Reading and interpreting distance tables/matrices showing distances between locations (e.g., mileage charts between cities).
Where your child meets this in real life: Reading road-atlas distance charts and planning routes
Each SEAG paper has 28 maths questions. Questions 29 to 50 are multiple choice with five possible answers, and questions 51 to 56 need a short written answer. With 56 questions in 60 minutes across English and maths, that is about a minute per question.
SEAGReady breaks read distance tables into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Read the distance between two locations from a distance table by finding where the row and column intersect
Building block, not tested on its own
Calculate the total distance for a journey with multiple stops by reading and adding individual leg distances
Try three free questions from our read distance tables course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Alice is planning a road trip around the region. She uses this distance table showing kilometres between cities. How far is it from Amberton to Dunmere?
Jessica is planning a trip from Fairview to Ivybridge, stopping in Hillcrest for lunch. Use this distance table. What is the total distance for her journey?
Amelia is comparing different routes. Using this distance table, which journey is longer: Hillcrest to Ivybridge or Greenhaven to Fairview? How much longer is it?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Andrew is planning a road trip. He looks at a distance table showing kilometres between cities in the region.
How far is it from Amberton to Beechwood?
Find Amberton in the row headers on the left
Step 1 of 5
Andrew is planning a road trip. He looks at a distance table showing kilometres between cities in the region.
How far is it from Amberton to Beechwood?
It is 117 km from Amberton to Beechwood.
The key insight: The distance is the same both ways: Amberton to Beechwood = Beechwood to Amberton!
Common mix-up: Reading 62 km (the Dunmere value in the wrong column). Make sure you trace along the correct row AND down the correct column. Use your finger to help align both.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in read distance tables, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed