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FSCE Maths Syllabus: Full Topic List (Year 5 Ceiling)
The full Year 5-capped topic list with a tick-off checklist
Maths Syllabus
FSCE Maths stops at the end of the Year 5 programme of study — it deliberately excludes Year 6 content. Difficulty comes from multi-step application in real contexts (money, time, temperature, measures), not from advanced topics. Non-calculator throughout.
1 · Number & place value
Read, write, order and compare numbers to 1,000,000
Rounding to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000
Negative numbers in context — counting through zero, temperature problems
Roman numerals to 1,000 (M) and years
2 · Four operations
Formal written methods: column addition/subtraction, long multiplication, short division
Mental strategies and estimation to check answers
Multiples, factors, factor pairs, common factors
Prime numbers, square numbers, cube numbers
Multi-step word problems — the signature FSCE style (buying several items and calculating change; cheapest ticket-combination logic)
3 · Fractions, decimals & percentages
Equivalent fractions; comparing and ordering fractions
Improper fractions ↔ mixed numbers
Adding and subtracting fractions (same and related denominators)
Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers
Decimals to 3 decimal places; rounding decimals; decimal addition/subtraction in money contexts
Percentages as “per hundred”; fraction–decimal–percentage equivalents
4 · Measurement
Converting metric units (mm/cm/m/km, g/kg, ml/l); approximate imperial equivalences
Perimeter of composite rectilinear shapes
Area of rectangles (cm², m²) and composite shapes
Estimating volume and capacity
Money: multi-step purchase-and-change problems, best value
Time: 12/24-hour clock, durations, timetables
5 · Geometry
Properties of 2D shapes; regular vs irregular polygons
3D shapes from 2D representations
Angles: measuring and drawing; angles at a point (360°), on a straight line (180°); deducing missing angles including in triangles
Position & direction: reflection and translation (first quadrant)
6 · Statistics
Reading and interpreting line graphs, including comparison and difference questions
Tables — including two-way tables and timetables
Solving sum/difference/comparison problems from charts
7 · Exam craft (Maths-specific)
No calculator — fluency in mental and written methods matters
Answers written one digit per box; follow the required format exactly (24-hour clock, units such as m²)
Working space is provided but not marked — accuracy of the final answer is everything
Diagrams are not drawn to scale — calculate, don’t measure
No negative marking — never leave a box blank
Maths topic checklist (Year 5 ceiling)
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