Rounding whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100, and using those rounded values to estimate answers to calculations.
Where your child meets this in real life: Estimating shopping totals, checking calculator answers are sensible, quick mental approximations
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 round and estimate with whole numbers into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Round whole numbers to the nearest 10 using the rounding rule
Round whole numbers to the nearest 100 by using the tens digit and the nearest hundreds on either side
Use rounding to estimate answers to addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems
Try three free questions from our round and estimate with whole numbers 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.
Cameron counted 67 sweets in a jar. Round 67 to the nearest 10.
A concert sold 2,874 tickets. Round this to the nearest 100.
Cameron is checking his calculator answer. He calculated 48 x 21 = 1,008. Use estimation to check if this answer is about right.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Holly counted 67 books on the library shelf.
Round 67 to the nearest 10.
67 → ?
Find the multiple of 10 on each side of 67
60 < 67 < 70
Step 1 of 4
Holly counted 67 books on the library shelf.
Round 67 to the nearest 10.
67 rounded to the nearest 10 is 70.
The key insight: If the ones digit is 5 or more, round up. If it's less than 5, round down!
Common mix-up: 67 rounds to 60. The ones digit is 7, which is 5 or more, so we round UP to 70, not down to 60.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in round and estimate with whole numbers, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with round and estimate with whole numbers? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
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.
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