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Maths History

Counting with tally marks

Show one of the oldest and simplest recording systems.

Quick answer

Counting with tally marks is one of the oldest and simplest ways to keep track of numbers. You make a mark for each item you count, and every fifth mark is drawn across the previous four to make a group. This makes it easy to count quickly and accurately, even when there are many items.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use tally marks to show numbers from 1 to 20, and you will understand why tally marks are helpful for counting and grouping. Success signs:
  • You can draw tally marks for numbers 1 to 20
  • You can count tally marks to find the total
  • You know how to group 5 tally marks together
  • You can use tally marks to keep track of things you count

Why this matters

Tally marks are more than just a fun way to count. They were used by ancient people to keep track of important things like animals, crops, or even votes. Even today, people still use tally marks in simple situations, like counting how many people are in a room or how many goals are scored in a football game. Learning to use tally marks helps you understand how numbers work and how to keep track of things in a clear and easy way.

How it works

Tally marks are a simple system that uses lines to count things. Here’s how it works:
  1. For each item you count, you draw a single line (or "tally")
  2. After four lines, you draw a fifth line that goes across the previous four lines
  3. This makes a group of five, which is easier to count quickly
  4. You keep making groups of five as you count more items
This system helps you count faster because you can see groups of five at a glance, rather than counting each mark individually.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at how tally marks work for different numbers: How to write tally marks for numbers 1 to 20
Number Tally Marks
1 |
2 ||
3 |||
4 ||||
5 |||| /
6 |||| / |
7 |||| / ||
8 |||| / |||
9 |||| / ||||
10 |||| / |||| /
11 |||| / |||| / |
12 |||| / |||| / ||
13 |||| / |||| / |||
14 |||| / |||| / ||||
15 |||| / |||| / |||| /
16 |||| / |||| / |||| / |
17 |||| / |||| / |||| / ||
18 |||| / |||| / |||| / |||
19 |||| / |||| / |||| / ||||
20 |||| / |||| / |||| / |||| /
Example: If you are counting how many toys you have, and you have 13 toys, you would draw 13 tally marks like this:
  1. Draw four single lines for 1, 2, 3, 4
  2. Draw a fifth line across the first four to make a group of five
  3. Continue with four more single lines for 6, 7, 8, 9
  4. Draw another line across the last four to make another group of five
  5. Draw three more single lines for 10, 11, 12
  6. Draw one more single line for 13

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Animal Counting Challenge You are a young explorer in a jungle, and you have been given a mission to count how many different animals you see. You will use tally marks to keep track of your discoveries.
  1. First, you see 3 monkeys. Draw 3 tally marks for monkeys.
  2. Next, you see 5 birds. Draw 5 tally marks for birds.
  3. Then, you see 2 elephants. Draw 2 tally marks for elephants.
  4. After that, you see 7 lions. Draw 7 tally marks for lions.
  5. Finally, you see 4 zebras. Draw 4 tally marks for zebras.
Now, count all your tally marks to find the total number of animals you saw. You can group them in fives to make it easier. How many animals did you count in total?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Drawing a fifth line that doesn’t cross the first four lines. Why it happens: Not understanding the rule of grouping. Fix: Always draw the fifth line across the previous four lines to make a group of five.
  • Mistake: Counting each mark individually instead of counting groups of five. Why it happens: Not knowing how to group tally marks. Fix: Practice counting by fives to help you see the groups quickly.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to draw a line for every item counted. Why it happens: Getting distracted or rushing. Fix: Count out loud and make sure you draw one line for each item.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child learn tally marks by:
  • Practicing with real objects like toys, fruits, or buttons
  • Using tally marks to count during everyday activities like setting the table or collecting leaves
  • Encouraging your child to group their marks into fives
  • Letting them draw tally marks for their own counting tasks, like how many pets they have or how many books they’ve read
  • Reinforcing the idea that each group of five makes counting easier
If your child is struggling, try drawing the tally marks together and counting the groups. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes — that’s how we learn!

Practice questions

  1. How many tally marks are needed to show the number 12?
  2. Draw tally marks for the number 8.
  3. What number does this set of tally marks show: |||| / |||| / ||?
  4. How many animals are shown by these tally marks: |||| / || / |||| / |?
  5. Draw tally marks for 17 animals.
Answers:
  1. 12 tally marks
  2. |||| / |||| / ||
  3. 12
  4. 16
  5. |||| / |||| / |||| / |||| / |||

FAQ

What are tally marks used for?

Tally marks are used to keep track of numbers in a simple and clear way. They are often used for counting things like votes, animals, or items in a collection.

Why do we group tally marks in fives?

Grouping tally marks in fives makes it easier to count quickly. When you see a group of five, you can count it as one unit, which saves time and helps avoid mistakes.

Can tally marks be used for big numbers?

Yes, tally marks can be used for any number. You just keep making groups of five and adding more lines as needed. For very large numbers, it might take a while, but it’s still possible.

Are tally marks still used today?

Yes, tally marks are still used today in simple situations, like counting votes in a meeting or keeping track of scores in a game.

How do I know if I’ve drawn tally marks correctly?

Make sure each group has four single lines and one line crossing them. If you have more than four lines in a row without a crossing line, you’ve made a mistake.