy improves speed and accuracy.
2. Compensation Strategy
Example:
49 + 27
Think:
50 + 27 = 77
77 − 1 = 76
Answer:
76
3. Doubles Strategy
Example:
16 + 17
Think:
16 + 16 = 32
32 + 1 = 33
Answer:
33
4. Partitioning Numbers
Example:
36 + 25
30 + 20 = 50
6 + 5 = 11
50 + 11 = 61
Answer:
61
Mental Multiplication Tricks
Multiply by 10
Example:
47 × 10
Answer:
470
Multiply by 5
Example:
24 × 5
Half of 24 = 12
12 × 10 = 120
Answer:
120
Multiply by 9
Example:
9 × 6
10 × 6 = 60
60 − 6 = 54
Answer:
54
Square Numbers
Example:
15 × 15
Useful for advanced NAPLAN preparation and mental agility.
Estimation Skills for NAPLAN
Estimation is one of the most valuable mental maths tools.
Example:
198 + 301
Estimate:
200 + 300 = 500
Actual answer:
499
Students can quickly determine whether their answer is reasonable.
Mental Maths and Word Problems
Many students struggle with word problems because they focus on calculations instead of understanding the situation.
Mental maths helps students:
- Break problems into smaller parts
- Identify relevant information
- Estimate solutions
- Check answers
Daily Mental Maths Exercises
Exercise 1
Add 25 + 18 mentally.
Exercise 2
Calculate 50% of 60.
Exercise 3
Estimate:
297 + 412
Exercise 4
Multiply:
7 × 8
Exercise 5
Find:
25% of 200
Practising these daily can significantly improve speed and accuracy.
A 10-Minute Daily Mental Maths Routine
Minutes 1–2
Addition practice
Minutes 3–4
Subtraction practice
Minutes 5–6
Multiplication facts
Minutes 7–8
Division facts
Minutes 9–10
Estimation and reasoning questions
Consistency is more important than duration.
Mental Maths Activities for Parents and Children
Shopping Maths
Calculate totals and discounts.
Cooking Maths
Measure ingredients and adjust recipes.
Travel Maths
Calculate distances and travel times.
Sports Statistics
Analyse scores and averages.
Family Number Challenges
Create friendly competitions using mental maths questions.
Combining Mental Maths with NAPLAN Practice
Mental maths should complement regular practice with:
- NAPLAN Questions
- NAPLAN Practise Tests
- NAPLAN Online Practice Free
- Online NAPLAN Practice Tests Free
- Year 5 NAPLAN Practice
- NAPLAN Practice Tests Year 5 With Answers
- NAPLAN Year 7 Practice Tests Online
- Year 9 NAPLAN Practice Tests Online Free
- Year 9 NAPLAN Practice Tests 2022
- Free NAPLAN Test for Year 3
This combination strengthens both skills and assessment readiness.
Common Mental Maths Mistakes
Students often:
- Rush calculations
- Ignore place value
- Forget basic facts
- Estimate inaccurately
- Fail to check answers
Regular practice helps eliminate these issues.
How Parents Can Support Mental Maths Development
Encourage Daily Practice
Even 10 minutes a day helps.
Praise Effort
Celebrate improvement rather than perfection.
Use Real-Life Examples
Show how maths applies outside school.
Reduce Calculator Dependence
Encourage mental calculations whenever possible.
Make Learning Enjoyable
Games and challenges often produce better engagement.
Why Easy Teach Academy Focuses on Mental Maths
At Easy Teach Academy, mental maths forms an important part of our NAPLAN preparation programs.
Students develop:
- Faster calculation skills
- Strong number sense
- Improved problem-solving
- Greater confidence
- Better test readiness
Learn More
Easy Teach Academy
https://easyteachacademy.com/
Online NAPLAN Australia Maths for Kids
https://easyteachacademy.com/online-naplan-australia-maths-for-kids/
Conclusion
Strong Mental Maths skills provide students with a significant advantage in NAPLAN Numeracy assessments. Faster calculations, better estimation, improved reasoning, and greater confidence all contribute to stronger performance. By practising mental maths daily and combining it with structured NAPLAN Preparation, students can develop the skills needed to succeed both in NAPLAN and in future mathematical learning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Mental Maths?
Mental Maths is the ability to solve mathematical calculations in your head without relying on calculators or written methods.
2. How does Mental Maths help NAPLAN Numeracy?
Mental maths improves:
- Speed
- Accuracy
- Confidence
- Problem-solving
- Number sense
All of these skills contribute to stronger NAPLAN Numeracy performance.
3. How much Mental Maths practice should children do each day?
Most students benefit from 10–15 minutes of daily practice.
Consistency is more important than lengthy study sessions.
4. Can Mental Maths improve Fast Calculation Skills?
Yes. Regular mental maths practice strengthens Fast Calculation Skills, allowing students to solve questions more efficiently during assessments.
5. Should children still use NAPLAN practice tests?
Absolutely. Mental maths should be combined with:
- NAPLAN Practise Tests
- NAPLAN Questions
- NAPLAN Online Practice Free
- Online NAPLAN Practice Tests Free
This provides both skill development and test familiarity.
6. Are Year 5 students ready for Mental Maths training?
Yes. Year 5 NAPLAN Practice often includes fractions, decimals, and percentages that benefit greatly from strong mental maths strategies.
7. Can Year 7 students benefit from Mental Maths?
Definitely. Students completing NAPLAN Year 7 Practice Tests Online frequently use mental maths when solving algebraic and numerical reasoning questions.
8. Are Year 9 NAPLAN Practice Tests Online Free useful?
Yes. Year 9 NAPLAN Practice Tests Online Free help students apply mental maths strategies to more advanced mathematical problems.
9. What is the best way to develop Mental Maths skills?
The most effective methods include:
- Daily practice
- Real-life maths activities
- Number games
- Estimation exercises
- Structured learning programs
10. Where can parents find professional NAPLAN Maths support?
Parents can explore:
Easy Teach Academy
https://easyteachacademy.com/
Online NAPLAN Australia Maths for Kids
https://easyteachacademy.com/online-naplan-australia-maths-for-kids/
These programs provide expert guidance, mental maths training, and targeted NAPLAN preparation for Australian students.
