Year 6 KS2 SATs Maths — Reasoning

Year 6 KS2 SATs — Maths Reasoning (Papers 2 & 3)

Tackle multi-step word problems across ratio, measurement, geometry, statistics and algebra — the reasoning and problem-solving side of KS2 Maths.

Exam Tips for Maths Papers 2 & 3

1. Underline key numbers and the exact question being asked before you start calculating.

2. Break multi-step problems down — write out each smaller calculation rather than trying to do it all at once.

3. Check your units — especially when converting between mm/cm/m or ml/l.

4. Check reasonableness — does your final answer make sense for the situation described?

Note: Papers 2 and 3 each last 40 minutes. A calculator is not allowed, but marks are often available for showing correct working, even if the final answer is wrong.

What This Test Covers

Ratio & Proportion

Sharing amounts in a given ratio, and scaling recipes or mixtures up or down.

Measurement

Perimeter, area, unit conversions (mm/cm/m, ml/l) and reading timetables.

Geometry

Angles in triangles and on a straight line, properties of shapes.

Statistics

Calculating the mean, and interpreting line graphs and tables.

Algebra

Simple formulae and finding missing numbers in equations.

Money & Multi-Step Problems

Real-world problems combining several operations in one question.

Key Concepts Summary

●Multi-step problems: break the question into smaller calculations and solve one at a time.
●Perimeter vs area: perimeter adds the sides (2 × (length + width)); area multiplies them (length × width).
●Ratio: work out what one “part” is worth, then scale up to find the full amounts.
●Mean: total = mean × count — useful for working backwards from an average.
●Angles in a triangle: always sum to 180°.
●Simple algebra: undo operations in reverse order to find the missing number.