Math Kangaroo Practice for Grades 5-6
Updated October 2026 · 8 free printables
Harder contest-style problems for fifth and sixth graders: completing cubes, counting digits in page numbers, chickens and cows, age puzzles, fractions of a class and growing patterns. Eight sets with full solutions.
All 8 Math Kangaroo Practice for Grades 5-6, One by One
Here is a closer look at every page in this collection: what it practices, which grade it fits and a tip for each one.
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1. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 1
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: 3D shapes, calendar, counting, counting shapes, geometry, working backwards. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. After checking answers, try to explain each solution in your own words.
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2. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 2
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: counting, counting shapes, division, fractions, logic, patterns. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. Give about 3 to 4 minutes per problem, like in a real contest.
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3. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 3
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: calendar, money, numbers, patterns, time, working backwards. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. After checking answers, try to explain each solution in your own words.
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4. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 4
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: 3D shapes, calendar, division, logic, money, numbers. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. Give about 3 to 4 minutes per problem, like in a real contest.
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5. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 5
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: counting, counting shapes, division, fractions, logic, patterns. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. After checking answers, try to explain each solution in your own words.
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6. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 6
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: calendar, money, numbers, patterns, time, working backwards. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. Give about 3 to 4 minutes per problem, like in a real contest.
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7. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 7
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: counting shapes, division, logic, numbers, working backwards. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. After checking answers, try to explain each solution in your own words.
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8. Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 8
Six original contest-style math problems for grades 5-6 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: counting, counting shapes, division, fractions, logic, patterns. The problems are written for grades 5 and 6 and need careful reading and a bit of algebra-style thinking. Give about 3 to 4 minutes per problem, like in a real contest.
Tips for math kangaroo practice for grades 5-6
- For chickens-and-cows problems, imagine every animal has two legs first, then use the extra legs to find the cows.
- In page number problems, count digits in groups: pages 1 to 9 use one digit each, and pages 10 to 99 use two.
- When a pattern keeps growing, make a table of the first few steps and look at how much it grows each time.
Fun math facts
- A book with 99 pages needs 189 digits to number them: 9 for pages 1 to 9 and 180 for pages 10 to 99.
- If 10 chickens and cows have 26 legs in all, there are 3 cows, because 10 chickens alone would have only 20 legs.
- Age puzzles get much easier once you notice that the difference between two people's ages never changes.
Fun ways to use your printables
- Have your child write a chickens-and-cows puzzle with new animals, like spiders and beetles, for a friend to solve.
- Count the digits on the page numbers of a real book together and compare with the answer from a quick calculation.
- Pair up with a classmate, swap finished sets and explain each other's mistakes using the answer key.
How to print
Click Download PDF and print at 100% on US Letter or A4 paper. Page 1 is the worksheet and page 2 is the answer key, so choose “page 1” in the print dialog if you only want the practice page. Every worksheet is free for home, homeschool and classroom use, so print as many copies as you need.
Frequently asked questions
How can older kids prepare for a math contest?
Do one timed set a week, then study the solutions. Most contest problems repeat a small set of ideas: patterns, working backwards, counting systematically and drawing a picture.