• Home
  • GCSE Topic Tests
  • GCSE Quick Maths Tests
  • Past Papers
  • Join our Newsletter
  • Blog

3 Minute Maths

GCSE maths walkthrough videos and worksheets

  • Maths and English Tutoring
  • Useful maths resources
  • THE ULTIMATE MATHS SURVIVAL GUIDE
  • Visit our Amazon store
Home » What are numeracy skills?

What are numeracy skills?

What do I need to know?

What are numeracy skills

There are 6 main numeracy skills that will help with your maths.

Numeracy is more than an understanding of basic arithmetic. It’s the ability to apply, infer and understand.  Good numeracy skills help you to:

  • access and interpret information
  • identify possibilities
  • weigh up different options
  • decide which calculation is the most appropriate

The ability to calculate and estimate is the foundation of numeracy and it’s good to practice these as much as possible. Some of the maths videos linked to each of the topics may help!

The 6 key numeracy skills are:

1. Arithmetic – Number and number processes –

Addition – single digit – two digit

Subtraction – single digit – two digit

Multiplication – times tables – short multiplication – long multiplication

Division – short division – long division

Fractions, decimals and percentages

2. Estimation and rounding

3. Space, shape and measure

4. Money and time

5. Data and analysis

6. Chance and uncertainty

Click these links for national curriculum outcomes and great ideas for supporting your child with their numeracy skills:

Foundation Year

Year One and supporting your child at home – Year 1

Year Two and supporting your child at home – Year 2

Year Three and supporting your child at home – Year 3

Year Four and supporting your child at home – Year 4

Year Five and supporting your child at home – Year 5

Year Six and supporting your child at home – Year 6

Progression to Year 7

What do I need to develop?

Read How to develop independent study skills, 6 tips on how to answer maths word problems

Concentration

Confidence

What do I need to learn?

Estimation

Reasonableness check

Well laid out work

Perseverance!

Logical thinking

Self correction

Writing intermediate steps

Choosing the best method

Understanding what’s required

Breaking into manageable tasks

Search for patterns

Identify relevant information

Please contact us with any additional ideas, or add a comment below.

Search for ANY GCSE maths topic

… or search by grade

A level blog Edexcel foundation Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8/9 higher Indices maths resources Quick Tests Reasoning Surds

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT