Reading and writing numbers to 10 million
21 October 2026
Why large numbers matter
Understanding how to read and write numbers up to 10 million is an essential skill for the 11+ maths exam. It helps children recognise place value and avoid common mistakes with large numbers.
Building big numbers
Large numbers are made up of smaller groups: millions, hundred thousands, ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens and units. Each digit has its own place value, which tells us its size.
Worked example
Let's look at the number 4,372,915.
Break it down by place value:
- Four million - Three hundred seventy-two thousand - Nine hundred fifteen
In words, this is written as: four million, three hundred seventy-two thousand, nine hundred fifteen.
The correct answer is four million, three hundred seventy-two thousand, nine hundred fifteen.
Key insight: Understanding place value is the foundation for reading and writing large numbers accurately. This skill is vital for success in 11+ maths questions involving big numbers.
