Estimate sums: word problems in estimate & check
30 October 2026
When your child faces word problems in maths, it helps to break the question into simple steps. Estimating sums is a useful way to get a quick idea of the answer before checking it carefully. This skill is important for 11+ exams and everyday maths situations, like shopping or planning.
Worked example
A shop sells 47 pencils and 36 pens in one day. About how many items did the shop sell in total? Estimate and check your answer.
Step 1: Round each number to the nearest ten.
47 pencils rounds to 50.
36 pens rounds to 40.
Step 2: Add the rounded numbers to estimate.
50 + 40 = 90
Step 3: Add the actual numbers to check.
47 + 36 = 83
The estimate is 90. The actual total is 83.
| Item | Actual | Rounded |
|---|---|---|
| Pencils | 47 | 50 |
| Pens | 36 | 40 |
| Total | 83 | 90 |
Key insight: By rounding numbers and then checking with the actual calculation, your child learns to judge if an answer makes sense. After seeing this example, your child will spot when to estimate and check in similar word problems. The next step is to practise with questions just like this one, building confidence for the 11+ and beyond.
