Free maths test
Mental Math Test
This mental math test gives you 20 timed sums to solve in your head, from 7 + 5 up to two-step sums and squares like 45 × 45. It gets harder every 4 questions, so your result shows how far up the ladder you can stay quick and accurate.
Each sum has its own short time limit, shown as a bar. No calculator, no paper, no sign-up. You get your score, your average speed and a full review at the end.
- 20 sums
- 5 levels
- 10 to 25 seconds each
Ready? 20 sums, 5 levels.
Type each answer and press Enter. A bar shows the time left. If it runs out, the sum counts as missed and the next one appears.
- Level 1Single digits10 seconds each
- Level 2Two-digit adding and taking away15 seconds each
- Level 3Times tables and division12 seconds each
- Level 4Bigger products and percentages20 seconds each
- Level 5Two steps and shortcuts25 seconds each
What this mental math test measures
Mental arithmetic uses three things at once: number facts you have memorised (7 × 8 is 56), working memory to hold partial results while you carry or borrow, and processing speed to do it before the clock runs out.
The five levels shift the load between them. Level 1 is almost pure recall. Level 2 adds carrying and borrowing with two-digit numbers. Level 3 is times tables and division. Level 4 mixes bigger products with percentages. Level 5 asks for two steps, or a shortcut such as multiplying by 11.
Every run uses freshly generated sums, so you can take it again without memorising answers. The levels and time limits stay the same, which makes your scores comparable from one attempt to the next.
How mental math relates to IQ
Arithmetic is a subtest on the Wechsler adult intelligence scale, where it counts towards working memory. People who are quick at mental sums tend to score somewhat higher on IQ tests. The link is real but modest, because arithmetic speed depends a lot on practice and schooling.
That is the main difference from an IQ test. You can get much faster at mental maths in a few weeks of drills. Fluid reasoning, the ability to solve problems you have never seen before, changes far less with practice.
Our full IQ test has no arithmetic in it at all. It measures 5 visual reasoning skills instead. This test has not been normed, so your score shows how you did on these sums, not where you rank.
Three shortcuts worth knowing
Multiplying a two-digit number by 11: add its digits and put the total in the middle. 23 × 11: 2 + 3 = 5, so 253. If the digits add to 10 or more, carry the 1: 48 × 11 = 4(12)8 = 528.
Squaring a number that ends in 5: multiply the first digit by the next number up, then write 25 after it. 35 × 35: 3 × 4 = 12, so 1225. 65 × 65: 6 × 7 = 42, so 4225.
Percentages: 10% is one tenth, so move the decimal point once. 25% is a quarter, so halve and halve again. 20% is 10% doubled. 25% of 84: half is 42, half again is 21.
Why the time limits differ
Single-digit sums get 10 seconds because most adults answer them from memory in two or three. Level 5 sums get 25 seconds because they need two steps. The limits are generous on purpose: the aim is to find where accuracy starts to slip, not to rush you into typing errors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good score on this mental math test?
Getting 17 or more of the 20 right is excellent, and 13 to 16 is good. Most adults who use numbers regularly clear levels 1 to 3 comfortably. Levels 4 and 5 are where scores spread out.
Does being good at mental maths mean you have a high IQ?
Not on its own. Mental arithmetic is linked to IQ, and it appears as a subtest on some IQ tests, but it is strongly shaped by practice and schooling. Plenty of people with high reasoning ability are slow at sums, and the reverse.
How can I get faster at mental maths?
Know the times tables to 12 by heart, practise the shortcuts above, and do short daily sessions. Speed on routine sums improves quickly with practice. That is a real skill gain, but it will not change an IQ score much.
Why can I not use paper?
Holding numbers in your head is part of what the test checks. With paper, the working memory part disappears and it becomes a test of written arithmetic.
Are the sums the same every time?
No. Each attempt generates a new set, following the same five levels and time limits, so repeat attempts are comparable without you learning the answers.