Rounding Numbers to Nearest Powers of Ten Worksheets for 11 Plus Practice
26 October 2026
Rounding to powers of ten for 11+ maths
Rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred or thousand is a key skill for the 11+ maths exam. It helps children estimate, check answers and work confidently with large numbers.
Why rounding matters
In the 11+, children are often asked to round numbers as part of multi-step problems or to estimate answers. Understanding how to round to different powers of ten builds strong place value knowledge and helps with mental maths.
Key insight: Start with place value
Before rounding, make sure your child can confidently identify each digit's place value. This makes it much easier to spot which digit to look at when rounding to the nearest ten, hundred or thousand.
How to help your child practise
Ask your child to underline the digit they are rounding to. Then, look at the digit immediately to the right. If it is 5 or more, round up. If it is 4 or less, round down. Practise with numbers of different sizes for variety.
Worked example
Round 3472 to the nearest 1000
First, find the digit in the thousands place. In 3472, this is 3.
Next, look at the digit to the right, in the hundreds place. This digit is 4.
If the hundreds digit is 5 or more, round up. If it is 4 or less, round down. Here, 4 is 4 or less.
So, keep the thousands digit the same and change the hundreds, tens and units to zero.
The correct answer is 3000.
Building confidence with practice
Give your child regular short practice sessions on rounding to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand. Mix in real-life examples, such as rounding prices or distances, to make practice meaningful.
Making progress for the 11+
With clear steps and regular practice, your child will find rounding to powers of ten becomes second nature. This skill supports both quick estimation and accuracy in the 11+ maths exam.
