Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Order of Operations: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 6
- ForYear 6
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Order of Operations is a free printable maths worksheet for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11). Children practise a clear rule: brackets first, then times and divide, then add and subtract. They work through calculations that mix the four operations and decide which part to do first. Page 2 gives the grown-up the answers, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children work through numbered calculations and write each answer in the space provided. The sums mix addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Some have brackets and some do not. Some have more than one multiplication, and some need several steps. Children decide which part to do first, work it out, then finish the rest. The aim is accurate answers, not just working from left to right.
- 3 + 4 × 2 =
- (3 + 4) × 2 =
- 20 - 6 ÷ 2 =
- 5 × (8 - 3) =
- 10 + 2 × 5 - 4 =
- (12 + 8) ÷ 4 =
- 18 ÷ (3 + 3) =
- 2 × 3 + 4 × 5 =
A worked example
13 + 9 × 9 =
This is a different calculation from the sheet. It shows two ways to work, so children can use whichever helps them.
Method 1: mark the first job- Look for brackets. There are none.
- Find the multiplication and underline it: 9 × 9 = 81.
- Rewrite the calculation with the answer in place: 13 + 81.
- Now add: 13 + 81 = 94.
- Work from left to right: 13 + 9 = 22, then 22 × 9 = 198.
- 198 is not the same as 94, so the order changes the answer.
- Multiplication comes before addition, so 94 is the correct answer.
Why does the order matter?
A calculation such as 13 + 9 × 9 can be worked in more than one order, and the order changes the answer. To make sure everyone gets the same result, mathematicians agree a set of rules. Brackets come first. Then multiplication and division. Then addition and subtraction. The rules are a shared agreement, so a calculation means the same thing to everyone who reads it.
Many schools teach this as BODMAS, which stands for Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. Some use BIDMAS. Multiplication and division rank equally, so when both appear, work from left to right. Addition and subtraction rank equally in the same way. This sheet focuses on brackets, times and divide, and add and subtract.
Skills and curriculum link
- BODMAS
- Calculation
- Accuracy
- Using brackets
- Multi step working
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Maths | Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division | Year 6 |
What children will be able to do
- I can do brackets first.
- I can do multiplication and division before adding and subtracting.
- I can check my answer by working step by step.
Ideas that help children get it right
- Brackets group a part togetherBrackets tell you that part of the calculation is worked out as one piece. Do the inside first, then use the result in the rest of the calculation.
- Multiply and divide before adding and subtractingLook through the whole calculation for times and divide signs first. Work these out, then deal with the adding and subtracting.
- Equal ranks go left to rightWhen two operations of the same rank sit side by side, such as add and subtract, work from left to right.
- Rewrite after each stepWriting the calculation again with the finished part replaced by its answer keeps it short and easy to check.
Key words
- OperationA type of calculation: add, subtract, multiply or divide.
- BracketsCurved lines around part of a calculation. Work out what is inside them first.
- Order of operationsThe agreed order for doing the parts of a calculation, so everyone gets the same answer.
- BODMASA memory aid for the order: Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
- EvaluateWork out the value of a calculation.
- EqualsThe sign that shows both sides have the same value.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the rule together: brackets first, then times and divide, then add and subtract.
- Do the first calculation together. Ask your child to point to the part they will work out first, and say why.
- Let them try the rest alone. Encourage them to write each step on a new line.
- Check with page 2. Ask, "How did you decide what to do first?" Come back another day to redo any tricky ones.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Write each step on a new line. Underline the part to do first, work it out, then copy the calculation again with that part replaced by its answer. Do one step at a time. Use a finger or pencil to cover the rest.
To stretch confident children
Write a calculation with three numbers and two signs. Work it out. Now put brackets around a different pair of numbers and work it out again. Does the answer change? Find a calculation where it does not.
Make it a game
Make a number puzzle for someone else. Choose a target number, then write a calculation with at least three numbers that equals it. Swap puzzles and solve each other's. Check the answers together, step by step.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child works strictly from left to right, so 13 + 9 × 9 becomes 22 × 9.
Try thisAsk them to look for times and divide first. Underline that part, work it out, then rewrite the calculation.
Watch forA child ignores brackets and does the first two numbers they see.
Try thisCircle the brackets in a bright colour before starting. Work out the circled part first and write its answer.
Watch forA child always multiplies before dividing. For 36 ÷ 9 × 7 they work out 9 × 7 first.
Try thisRemind them that times and divide rank equally, so go left to right. Here that means 36 ÷ 9 first, then × 7.
Watch forA child always adds before subtracting. For 25 minus 9 plus 11 they work out 9 + 11 first.
Try thisAdd and subtract also rank equally. Work left to right: 25 minus 9, then plus 11.
Talk about it
- Which part of a calculation do you look for first?
- Why do we need a rule for the order? What could go wrong without one?
- What happens to the answer if you move the brackets?
- Can you make a calculation where the brackets change nothing?
- How could you check an answer without just redoing the same steps?
- Which kind of calculation did you find trickiest, and why?
Take it off the page
Dice calculations
Roll three dice. Write the three numbers with any two signs between them, then work it out. Add brackets and see if the answer changes. Play again with new numbers.
Target number
Pick a target number. Using a few numbers of your choice, how many different calculations can you write that give the target? Use brackets in some of them.
Teach a toy
Explain the order of operations to a toy, a sibling or a grown-up. Use a calculation you have written yourself and show each step on paper.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first calculation, then let them lead. Ask why they chose each step. If they get stuck, suggest writing each step on a new line. Praise careful thinking, not only correct answers.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or homework. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the answers for quick marking.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It pairs well with talk about everyday calculations. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before this, children learn the four operations and their multiplication and division facts. They also meet the idea that a calculation can have more than one step. Using brackets informally in earlier years prepares them for the formal rule.
After this, children use the same rules in longer multi step problems and in early algebra, where letters stand for numbers. Secondary maths relies on the order of operations all the time, so confident habits in Year 6 pay off later.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which part of the calculation do you do first, and why?
- What answer do you get if you ignore the order, and is it right?
- Can you write a calculation that needs brackets?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Order of Operations for?
It is written for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11), in Key Stage 2. Children who are secure with the four operations will manage best. Younger children can try it with support, and older children can use it for revision.
- What order do children follow?
Brackets first, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. When operations of the same rank appear together, such as add and subtract, children work from left to right. Page 2 gives the notes.
- Is BODMAS the same thing?
Yes. BODMAS is a memory aid for the same rules: Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. Some schools use BIDMAS instead. Both describe the same order. Check which one your child's school uses.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Ask them to write each step on a new line and underline the part to do first. Work one step at a time and rewrite the calculation after each. Start with the easier calculations and return to the rest later.
- Is it free, and do I need colour?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so it costs very little to use again.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has help and stretch ideas, so it suits mixed ability groups.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time after school, rainy days and school holidays. Writing each step by hand also helps children slow down and check their thinking.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.