Mental maths game: 60-second speed challenge
Free TutorAura tool · no sign-up · Updated
Pick the operations you want (add, subtract, multiply, divide or any mix) and a level, then press Start. You have 60 seconds to answer as many questions as you can: type the answer and press Enter for the next one. Your best score for each setting is saved on this device, so there's always a number to beat. Level 1 suits primary school, level 2 secondary school, and level 3 is a stretch for anyone.
The three levels
| Level | Adding and subtracting | Times and divide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers from 1 to 10 | Tables from 2 to 10 |
| 2 | Two-digit numbers | Tables from 2 to 12 |
| 3 | Three-digit numbers | Up to 20 × 30 |
Subtraction answers are never negative, and division always comes out exactly, so every question is about speed, not tricks.
Why mental maths matters
Quick recall frees up your working memory for the harder part of a problem. If you have to stop and work out 7 × 8 in the middle of a fractions question, you're more likely to lose track of the method. In England, the national curriculum expects pupils to know their multiplication and division facts up to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4, when they take the multiplication tables check, and GCSE maths includes non-calculator papers.
Strategies that make you faster
- Adding: make a ten first. 8 + 7 = 8 + 2 + 5 = 15.
- Subtracting: count up. 82 − 47: from 47 to 50 is 3, then 32 more, so 35.
- Near doubles: 6 + 7 is double 6 plus 1, so 13.
- Multiplying by 9: multiply by 10 and take one lot away. 9 × 7 = 70 − 7 = 63.
- Multiplying by 5: halve, then multiply by 10. 5 × 18 = 9 × 10 = 90.
- Dividing: think of the times table backwards. 56 ÷ 8: what times 8 is 56? 7.
How to practise
Short, frequent practice beats long sessions. Try three rounds a day for a week and watch your best score climb. Start with one operation at a level where you get most questions right, then add operations or move up a level. If one table keeps tripping you up, drill it on its own with our times tables quiz.
For parents and teachers
The game works well as a five-minute warm-up or a family challenge: everyone plays the same setting and compares scores. Nothing needs installing, there are no ads, and no account is needed. For help with the maths behind it, see our guide to learning times tables.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up and no adverts.
Where is my best score saved?
In your browser on this device, separately for each level and mix of operations.
What age is it for?
Level 1 suits most children from about age 7 who know their tables up to 10. Levels 2 and 3 are for older students and adults.
Does a wrong answer cost time?
No, you just move to the next question. Your accuracy is shown at the end.
Is anything I type sent to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to TutorAura.
Sources
- National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study. Department for Education (GOV.UK).
- Multiplication tables check. Standards and Testing Agency (GOV.UK).
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