Mental Math Sprint: free mental maths game with everyday sums

What is Mental Math Sprint?

Zip is out shopping with no calculator. Work out discounts, tips, split bills, unit prices and change, and pick the right amount out of four. Every 3 right in a row, the sums get harder and score more. A wrong answer costs 2 seconds. You have 60 seconds.

Mental Math Sprint is a free mental maths game built on the sums you meet every day. Work out a sale price, a tip, your share of a bill, the price of one egg from a box, or the change from a note, then pick the right amount out of four. All amounts are in pounds and pence.

You have 60 seconds. Every 3 right answers in a row takes you up a level, with harder numbers and more points, up to level 4. A wrong answer costs 2 seconds, drops you back to level 1 and shows how to work the sum out, so every mistake teaches you a shortcut.

At a glance

Category

Quick Games

Difficulty

Medium

Play time

1 min

Price

Free, in your browser, sign-up optional

How to play

Work it out

Each question is an everyday sum: a discount, a tip, a split bill, a unit price or the change from a note.

Answer

Tap one of the four amounts, or press 1 to 4.

Level up

Every 3 right answers in a row, the sums get harder. A wrong answer costs 2 seconds, sends you back to level 1 and shows how to work it out.

Score

10 points a right answer at level 1, then 15, 20 and 25 at levels 2, 3 and 4.

Scoring

A right answer scores 10 points at level 1, 15 at level 2, 20 at level 3 and 25 at level 4. Every 3 right answers in a row takes you up a level.

The run lasts 60 seconds. A wrong answer costs 2 seconds, sends you back to level 1 and shows how to work the sum out. Your best score is kept in this browser.

What it trains

Everyday mental maths

Percentages, tips, splits and change worked out in your head.

Number sense

Spotting the answer that is about the right size before checking the details.

Quick decisions

Choosing between close options while the clock runs down.

Strategy and tips

Find 10% first

Move the decimal point one place: 10% of £45 is £4.50. Double it for 20%, halve it for 5%.

Use quarters and halves

25% off is a quarter off; 50% off is half price. Easy fractions beat long multiplication.

Count up for change

From £13.45 to £20: 55p makes £14, then £6 more. That's £6.55.

Split in steps

£84 between 3? Split £60 (£20 each) and £24 (£8 each): £28.

Read the question

"What do you pay?" and "How much off?" give different answers, and both are among the options.

Why play Mental Math Sprint?

Quick sums help you every day: checking a deal, sharing a bill or spotting wrong change at the till. Practising them against the clock builds the shortcuts that make mental maths fast and reliable, no calculator needed.

Frequently asked questions