Measure Word Problems: Converting Units Y6

Year 6 maths worksheets on measure word problems and converting units: 36 questions in three levels (All, Most, Some) with answers. Free PDF.

7-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank. All: Add and subtract lengths, masses and volumes. Most: Solve decimal problems with lengths, masses and volumes. Some: Calculate and convert between units. Each level is two pages of six questions, each with a squared working area, and the last page has every answer, with short working for multi-step questions. Each level is also available as its own 3-page PDF. Example questions from the Some level: A box of pasta weighs 1.75 kg. How much do 2 boxes weigh? Give your answer in grams / 1 kg of clay is split equally between 2 tables. How much does each table get? Give your answer in grams.

What are measure word problems? These problems involve measurements of length, mass, capacity, time and money, usually with unit conversions along the way. Year 6 pupils solve multi-step problems, converting between units such as km and m, kg and g, and l and ml, using up to three decimal places.

Common mistakes and tips: The main error is calculating with mixed units (adding 1.5 kg and 300 g as 301.5). Insist that children convert everything to the same unit first. Misreading multi-step problems is the other big source of errors, so encourage a bar model or quick sketch before calculating.

Questions on this topic appear year after year in the KS2 maths SATs. Because each sheet starts with the core skill and builds to test-style problems, it works both for teaching the topic and for spotting gaps during revision.

Teaching ideas: use the All level to check prerequisite knowledge at the start of a lesson, then move children onto Most or Some when they are ready. Squared working space encourages neat written methods. The answer page includes short working for multi-step questions, so pupils can self-mark and see where they went wrong.

Spotting misconceptions: the mistakes children make on this topic are usually consistent, so look for patterns across their answers rather than marking each question in isolation. A short follow-up on the specific misconception, using concrete resources or diagrams, is often more effective than setting more of the same questions.

Use All for children working towards the expected standard, Most for secure Year 5 skills and Some for SATs-standard practice: three entry points to the same lesson. Suits whole-class differentiation, intervention groups, homework and SATs revision, and upper KS2 generally.

Part of a set of 42 Year 6 maths topics.