Percentages of amounts: what children learn
Year 6 pupils solve problems involving the calculation of percentages, such as 15% of 360, and use percentages for comparison. This topic sits in the ratio and proportion part of the curriculum and is used constantly in everyday life: discounts, tips, test scores and interest.
In this 90-second sprint, questions use 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 50% and 75% of amounts up to 400. Every answer is a whole number, so children can focus on the method. They type each answer and get instant feedback.
This topic covers the Year 6 statutory requirement in the National Curriculum in England (Ratio and proportion): pupils should be taught to “solve problems involving the calculation of percentages [for example, of measures and such as 15% of 360] and the use of percentages for comparison”. Year 6 pupils are usually aged 10–11.
For families following US standards, the closest Common Core standard is 6.RP.A.3.c, which is taught in Grade 6.
How to play
How many can you answer in 90 seconds? Type the answer and press Enter. Questions keep coming for 90 seconds. Type each answer and press Enter, or choose Skip. Answers can be typed with or without commas.
Step by step
- Find 10% by dividing by 10. 10% of 360 = 360 ÷ 10 = 36.
- Find 1% by dividing by 100. 1% of 300 = 300 ÷ 100 = 3.
- Build other percentages from these. 5% is half of 10%. 20% is double 10%. 15% is 10% + 5%. So 15% of 360 = 36 + 18 = 54.
- Use fractions for the common ones. 50% is ½, 25% is ¼ and 75% is ¾. 75% of 80 = ¾ of 80 = 60.
Worked examples
Example 1: 15% of 360 = ?
Working: 10% is 36 and 5% is 18. 36 + 18 = 54.
Answer: 54
Example 2: 75% of 120 = ?
Working: 25% is a quarter: 120 ÷ 4 = 30. 75% is three of those: 90.
Answer: 90
Example 3: 5% of 260 = ?
Working: 10% is 26, so 5% is half of that.
Answer: 13
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Dividing by the percentage: 20% of 80 worked out as 80 ÷ 20 = 4. Find 10% (8), then double it (16). Check: 20% is a fifth, and a fifth of 80 is 16.
- Finding 10% correctly but forgetting to add the 5% for 15%. Write the parts down: 10% = ?, 5% = ?, total = ?
- Confusing 'percentage of' with 'percentage off'. '20% off £50' means take 20% (£10) away, leaving £40. '20% of £50' is just £10.
Activities to try at home
- Work out sale prices in shops or online: what is 25% off £36?
- Calculate a 10% tip on a restaurant bill.
- Turn test scores into percentages: 18 out of 20 is 90%.
Ideas for the classroom
- Make a 'percentage ladder' for an amount: 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.
- Compare deals: is 30% off £60 better than £15 off?
- Link to pie charts: 25% of 360° is 90°.
Printable worksheet
The printable worksheet uses the same question generator as the game, so it practises exactly the same skills. It comes with a separate answer sheet on the second page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser's print menu.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest way to find a percentage of an amount?
Start from 10% (divide by 10) and 1% (divide by 100), then build up. For 50%, 25% and 75%, use halves and quarters.
Can percentages be more than 100%?
Yes. 150% of 40 is 60. Year 6 focuses on percentages up to 100%; percentages over 100% are covered at Key Stage 3.
What is the US equivalent?
Common Core 6.RP.A.3.c (Grade 6): find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100.