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Maths skills for age 7

A clear guide to the main maths ideas children often meet around age 7, including number bonds to 20, 2 5 and 10 times tables, two-digit methods, fractions of shapes.

Quick answer

By the end of this page, you’ll know the main maths skills children often learn around age 7, including number bonds to 20, times tables for 2, 5, and 10, two-digit addition and subtraction, and fractions of shapes.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand the key maths ideas that most children learn around age 7, and how to use them in everyday life. Success signs:
  • You can quickly add or subtract two-digit numbers.
  • You know your 2, 5, and 10 times tables.
  • You can split shapes into equal parts and describe them as fractions.
  • You can find number bonds that add up to 20.

Why this matters

At age 7, children are building on what they learned in earlier years. These skills help them solve more complex problems, understand money, tell time, and even play games better. Knowing number bonds and times tables helps with mental maths, which makes learning harder maths easier later on.

How it works

Let’s break down the main maths skills for age 7 into simple steps. First, you’ll learn how to add and subtract two-digit numbers, like 24 + 35 or 56 - 23. This is called "column addition and subtraction". Next, you’ll learn the 2, 5, and 10 times tables. These are easier to remember because they follow patterns. Then, you’ll learn about fractions – how to split shapes into equal parts and name them. Finally, you’ll learn number bonds to 20 – how many pairs of numbers add up to 20.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some examples that help you understand each skill. Two-digit addition: To add 34 + 27:
  1. First, add the ones: 4 + 7 = 11. Write down 1 and carry 1.
  2. Then, add the tens: 3 + 2 = 5, plus the 1 you carried = 6.
  3. So, 34 + 27 = 61.
Two-digit subtraction: To subtract 62 - 29:
  1. First, subtract the ones: 2 - 9. Since 2 is less than 9, borrow 1 from the tens. Now it’s 12 - 9 = 3.
  2. Then, subtract the tens: 5 - 2 = 3.
  3. So, 62 - 29 = 33.
Times tables: Here’s the 5 times table:
5 × 0 5 × 1 5 × 2 5 × 3 5 × 4 5 × 5 5 × 6 5 × 7 5 × 8 5 × 9 5 × 10 5 × 11 5 × 12
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Fractions of shapes: If you cut a pizza into 4 equal slices, each slice is 1/4 of the pizza. If you eat 2 slices, you’ve eaten 2/4 of the pizza. Number bonds to 20: Here are some pairs of numbers that add to 20:
  • 1 + 19 = 20
  • 2 + 18 = 20
  • 3 + 17 = 20
  • 4 + 16 = 20
  • 5 + 15 = 20
  • 6 + 14 = 20
  • 7 + 13 = 20
  • 8 + 12 = 20
  • 9 + 11 = 20
  • 10 + 10 = 20

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Magic Bakery You are a young baker in a magical bakery. You need to make 5 cakes, and each cake needs 3 eggs. How many eggs do you need in total? You can use the 3 times table to help:
  1. 3 × 1 = 3 eggs
  2. 3 × 2 = 6 eggs
  3. 3 × 3 = 9 eggs
  4. 3 × 4 = 12 eggs
  5. 3 × 5 = 15 eggs
You need 15 eggs in total! Now, you have 20 eggs. You use 12 eggs for the cakes. How many eggs are left? You can use subtraction: 20 - 12 = 8 eggs left. You also want to split a cake into 4 equal parts for your friends. What fraction of the cake is each part? Each part is 1/4 of the cake.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 5 × 6 = 35.
    Why it happens: Confusing times tables.
    Fix: Practice the 5 times table again and use fingers or a number line.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to carry in column addition.
    Why it happens: Not paying attention to place value.
    Fix: Write numbers in columns and check your work.
  • Mistake: Thinking 1/3 of a shape means 3 parts.
    Why it happens: Confusing the numerator and denominator.
    Fix: Remember that the bottom number tells how many parts the shape is split into.
  • Mistake: Not knowing number bonds to 20.
    Why it happens: Not practicing enough.
    Fix: Use number bond cards or games to practice daily.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Practicing times tables together every day for 5-10 minutes.
  • Using real-life examples like shopping or cooking to show how maths is used.
  • Playing number bond games or using flashcards.
  • Encouraging children to explain their thinking when solving problems.
  • Not worrying if a child makes mistakes – they are part of learning!

Practice questions

  1. What is 45 + 27?
  2. What is 72 - 38?
  3. What is 6 × 7?
  4. What is 1/4 of 12?
  5. What two numbers add up to 20?
Answers:
  1. 72
  2. 34
  3. 42
  4. 3
  5. Examples: 10 + 10, 12 + 8, 15 + 5

FAQ

What are number bonds to 20?
Number bonds to 20 are pairs of numbers that add up to 20, like 10 + 10 or 7 + 13.

Why are times tables important?
Times tables help you solve problems quickly and are the building blocks for more advanced maths.

How can I practice fractions?
You can practice fractions by cutting up pizza, cakes, or paper into equal parts and naming each part.

What is the best way to learn two-digit addition?
Write the numbers in columns, add the ones first, then the tens, and remember to carry if needed.

How can I help my child with maths at home?
Play maths games, use everyday situations like cooking or shopping, and praise effort, not just correct answers.