5 times table in real life: stars in ratings

Quick answer

You can use stars in ratings to help you learn and remember the 5 times table. Each star is worth 5 points, so 1 star = 5, 2 stars = 10, 3 stars = 15, and so on. This makes the 5 times table easy to see, count, and remember!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:

• Count in 5s using stars in ratings
• Use stars to show groups of 5
• Work out how many stars are in a rating
• Use the 5 times table to solve problems in real life

Why this matters

Learning the 5 times table helps you in many everyday situations. When you look at a movie rating, a game review, or even a star chart in the sky, you're seeing groups of 5. This makes it easier to understand how many stars there are and how to count them quickly. It also helps you to know how many points or votes something has, like in a school competition or a game. The 5 times table is a useful tool that helps you solve problems faster!

How it works

Counting in 5s is like jumping by 5s on a number line. When you count 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and so on, you are counting in 5s. Each time you add 5, you move one more step. This is how the 5 times table works:

1. 1 group of 5 = 5
2. 2 groups of 5 = 10
3. 3 groups of 5 = 15
4. 4 groups of 5 = 20
5. 5 groups of 5 = 25
6. 6 groups of 5 = 30
7. 7 groups of 5 = 35
8. 8 groups of 5 = 40
9. 9 groups of 5 = 45
10. 10 groups of 5 = 50
11. 11 groups of 5 = 55
12. 12 groups of 5 = 60

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're looking at a movie review. Here are some examples of how stars work:

• 1 star = 5 points
• 2 stars = 10 points
• 3 stars = 15 points
• 4 stars = 20 points
• 5 stars = 25 points

Try this with your own hands: hold up 1 hand and count how many fingers you have. That’s 5! Now hold up 2 hands and count again. That’s 10 fingers. Keep going to 5 hands and you’ll have 25 fingers. That’s the 5 times table!

Let’s try a real-life example:

You and your friends are rating your favourite pizza place. You give it 3 stars. How many points is that?

3 stars = 3 groups of 5 = 3 × 5 = 15 points

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Star Rating Challenge!

You are a movie reviewer, and you’ve watched 6 different movies. Each movie gets a star rating from 1 to 5 stars. You want to find out how many points all the movies are worth in total.

1st movie: 2 stars = 2 × 5 = 10 points

2nd movie: 3 stars = 3 × 5 = 15 points

3rd movie: 1 star = 1 × 5 = 5 points

4th movie: 4 stars = 4 × 5 = 20 points

5th movie: 5 stars = 5 × 5 = 25 points

6th movie: 2 stars = 2 × 5 = 10 points

Now, add up all the points:

10 + 15 + 5 + 20 + 25 + 10 = 85 points

Great job! You’ve used the 5 times table to find out how many points all your movies are worth.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking 5 × 5 = 20
• Why it happens: Mixing up the 5 times table with another one
• Fix: Remember 5 × 5 = 25, because 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25

• Mistake: Counting by 5s but skipping numbers
• Why it happens: Not keeping track of your jumps
• Fix: Use your fingers or draw 5s to help you count

• Mistake: Confusing how many stars with how many points
• Why it happens: Not understanding that each star = 5 points
• Fix: Always remember to multiply the number of stars by 5

Parent and carer guide

Help your child learn the 5 times table by using real-life stars in ratings. Here’s how:

1. Look at movie or game reviews together and count the stars
2. Ask your child to work out how many points the stars are worth
3. Use their fingers or draw groups of 5 to help them count
4. Play a game where you give each other star ratings and count the points
5. Encourage them to use the 5 times table in everyday situations like shopping or games

Remember: It’s okay to make mistakes. The more they practice, the easier it gets. Keep it fun and don’t push too hard!

Practice questions

1. How many points is 4 stars worth?
2. How many points is 7 stars worth?
3. How many points is 10 stars worth?
4. How many points is 12 stars worth?
5. If you have 3 stars, how many points do you have?

Answers:

1. 4 × 5 = 20 points
2. 7 × 5 = 35 points
3. 10 × 5 = 50 points
4. 12 × 5 = 60 points
5. 3 × 5 = 15 points

FAQ

How can I use the 5 times table in real life?

You can use it when you see star ratings in movies, games, or reviews. Each star is worth 5 points, so you can quickly work out how many points something is worth.

Why is learning the 5 times table useful?

It helps you count faster, solve problems, and understand ratings. It’s also a building block for bigger maths like multiplication and division.

What if I forget the 5 times table?

You can count by 5s, use your fingers, or draw groups of 5. It’s okay to take your time to learn it!

Can I use the 5 times table for anything else?

Yes! You can use it for counting money (5p coins), time (5-minute intervals), or even for counting fingers or toes!

Is there a trick to remember the 5 times table?

Yes! Every number in the 5 times table ends in either 0 or 5. Try counting 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and so on – you’ll see the pattern!