Mental Arithmetic
40 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 40 free QTS Professional Skills practice questions on Mental Arithmetic, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Mental Arithmetic: example questions & answers
12 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise all 40 Mental Arithmetic questions free in the browser, with instant feedback on every answer.
A class has 28 students. 25% are absent today. How many students are present?
- A7
- B14
- C21✓
- D25
Answer: 25% of 28 = 7 absent. Therefore 28 - 7 = 21 present.
A teacher needs to divide £240 equally among 8 students for art supplies. How much per student?
- A£20
- B£25
- C£30✓
- D£35
Answer: £240 ÷ 8 = £30 per student.
A school buys 6 boxes of textbooks with 15 books per box. How many books in total?
- A80
- B90✓
- C100
- D110
Answer: 6 × 15 = 90 books total.
What is 50% of 144?
- A48
- B72✓
- C96
- D108
Answer: 50% means divide by 2. 144 ÷ 2 = 72.
A test has 80 marks. A student scores 60 marks. What is their percentage score?
- A60%
- B65%
- C75%✓
- D80%
Answer: (60 ÷ 80) × 100 = 75%.
How many minutes are in 3 hours and 45 minutes?
- A180
- B195
- C215✓
- D225
Answer: 3 hours = 180 minutes. 180 + 45 = 225 minutes.
A lesson starts at 2:15 PM and lasts 50 minutes. What time does it end?
- A2:50 PM
- B3:00 PM
- C3:05 PM✓
- D3:15 PM
Answer: 2:15 + 50 minutes = 3:05 PM.
What is 10% of 350?
- A25
- B35✓
- C50
- D70
Answer: 10% of 350 = 350 ÷ 10 = 35.
A school has 200 Year 7 students. 15% take drama as an option. How many?
- A15
- B20
- C25✓
- D30
Answer: 15% of 200 = (15 ÷ 100) × 200 = 30.
Divide 180 by 6.
- A25
- B30✓
- C35
- D40
Answer: 180 ÷ 6 = 30.
A teacher marks 40 papers in 2 hours. How many per hour?
- A15
- B20✓
- C25
- D30
Answer: 40 papers ÷ 2 hours = 20 papers per hour.
What is 33% of 99?
- A25
- B30
- C33✓
- D36
Answer: 33% of 99 ≈ 33 (one-third of 99).