Free printable practice
Order Of Operations Practice Activities
Printable maths drills for practising order of operations with 3-term to 5-term expressions, four operations, and exponents.
Explore Order Of Operations
Practice that builds confidence
What this maths drill covers
These Order of Operations practice activities help children read a numerical expression carefully and decide what to calculate first. They practise BODMAS-style thinking with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponents, including expressions with 3, 4, and 5 terms.
The printable worksheets move from simpler add-subtract drills to mixed four-operation questions and exponent expressions. Children learn to mark steps, work left to right when operations have equal priority, and avoid solving straight across without checking the operation order.
This collection sits under Mathematics > Math Drills > Order Of Operations and focuses on building fluency with expression solving. The child topics include Add Subtract 3 Terms, Add Subtract 5 Terms, 4 Operations 3 Terms, 4 Operations 4 Terms, 4 Operations 5 Terms, and exponent sets with 3, 4, and 5 terms. Children see expressions such as addition and subtraction chains, mixed multiplication and addition, and powers like a base raised to an exponent.
How the skill progresses
The easier sheets strengthen left-to-right work for addition and subtraction, because these operations share the same priority. The next level adds multiplication and division, where children must calculate those parts before adding or subtracting. Exponent worksheets add another layer: powers are evaluated before the four operations. This gradual increase helps children manage longer 5-term expressions without guessing.
A simple home routine
Ask your child to read the full expression aloud before writing anything. Then have them circle any exponents, underline multiplication or division parts, and finally solve addition or subtraction from left to right. For example, in 6 + 3 × 4, they should first find 3 × 4, then add 6. Encourage one clear line for each step rather than doing all mental working at once.
Classroom uses for teachers
Teachers can use these printables as warm-ups, quick maths drills, revision sheets, or small-group practice for children who rush through mixed operations. They also work well in centres: one group can practise add-subtract chains while another handles 4-operation or exponent tasks. The term counts make it easy to assign a suitable level without changing the core concept.
Common errors to watch for
Many children solve from left to right even when multiplication, division, or exponents should come first. Others treat addition as always before subtraction, or multiplication as always before division, instead of working left to right within the same priority level. Watch for copied signs, missed negative results in subtraction chains, and exponent mistakes such as reading 2³ as 2 × 3.
Free printable PDF download
Use this order of operations practice worksheet page to preview the activity, print it, or download it as a PDF for quick practice. It works well for homework, homeschool lessons, tutoring, morning work, revision, and classroom centers.
Answers and answer key support
After the child completes the worksheet independently, parents and teachers can use the answer support or answer key information to check the work, review mistakes, and choose the next practice step.
Why iBloom worksheets help
iBloom worksheets give repeated, focused practice without overloading the page. The related sets let children compare 3-term, 4-term, and 5-term expressions, so they notice how the same rule works in longer problems. A child-friendly strategy is: “Power first, multiply or divide next, add or subtract last—and move left to right when the signs are equal.”
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
What order should children follow in these worksheets?
Children should evaluate exponents first, then multiplication or division, and finally addition or subtraction. When two operations have the same priority, they should work from left to right.
Do these worksheets include only basic operations?
No. The collection includes add-subtract practice, mixed four-operation expressions, and separate exponent practice with 3, 4, and 5 terms.
How can I help my child avoid solving straight across?
Ask your child to mark the expression before calculating: circle powers, underline multiplication or division, then complete addition and subtraction. This slows them down just enough to choose the correct first step.
Are the 5-term sheets much harder than the 3-term sheets?
They use the same rules, but the longer expressions require better attention to signs and step order. Starting with 3-term sheets helps children build confidence before moving to 4-term and 5-term drills.
What exponent mistake should I watch for?
A common error is reading 2³ as 2 × 3 instead of 2 × 2 × 2. Children should identify the base and exponent before simplifying the rest of the expression.
Is this order of operations practice worksheet free?
Yes. You can preview it for free and use the printable worksheet for home or classroom practice.
Can I download this order of operations practice worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Use the worksheet download option to save a printable PDF, or print the worksheet directly from the page.
Does this order of operations practice worksheet include answers or an answer key?
When the activity has fixed answers, iBloom includes answer support so parents and teachers can check the completed worksheet.