Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 5-6, Set 7

About this practice set

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.

On this sheet

two are worth 3 points, the next two 4 points and the last two 5 points. 33 children go on a trip. Each van can take 5 children. What is the smallest number of vans they need? I think of a number. I add 7, then multiply the result by 2, and get 34. What was my number? How many squares of any size can you find in this picture? How many triangles are there in this picture? A book has 50 pages numbered 1, 2, 3, ...

Tips for using it

• Say the number out loud each time you trace it.
• Trace the big number with a finger first, then color it in your favorite color.
• Count the pictures twice: once by pointing, once by coloring a dot on each one.
• Read every problem twice: contest questions often hide the key detail in one word.

Printing tips

Download the PDF and print at 100% (or “fit to page” on A4). Page 1 is the practice set and page 2 is the answer key with the answers in red; print just page 1 if you want to keep the answers for checking. The PNG shows page 1 only. Free for personal, family and classroom use.