Common Entrance Quantitative reasoning: Estimation and number logic
Quick estimates, working backwards and short logic problems. 20 original, exam-style questions with worked answers.
Read every question with its answer and working.
Question 1 of 20
Which is closest to 49 × 21?
Answer: B. 1,000. 49 is about 50 and 21 is about 20. 50 × 20 = 1,000.
Question 2 of 20
Six oranges cost ₦300. How much do ten oranges cost?
Answer: A. ₦500. One orange costs 300 ÷ 6 = ₦50. Ten cost 10 × 50 = ₦500.
Question 3 of 20
A number is doubled and then 6 is added. The answer is 20. What is the number?
Answer: D. 7. Work backwards: 20 − 6 = 14, and 14 ÷ 2 = 7.
Question 4 of 20
Ade is taller than Bayo. Bayo is taller than Chi. Who is the shortest?
Answer: C. Chi. Order from tallest: Ade, Bayo, Chi. Chi is the shortest.
Question 5 of 20
How many seconds are there in 5 minutes?
Answer: B. 300. 1 minute = 60 seconds, so 5 × 60 = 300.
Question 6 of 20
Which is closest to 598 + 403?
Answer: A. 1,000. 600 + 400 = 1,000.
Question 7 of 20
Which is closest to 7.9 × 5.1?
Answer: D. 40. 7.9 is about 8 and 5.1 is about 5. 8 × 5 = 40.
Question 8 of 20
Three workers build a wall in 12 days. How many days would six workers take, working at the same rate?
Answer: C. 6. Twice as many workers take half the time: 12 ÷ 2 = 6 days.
Question 9 of 20
A number is halved and then 5 is subtracted. The answer is 15. What is the number?
Answer: B. 40. Work backwards: 15 + 5 = 20, and 20 × 2 = 40.
Question 10 of 20
Tola is 5 years older than Uche. Together their ages add up to 31. How old is Tola?
Answer: A. 18. If Tola were 5 years younger they would be the same age and the total would be 26, so Uche is 13. Tola is 13 + 5 = 18.
Question 11 of 20
Five consecutive numbers add up to 40. What is the smallest?
Answer: D. 6. The middle number is 40 ÷ 5 = 8, so the numbers are 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Question 12 of 20
What is 15 more than 3 × 12?
Answer: C. 51. 3 × 12 = 36. Then 36 + 15 = 51.
Question 13 of 20
Which is the greatest? 3/4, 0.7, 72%, 0.69
Answer: B. 3/4. As decimals: 0.75, 0.7, 0.72 and 0.69. The greatest is 3/4.
Question 14 of 20
A clock gains 5 minutes every hour. It is set correctly at 8:00 am. What time will it show at 12:00 noon?
Answer: A. 12:20 pm. Four hours pass, so it gains 4 × 5 = 20 minutes and shows 12:20 pm.
Question 15 of 20
How many 25-kobo coins make ₦10?
Answer: D. 40. ₦1 = 100 kobo, so ₦10 = 1,000 kobo. 1,000 ÷ 25 = 40.
Question 16 of 20
A rope 3 m long is cut into pieces of 25 cm. How many pieces are there?
Answer: C. 12. 3 m = 300 cm. 300 ÷ 25 = 12.
Question 17 of 20
Four friends each shake hands once with every other friend. How many handshakes are there?
Answer: B. 6. Each pair shakes once: AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD. That is 6.
Question 18 of 20
In a class of 40 pupils, 24 are girls. What fraction of the class are boys?
Answer: A. 2/5. 40 − 24 = 16 boys. 16/40 = 2/5.
Question 19 of 20
I think of a number, multiply it by 4 and subtract 6. The answer is 22. What is my number?
Answer: D. 7. Work backwards: 22 + 6 = 28, and 28 ÷ 4 = 7.
Question 20 of 20
A tank holds 120 litres. A tap fills it at 8 litres a minute. How many minutes does it take to fill the empty tank?
Answer: C. 15. 120 ÷ 8 = 15 minutes.
More Quantitative reasoning worksheets
Common Entrance questions parents ask
What is the Common Entrance examination?
It is the entrance exam Primary 6 pupils take to move on to secondary school in Nigeria. The National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) is used for the Federal Unity Colleges, and many states and schools set their own. Papers, subjects and dates differ between exam bodies and from year to year, so always check your child’s exam for the current format.
Which areas do these worksheets cover?
Mathematics, English, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and general knowledge (basic science, social studies and civic education). Each area has worksheets of 20 questions with worked answers.
Are these the real past questions?
No. They are original, exam-style practice questions with worked answers, written to build the same skills. They are not copies of past papers.
How do Answers, Practice and Test yourself differ?
Answers shows every question with its answer and working. Practice shows if you are right straight after each question. Test yourself hides the answers until you have answered all 20, then shows your score and every answer.
What does “ready” mean?
Scoring 16 out of 20 (80%) or more in a test. Your best score is saved in this browser. It is a practice guide and not a prediction of an exam result.
Is Hour of Math linked to NECO or a state exam board?
No. Hour of Math is independent and is not affiliated with any examination body.