Work out what each unnumbered mark is worth on a measuring jug, weighing scale or ruler, read values between the numbers, and find differences on a scale.
Where your child meets this in real life: Measuring ingredients for baking, weighing parcels and measuring lengths with a tape.
SEAGReady breaks read measuring scales into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Find the value of each small mark by dividing the step between two numbers by the number of gaps
Read a jug, weighing scale or ruler when the level or pointer is on an unnumbered mark
Read a scale, then find the difference between the reading and another amount
Three free sample questions from our read measuring scales course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
The measuring jug is numbered every 100 mL. How many millilitres is each small mark worth?
A ribbon is laid along the measuring tape, starting at 0. How long is the ribbon?
Rory's cake needs 1000 g of flour. The scale shows how much he has. How many more grams does he need?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Oisín's measuring jug is numbered 100 mL, 200 mL, 300 mL and so on. There are smaller marks between the numbers.
How many millilitres is each small mark worth?
100 ÷ 4 = ?
From 100 mL to 200 mL is a step of 100 mL
Step 1 of 3
Oisín's measuring jug is numbered 100 mL, 200 mL, 300 mL and so on. There are smaller marks between the numbers.
How many millilitres is each small mark worth?
Each small mark on the jug is worth 25 mL.
The key insight: Count the gaps between two numbers, then share the step between them.
Common mix-up: Each mark is 20 mL. That counts the 5 lines instead of the 4 gaps between them.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in read measuring scales, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with read measuring scales? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
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