Days and dates, clocks, counting a family, piles that change, tables and maps.
OftenIn many papers, especially GL AssessmentAbout 35 seconds a question in the test
The big idea
These questions use everyday things, a calendar, a family, a table of marks, a map, and ask you to reason carefully about them.
Each has one classic slip: counting from the wrong day, forgetting to count the child the question is about, reading along the wrong row, or giving a direction the wrong way round.
Tips that save marks
Calendar: work out today first, then count from today.
Family: draw the children in a line and put the named child in it.
Tables: put a finger on the row or column the question names.
Maps: north is at the top; count squares along the roads, then use the scale.
Clocks: find the real time first; fast clocks show more, slow clocks less.
A worked example
If yesterday was Monday, what will the day after tomorrow be?
Yesterday was Monday, so today is Tuesday.
The day after tomorrow is two days after today.
Answer: Thursday.
Now try five
Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.
Question 1Aim for about 35 seconds
Then book L is taken out and put on top of the pile. Which book is now second from the top?
Five books are in a pile. M is directly on top of L. L is directly on top of J. P is at the bottom. J is directly on top of K. K is directly on top of P.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, M
How to work it out
From the top the pile was M, L, J, K, P.
With L moved to the top it is L, M, J, K, P, so second from the top is M.
Why the other options are wrong
B (K): K is fourth from the top once L has been moved.
C (L): L was second from the top before L was moved.
D (J): J is third from the top once L has been moved.
E (P): P is at the bottom once L has been moved.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds
How far is it by road from Tor to Elm?
The roads are drawn in colour. Each square is 10 km.
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, 100 km
How to work it out
Along the roads: Tor to Dale is 2 squares, Dale to Mere is 4 squares, Mere to Elm is 4 squares.
That is 10 squares, and 10 × 10 = 100 km.
Why the other options are wrong
A (90 km): This counts one square too few; count the squares along each road again.
C (80 km): This leaves out the road from Tor to Dale.
D (10 km): 10 is the number of squares; each square is 10 km.
E (110 km): This counts one square too many; count the squares along each road again.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Then book M is taken out and put on top of the pile. Which book is now second from the top?
Five books are in a pile. M is directly on top of K. R is at the bottom. P is directly on top of R. S is directly on top of M. K is directly on top of P.
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, S
How to work it out
From the top the pile was S, M, K, P, R.
With M moved to the top it is M, S, K, P, R, so second from the top is S.
Why the other options are wrong
A (K): K is third from the top once M has been moved.
C (M): M was second from the top before M was moved.
D (R): R is at the bottom once M has been moved.
E (P): P is fourth from the top once M has been moved.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds
The first Thursday of a month is the 6th. What is the date of the second Monday?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 10th
How to work it out
The first Monday is the 3rd.
Each later one is 7 days on, so the second is the 3rd plus 7: the 10th.
Why the other options are wrong
A (3rd): The 3rd is a Monday, but the first one, not the second.
B (17th): The 17th is a Monday, but the third one, not the second.
C (11th): The 11th is not a Monday in this month.
E (9th): The 9th is not a Monday in this month.
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds
Then book S is taken out and put on top of the pile. Which book is now fourth from the top?
Five books are in a pile. R is directly on top of L. L is directly on top of H. M is directly on top of S. S is at the bottom. H is directly on top of M.
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, H
How to work it out
From the top the pile was R, L, H, M, S.
With S moved to the top it is S, R, L, H, M, so fourth from the top is H.
Why the other options are wrong
A (R): R is second from the top once S has been moved.
B (M): M was fourth from the top before S was moved.
C (L): L is third from the top once S has been moved.
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