What Year 5 Children Learn in Maths
Year 5 is a big jump from Year 4. The maths gets more abstract, and children start working with concepts they can't easily visualise. Most UK schools follow the National Curriculum or White Rose Maths, which covers these Year 5 topics:
- Place value: Numbers up to 1,000,000 and understanding the value of each digit
- Addition and subtraction: Multi-step problems with larger numbers
- Multiplication and division: Multiplying and dividing by 10, 100, and 1000; using formal written methods
- Fractions: Adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators, understanding improper fractions and mixed numbers
- Decimals: Understanding decimal place value, comparing decimals, and solving problems involving money and measures
- Percentages: Understanding percentages as "number of parts per hundred" and solving simple percentage problems
- Algebra: Using simple formulae and finding missing numbers in equations
- Geometry: Calculating angles, understanding properties of shapes, using coordinates
- Measurement: Converting between metric and imperial units, calculating area and perimeter
This is a lot. Many parents tell me Year 5 is when they start feeling out of their depth. The good news is that quality maths games can genuinely help — especially for practising new concepts your child has been taught but hasn't quite mastered yet.
For a complete breakdown of what your child should know by the end of Year 5, see our guide to Year 5 maths expectations.
How We Chose These Games
I tested each game using these criteria:
- Year 5 curriculum coverage: Does it cover the harder topics like fractions with different denominators, percentages, and decimals?
- UK curriculum alignment: Does it follow the National Curriculum or White Rose Maths progression?
- Engagement: Will a 9 or 10-year-old actually want to use it?
- Scaffolding: Does it teach concepts or just test them?
- Parent visibility: Can you see what your child has practised and where they're struggling?
The 10 Best Maths Games for Year 5
1. DoodleMaths
Price: £9.99/month or £99.99/year
Platform: iOS/Android app only
Topics covered: Complete Year 5 curriculum including fractions, decimals, percentages, and algebra
DoodleMaths adapts to your child's level, serving up questions based on what they need to practise. It encourages 10-15 minutes of daily practice and sends weekly reports to parents. The Year 5 content is solid, especially for fractions and decimals.
Pros: Strong UK curriculum alignment, excellent parent dashboard, daily streaks build consistency, good scaffolding for new concepts
Cons: Expensive, app-only (no web version), interface is functional rather than exciting
Best for: Parents who want consistent daily practice with detailed progress tracking
2. Third Space Learning (1-to-1 Tutoring + Resources)
Price: Free resources available; 1-to-1 tutoring from £10/session (usually school-funded)
Platform: Web browser
Topics covered: Full Year 5 curriculum
Third Space Learning is better known for their tutoring, but they also offer free maths worksheets and resources organised by year group and topic. They're particularly good for fractions and percentages, which many Year 5 children find tricky.
Pros: Free resources, created by teachers, excellent for targeted practice on specific topics
Cons: Not game-based, requires printing or using on-screen, no interactive elements
Best for: Parents who want free, teacher-created resources for targeted practice
3. IXL Maths
Price: £7.99/month or £59.99/year
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Complete Year 5 curriculum with hundreds of skills
IXL is exhaustive. It has over 300 skills for Year 5 alone, organised by curriculum strand. Each skill has unlimited practice questions. The adaptive algorithm adjusts difficulty, and the reporting is extremely detailed.
Pros: Comprehensive coverage, detailed progress tracking, good for identifying weak areas, UK curriculum-aligned
Cons: Expensive, feels like digital worksheets rather than games, can be demotivating when children make mistakes
Best for: Parents who want thorough topic coverage and detailed tracking, and don't mind paying
4. Mathletics
Price: £5.99/month or £59.99/year
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Full Year 5 National Curriculum
Mathletics combines curriculum-aligned exercises with mini-games and competitions. Children earn points to customise avatars and can compete in live challenges against other children. It's been around for years and many UK schools use it.
Pros: Strong curriculum alignment, mix of practice and games, certificates motivate some children, live competitions add engagement
Cons: Interface feels a bit dated, some games are filler rather than genuinely educational
Best for: Children who are motivated by rewards, certificates, and competing against others
5. Prodigy Maths
Price: Free (basic) or £9.99/month (premium)
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Broad maths topics but follows US curriculum
Prodigy wraps maths questions in a fantasy RPG. Children answer questions to battle monsters, collect pets, and explore a magical world. It's genuinely engaging and feels like playing a real game. The downside? It's built for the US curriculum, so topics don't always match what UK children learn in Year 5.
Pros: Highly engaging, feels like a proper game, free version is usable, huge question bank
Cons: Not UK curriculum-aligned, premium membership heavily promoted in-game, some parents feel it's more game than learning
Best for: Children who refuse to do "maths practice" but will play a game
6. BBC Bitesize
Price: Free
Platform: Web browser
Topics covered: Full Year 5 curriculum with videos, activities, and quizzes
BBC Bitesize offers video lessons, interactive activities, and quizzes for every Year 5 topic. It's excellent for learning new concepts — the videos are clear, the examples are helpful, and it's completely free.
Pros: Completely free, trustworthy, excellent teaching content, good for revision before tests
Cons: Not game-like, no progress tracking, requires parental guidance to navigate
Best for: Revision, learning new topics, or supplementing school teaching
7. MathCraft
Price: Free during beta
Platform: Web (mobile-optimised)
Topics covered: White Rose Maths Year 4-7, adaptive progression
MathCraft combines maths practice with a creature-raising adventure game. Children complete daily quests to earn resources, build their island, and level up their companion. Each quest presents maths questions aligned to White Rose Maths, with an adaptive engine that focuses on topics the child needs to practise.
Pros: White Rose-aligned, genuinely game-like (not quizzes with graphics bolted on), no ads or upselling, free during beta
Cons: Still in beta, smaller question bank than established platforms, limited parent dashboard currently
Best for: Children who want a proper game experience and families who follow White Rose Maths
8. Mathsframe
Price: Free
Platform: Web browser
Topics covered: Year 5 curriculum including fractions, decimals, percentages
Mathsframe is a bit old-fashioned looking, but it offers dozens of free games organised by year group and topic. The Year 5 section includes games for fractions, decimals, percentages, and more. It's a solid free option.
Pros: Completely free, comprehensive topic coverage, organised by National Curriculum objectives
Cons: Dated graphics, no progress tracking, games feel educational rather than genuinely fun
Best for: Parents who want free practice across all topics and don't mind basic graphics
9. Times Tables Rock Stars
Price: £15/year (often free through schools)
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Times tables only (but essential for Year 5 multiplication/division)
By Year 5, children should already know their times tables. But many still need practice, especially for quick recall. Times Tables Rock Stars is hugely popular in schools and genuinely effective for building fluency.
Pros: Highly engaging, excellent for fluency, tracks progress meticulously, often free through school
Cons: Only covers times tables, competitive aspect doesn't suit all children
Best for: Children who still need times tables practice or who thrive on competition
10. SplashLearn
Price: Free (limited) or £6.99/month
Platform: Web + iOS/Android app
Topics covered: Broad maths topics, US curriculum-based
SplashLearn uses bright, engaging graphics and game-based activities. It's designed for the US market, so it doesn't perfectly align with UK Year 5 topics. However, the fundamentals (place value, fractions, decimals) are similar enough that it's still useful.
Pros: Engaging interface, game-like feel, reasonable price
Cons: Not UK curriculum-aligned, free version is very limited, some topics in different order
Best for: Children who need confidence-building rather than strict curriculum alignment
Which Games Cover Which Year 5 Topics?
Year 5 introduces several new topics. Here's which games cover the challenging ones:
| Game | Fractions (Different Denominators) | Decimals | Percentages | Algebra | Negative Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoodleMaths | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Third Space Learning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| IXL Maths | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mathletics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prodigy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partial | ✓ |
| BBC Bitesize | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MathCraft | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mathsframe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partial | ✓ |
| Times Tables Rock Stars | — | — | — | — | — |
| SplashLearn | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partial | ✓ |
Free vs Paid: What's Worth the Money in Year 5?
Year 5 is harder than Year 4, and that's where paid platforms can genuinely help. The free options (BBC Bitesize, Mathsframe, Third Space Learning resources) are excellent for targeted practice, but they won't adapt to your child's level or track progress over time.
Consider paying for a subscription if:
- Your child is struggling with specific topics (fractions, decimals, percentages) and needs adaptive practice
- You want detailed progress reports to see what they're working on and where they're stuck
- Your child needs motivation features (rewards, games, avatars) to stay engaged
- You want one platform that covers everything rather than juggling multiple free sites
If your child is doing well at school and just needs occasional extra practice, the free options are perfectly adequate.
What If My Child Is Struggling With Fractions?
Year 5 fractions are a big step up. Adding fractions with different denominators (like ½ + ⅓) requires understanding equivalent fractions and finding common denominators. Many children find this genuinely difficult.
The best games for fractions are those that teach the concept visually before moving to abstract questions. BBC Bitesize and Third Space Learning both use visual models (fraction bars, number lines) to explain the concept. DoodleMaths also scaffolds fractions well.
Avoid games that just test fractions without teaching them first — your child will just get frustrated.
How to Choose the Right Game for Your Year 5 Child
Here's a quick decision guide:
If your child needs comprehensive curriculum coverage and you can afford it: DoodleMaths or IXL
If you want something free and reliable: BBC Bitesize or Mathsframe
If your child refuses to do anything that looks like maths: Prodigy or MathCraft
If your child loves competition and rewards: Mathletics
If you follow White Rose Maths: MathCraft or look for White Rose-aligned resources on Third Space Learning
The best game is the one your child will actually use consistently. Don't be afraid to trial a few options and see what works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What maths should a Year 5 child know?
By the end of Year 5, children should be confident with numbers up to 1,000,000, able to add and subtract fractions with different denominators, understand decimal place value, solve simple percentage problems, use basic algebra to find missing numbers, and calculate angles in shapes. They should also be fluent in all times tables up to 12×12 and able to multiply and divide by 10, 100, and 1000.
What fractions should Year 5 know?
Year 5 children should be able to recognise equivalent fractions, compare and order fractions with different denominators, add and subtract fractions with different denominators, multiply proper fractions by whole numbers, and understand mixed numbers and improper fractions. This is a significant step up from Year 4, where they only worked with fractions that had the same denominator.
Is Year 5 maths hard?
Yes, Year 5 is when maths gets noticeably harder. New concepts like fractions with different denominators, percentages, and negative numbers are more abstract than previous years. Many children (and parents) find this jump challenging. Consistent practice, using visual models, and breaking concepts into small steps all help. If your child is struggling, that's normal — the key is regular, short practice sessions rather than occasional long ones.
What are the best Year 5 maths resources?
The best free resources are BBC Bitesize (for video lessons and quizzes), Third Space Learning (for worksheets), and Mathsframe (for games). If you're willing to pay, DoodleMaths and IXL offer comprehensive coverage with progress tracking. For children who need a game-based approach, Prodigy (US curriculum) or MathCraft (UK White Rose curriculum) work well. Choose based on what your child responds to — some need visual teaching, others need gamification.
Should Year 5 children still practise times tables?
Absolutely. Year 5 multiplication and division builds on fluent times tables knowledge. Children need instant recall of tables facts to tackle long multiplication, long division, and fraction work. If your child is still hesitant with any tables (especially 7s, 8s, 9s, and 12s), a few minutes daily on Times Tables Rock Stars or Hit the Button will make a significant difference to their confidence in other areas.
Want to Try a Maths Game Aligned to Year 5 Curriculum?
MathCraft combines daily maths practice with an adventure game where your child builds an island and raises a creature companion. Every quest presents questions aligned to White Rose Maths Year 5 topics. It's free during beta.
Try MathCraft Free No card required. Free during beta.