Year 6 Decimals Ordering Exercises Printable
26 October 2026
Ordering decimals in Year 6
Ordering decimals is a key skill for the 11+ maths exam. Many children find it tricky at first, but regular practice can build confidence and accuracy.
Why ordering decimals matters
Understanding how to compare and order decimal numbers helps children make sense of place value. This skill is often tested in both mental maths and reasoning questions.
How to help your child
Start by reminding your child to look at the digits in each decimal, starting from the left. Encourage them to compare whole numbers first, then tenths, hundredths, and so on.
Worked example
Order these decimals from smallest to largest: 0.7, 0.57, 0.705, 0.75
First, compare the whole number part. All numbers have 0 before the decimal, so move to the tenths place.
The tenths digits are: 7 (0.7), 5 (0.57), 7 (0.705), 7 (0.75).
0.57 has the smallest tenths digit, so it comes first.
Now compare the remaining numbers (0.7, 0.705, 0.75). They all have 7 in the tenths place, so look at the hundredths.
0.7 has 0 in the hundredths (think of it as 0.70), 0.705 has 0, and 0.75 has 5.
0.7 and 0.705 both have 0 in the hundredths, so move to the thousandths. 0.7 can be written as 0.700, and 0.705 as 0.705.
0.700 comes before 0.705.
So the correct order is: 0.57, 0.7, 0.705, 0.75.
Key insight: Encourage your child to write extra zeros to make all the decimals the same length. This makes it easier to compare each digit in order.
Printable practice
Regular short exercises help children spot patterns and avoid common mistakes. Try printing a mix of questions for your child to practise at home, focusing on comparing decimals with different numbers of decimal places.
Building confidence
Praise your child for careful checking and encourage them to explain their reasoning out loud. This helps them develop a systematic approach to ordering decimals, which is valuable for the 11+ and beyond.
