Primary 1 Mathematics Practice Paper 1

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper — Answer Key

Mathematics Primary 1 | Practice Paper 1 — Numbers (Whole Numbers up to 100)

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Section A: Counting and Number Recognition (10 marks)

1. Count the stars below. How many stars are there altogether? [2 marks]

Working:

• Row 1: 5 stars
• Row 2: 5 stars
• Row 3: 3 stars
• Total: 5 + 5 + 3 = 13 stars

✅ Answer: 13 stars

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for the correct answer. Award 1 mark if the student counts correctly but makes a minor addition error.

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2. Write the number "thirty-five" in numerals. [2 marks]

Working:

• "Thirty" = 30
• "Five" = 5
• Thirty-five = 30 + 5 = 35

✅ Answer: 35

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct numeral. Award 0 marks for "305" or "53" — common reversals to watch for.

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3. Count the apples in each group. Write the number. [2 marks]

Working:

• Each row has 10 apples.
• There are 6 rows.
• Total: 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 60

✅ Answer: 60

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer. Award 1 mark if the student writes 6 (counting rows instead of apples) — this is a common error.

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4. What number comes just after 49? [2 marks]

Working:

• "Just after" means the next number.
• 49 + 1 = 50

✅ Answer: 50

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer. Some students may write 40 — check understanding of "after" vs "before".

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5. What number comes just before 70? [2 marks]

Working:

• "Just before" means the number that comes earlier.
• 70 − 1 = 69

✅ Answer: 69

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer. Some students may write 71 — check understanding of "before".

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Section B: Place Value and Comparing Numbers (10 marks)

6. What is the value of the digit 5 in the number 52? [2 marks]

Working:

• In 52, the digit 5 is in the tens place.
• The value of 5 in the tens place = 5 × 10 = 50

✅ Answer: 50

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer. Award 0 marks if the student answers "5" — this confuses the digit with its value.

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7. How many tens and how many ones are in the number 63? [2 marks]

Working:

• 63 = 6 tens + 3 ones
• The digit 6 is in the tens place → 6 tens
• The digit 3 is in the ones place → 3 ones

✅ Answer: 6 tens and 3 ones

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for both correct. Award 1 mark if only one part is correct.

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8. Which number is smaller, 88 or 78? [2 marks]

Working:

• Compare the tens digit: 8 tens vs 7 tens.
• 7 tens is less than 8 tens.
• So 78 is smaller than 88.

✅ Answer: 78

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer. This checks understanding of comparing two-digit numbers.

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9. Arrange these numbers from smallest to biggest: 45, 23, 67. [2 marks]

Working:

• Compare all three numbers: 23, 45, 67
• 23 < 45 < 67
• Smallest to biggest: 23, 45, 67

✅ Answer: 23, 45, 67

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for all three in correct order. Award 1 mark if two numbers are in the correct relative position.

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10. Fill in the blank with >, <, or =.   56 _____ 65 [2 marks]

Working:

• Compare tens digits: 5 tens vs 6 tens.
• 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
• So 56 is less than 65.
• Symbol: <

✅ Answer: <

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct symbol. Award 0 marks if the student uses ">" — check that they understand the symbol direction.

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Section C: Number Patterns and Ordinal Numbers (10 marks)

11. Continue the pattern. Write the next two numbers: 10, 20, 30, 40, ______, ______. [2 marks]

Working:

• The pattern increases by 10 each time.
• 40 + 10 = 50
• 50 + 10 = 60

✅ Answer: 50, 60

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for both correct. Award 1 mark if only one is correct.

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12. Continue the pattern. Write the next two numbers: 95, 90, 85, 80, ______, ______. [2 marks]

Working:

• The pattern decreases by 5 each time.
• 80 − 5 = 75
• 75 − 5 = 70

✅ Answer: 75, 70

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for both correct. Award 1 mark if only one is correct. Watch for students who continue subtracting 10 instead of 5.

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13. Fill in the missing number: 55, 60, ______, 70, 75. [2 marks]

Working:

• The pattern increases by 5 each time.
• 60 + 5 = 65
• Check: 65 + 5 = 70 ✓

✅ Answer: 65

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer.

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14. Look at the line of children: 👧 👦 👧 👦 👧 👦 👧. Which child is 3rd from the left? [2 marks]

Working:

• Counting from the left: 1st = 👧, 2nd = 👦, 3rd = 👧
• The 3rd child from the left is a girl.

✅ Answer: The 3rd child from the left. (Accept: "girl" or "the third one")

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for identifying the 3rd position correctly. Accept "girl" as it describes the 3rd child.

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15. Tom is 1st in the queue. Mary is right behind Tom. What is Mary's position? [2 marks]

Working:

• Tom is 1st.
• The person right behind 1st is 2nd.
• Mary is 2nd.

✅ Answer: Mary is 2nd.

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct ordinal number. Accept "second" or "2nd".

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Section D: Word Problems (10 marks)

16. Lily has 24 stickers. She gets 10 more stickers from her mother. How many stickers does Lily have now? [2 marks]

Working:

• Lily starts with 24 stickers.
• She gets 10 more: 24 + 10 = 34

✅ Answer: 34 stickers

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer with or without working. Award 1 mark for correct working but arithmetic error.

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17. There are 36 birds on a tree. 6 birds fly away. How many birds are left on the tree? [2 marks]

Working:

• Start with 36 birds.
• 6 fly away: 36 − 6 = 30

✅ Answer: 30 birds

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer. Award 1 mark for correct working but arithmetic error.

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18. Count the number of balloons in Box A and Box B. Which box has more balloons? How many more? [2 marks]

Working:

• Box A: 8 balloons
• Box B: 12 balloons
• Compare: 12 > 8, so Box B has more.
• Difference: 12 − 8 = 4 more

✅ Answer: Box B has more balloons. It has 4 more.

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for both parts correct. Award 1 mark for identifying the correct box but incorrect difference.

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19. Write the number that is 10 more than 45. [2 marks]

Working:

• "10 more" means add 10.
• 45 + 10 = 55

✅ Answer: 55

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer.

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20. Write the number that is 10 less than 80. [2 marks]

Working:

• "10 less" means subtract 10.
• 80 − 10 = 70

✅ Answer: 70

📝 Marking note: Award 2 marks for correct answer.

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Summary of Marks

Section	Topic	Marks
A	Counting and Number Recognition	10
B	Place Value and Comparing Numbers	10
C	Number Patterns and Ordinal Numbers	10
D	Word Problems	10
Total		40

Note: Each of the 20 questions carries 2 marks, for a total of 40 marks.

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Common Mistakes to Watch For

Mistake	Question(s)	What to Reinforce
Confusing digit with its value (answering "5" instead of "50")	Q6	Emphasise place value: the digit tells you how many, the place tells you what kind (tens or ones)
Reversing digits when writing number words (e.g., writing "305" for thirty-five)	Q2	Practice writing number words and matching them to numerals
Confusing "before" and "after"	Q4, Q5	Use a number line to show the direction of "before" (left) and "after" (right)
Using the wrong comparison symbol direction	Q10	Teach the "alligator mouth" — the open side faces the bigger number
Subtracting instead of adding in word problems	Q16	Key words: "more" → add, "left" / "away" → subtract