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Topmarks Maths

Topmarks Hit the Button personal bests maths mission

A practical mini-mission using personal bests to practise data through questions, examples and child-friendly challenges.

Quick answer

You can use your personal bests from Topmarks Hit the Button games to collect and compare data, helping you see how you're improving over time.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to collect your personal best scores from Topmarks Hit the Button games, record them in a table, and compare your progress over time to see how much you've improved. Success signs:
  • You can write down your best score for each game
  • You can make a simple table with your scores
  • You can say which game you did best in
  • You can explain how your scores have changed over time

Why this matters

Data is all around us – from your scores in games to how long it takes you to get ready in the morning. Learning to collect and compare data helps you understand your progress and make better choices. When you track your best times or scores in Topmarks Hit the Button, you're doing real-life data work that helps you see how you're getting better at maths.

How it works

To do this maths mission, you’ll:
  1. Play a few games in Topmarks Hit the Button
  2. Write down your best score for each game
  3. Make a table to show your scores
  4. Look at your table to see how you're improving

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you played these games in Topmarks Hit the Button:
  • Number Bonds to 10: your best score was 30
  • Mental Maths: your best score was 25
  • Tables: your best score was 40
Now you can make a table like this:
Game Best Score
Number Bonds to 10 30
Mental Maths 25
Tables 40
You can see that you did best in the Tables game, and you can also see that your scores are getting higher – which means you're getting better at maths!

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Data Detective Mission You are a detective who needs to solve a mystery – how much better are you at maths each week? You must:
  1. Play Topmarks Hit the Button for 10 minutes
  2. Write down your best score for 3 games
  3. Draw a table like the one above
  4. Count how many more points you scored in your best game than your worst game
  5. Draw a picture of yourself doing maths with a smile!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to write down your scores
    Why it happens: It's easy to get distracted by the fun of playing
    Fix: Use a sticky note or piece of paper to write down each score as soon as you finish a game
  • Mistake: Making the table messy or not lining up the numbers
    Why it happens: It's hard to keep things neat when you're excited
    Fix: Use a ruler to draw straight lines or write each score in a box
  • Mistake: Thinking your scores are the same even if you got a better score
    Why it happens: You might forget what you scored before
    Fix: Keep a notebook or chart to remember all your best scores

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:
  • Playing Topmarks Hit the Button with your child for 10 minutes
  • Helping your child write down their best scores
  • Encouraging them to make a simple table with their scores
  • Asking questions like, "Which game did you do best in?" or "How many more points did you get this time?"
  • Noticing how your child's scores improve over time
This activity helps children understand that numbers can show growth and progress – a really useful life skill.

Practice questions

  1. What is your best score in the Number Bonds game?
  2. How many points did you get in the Tables game?
  3. Which game did you do best in?
  4. How many more points did you get in your best game than your worst game?
  5. What is one thing you noticed about your scores?
Answers:
  1. Your answer will vary
  2. Your answer will vary
  3. Your answer will vary
  4. Subtract your worst score from your best score
  5. Any observation about improvement or patterns

FAQ

What is a personal best?

A personal best is your highest score or best performance in a game or activity. It shows how well you did compared to your own past efforts.

Why should I keep track of my scores?

Tracking your scores helps you see how much you're improving. It also makes you feel proud of your progress and gives you goals to work towards.

Can I use this with other games?

Yes! You can use the same method with any game or activity you play – like board games, sports, or even cooking!

How do I make a table?

A table has rows and columns. Write the names of your games in one column, and your scores in the next column. You can draw lines to make it neat.

What if I don’t improve?

That’s okay! Sometimes it takes time to get better. You can still track your scores to see what you're working on and celebrate small improvements.