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A sample practice worksheet.

Eight original questions — maths and literacy — written for upper-primary and Selective-prep level, with an answer key underneath. Print it, work through it together, no sign-up needed.

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Practice worksheet — mixed maths & literacy

Name: ______________ Date: ______________

1A rectangular garden bed is 3.5 m long and 2 m wide.Maths — measurement

Mia wants to run edging all the way around the outside of the bed. How many metres of edging does she need?

2Look at this number pattern: 4, 9, 14, 19, __, __Maths — patterns

What are the next two numbers, and what is the rule for the pattern?

3A workbook costs $12.50.Maths — money

Liam buys 3 copies for his cousins and pays with a $50 note. How much change should he receive?

4Four friends — Ari, Bel, Cy and Dee — line up for a photo.Maths — reasoning

Ari is not first or last. Bel is somewhere before Cy. Dee is last. Write one order of the four friends that fits every clue.

5Order these fractions from smallest to largest: 3/4, 2/5, 5/8Maths — fractions

6Read the sentence, then answer the question.Literacy — vocabulary

"The archaeologist's meticulous notes meant nothing was overlooked during the dig."

What does meticulous most likely mean?

a) careless
b) extremely careful and detailed
c) quick
d) confused

7Read the short passage, then answer the question.Literacy — inference

Jayden checked the sky for the third time that morning. The clouds had turned the colour of wet concrete, and the wind tugged at the edges of his cricket bag. He decided to leave his sunscreen at home.

What can you reasonably infer from this passage?

a) It is going to be sunny
b) Jayden expects it might rain
c) Jayden is going to the beach
d) Jayden has forgotten his cricket bag

8Short response.Literacy — writing

In 2–3 sentences, explain why using precise, descriptive vocabulary (rather than general words like "nice" or "good") tends to make writing more persuasive.

Show answer key

1. 11 metres. Perimeter = 2 × (3.5 + 2) = 11 m.

2. 24, 29 — the rule is "add 5 each time."

3. $12.50 × 3 = $37.50. Change from $50 = $12.50.

4. One valid order: Bel, Ari, Cy, Dee. (Other orders may also satisfy all three clues — accept any order where Ari isn't first/last, Bel comes before Cy, and Dee is last.)

5. 2/5, 5/8, 3/4 (as decimals: 0.4, 0.625, 0.75).

6. b) extremely careful and detailed.

7. b) Jayden expects it might rain — the darkening sky and leaving the sunscreen behind both hint at rain rather than sun.

8. Open-ended — accept any well-reasoned answer. A strong response notes that precise vocabulary paints a clearer picture for the reader, makes a point more convincing and specific, and shows the writer is in control of their language, rather than relying on vague, general words.

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