Best Maths App for Year 5
Year 5 takes maths to another level — fractions with unlike denominators, percentages, long division, and the first taste of algebra. This is the year where gaps from earlier years start to show. MathCraft's adaptive engine finds exactly where your child needs support and builds from there, all disguised as island-building adventures.
Try MathCraft Free No credit card requiredWhat Year 5 Covers
MathCraft's Year 5 content extends fraction work to unlike denominators and mixed numbers, introduces percentages and decimals, and covers area and volume of 3D shapes. The first taste of algebra appears here too.
At a Glance
- 13 topics with 60 learning steps
- Every topic aligned to White Rose Maths
- Adaptive practice that meets your child where they are
Number & Fractions
Adding & Subtracting Fractions (Unlike Denominators)
Mixed Numbers & Improper Fractions
Percentages of an Amount
Geometry & Shape
Algebra & Arithmetic
Money, Data & Measure
Coordinates & Statistics
View the full Year 5 topic guide →
What Your Child Learns in Year 5
The National Curriculum sets clear expectations for each year group. Here are the key maths topics your child should be working on:
- Fractions with unlike denominators — Adding and subtracting fractions where the bottom numbers differ — a major step up from Year 4.
- Percentages of an amount — Finding 10%, 25%, 50% and any percentage of a number — essential life maths.
- Long division — Formal written division with larger numbers, including interpreting remainders in context.
- Decimals — Understanding place value with tenths and hundredths, ordering and calculating with decimals.
- Area of compound shapes and volume — Breaking complex shapes into rectangles and calculating the volume of cuboids.
- One-step equations — First taste of algebra — finding the unknown in simple equations like 3x = 12.
How MathCraft Helps at This Level
Every game mechanic in MathCraft connects to real curriculum content. Here is how the adventure maps to Year 5 topics:
- Unlike-denominator fractions drive the Potion Brewery — your child mixes ingredients in different fractional amounts, converting to common denominators to combine them correctly.
- Percentages power the Trading Post, where your child calculates discounts, profits, and price changes in the island marketplace.
- Volume and compound shapes appear in the Building track — your child designs 3D structures and calculates the materials needed to fill or cover them.
- One-step equations emerge in the Crafting Workshop, where your child works out unknown quantities needed to complete crafting recipes.
Parent Questions About Year 5 Maths
My child understands fractions with pictures but can't do the written calculations. What's going wrong?
Nothing is wrong — this is a very common gap. Visual understanding and procedural fluency develop at different rates. Your child needs to practise the mechanical steps (find common denominators, convert, then add) alongside the visual models. MathCraft provides both: visual fraction strips in worked examples, then procedural practice in quests.
Is Year 5 too early for algebra?
Year 5 algebra is much gentler than it sounds. It's about finding a missing number in equations like □ + 7 = 15 or 4 × □ = 20. Your child has been doing this intuitively since early primary — algebra just gives it a name and a more formal notation.
How can I help with long division when I learned a different method at school?
The "bus stop" method used in UK schools may look different from what you remember, but the underlying logic is the same. The best approach is to ask your child to teach YOU their method — explaining it reinforces their understanding. MathCraft's step-by-step worked examples use the same methods taught in school.
Typical Struggles at This Age
Every age group has predictable stumbling blocks. Knowing what to expect makes them easier to handle:
The fraction wall — unlike denominators
When bottom numbers don't match, children must find a common denominator before adding. This multi-step process trips many children up because they forget to convert both fractions. Visual fraction walls (strips showing equivalent fractions) are genuinely helpful here.
Percentages feeling disconnected from fractions
Children often learn percentages as a separate topic without realising 50% is ½ and 25% is ¼. Make the connection explicit. "50% off" at a shop is the same as "half price" — once this clicks, percentages become much more intuitive.
Long division overwhelming working memory
Long division requires holding multiple steps in mind simultaneously. If your child loses track, encourage them to write every step down. There's no prize for doing it in your head. Accuracy first, speed later.
Start Practising with MathCraft
Step-by-step lessons, worked examples, and adaptive practice — all wrapped in an adventure game your child will love.
Try MathCraft Free No credit card required