Maths Library

Order of Operations: Grade 6 math

Apply standard precedence rules to evaluate arithmetic expressions involving brackets, powers, and the four operations. Worksheets build confidence from simple two-operation problems to nested expressions.

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What this covers

Order of Operations is taught in Grade 6 (age 11 to 12) as a topic to introduce. It sits in the Number strand.

Worked example

Evaluate 18 - 3 × (2 + 4)

  1. Calculate inside the brackets first: 2 + 4 = 6
  2. Multiply: 3 × 6 = 18
  3. Subtract: 18 - 18 = 0

Answer: 0

Difficulty scale

The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.

  1. Expressions with two operations using +, -, and × without brackets
  2. Expressions with brackets and basic four operations
  3. Expressions with multiple operations, brackets, and division
  4. Expressions incorporating exponents (powers) and square roots
  5. Complex expressions with nested brackets and fractional bars

Common mistakes

  • Working strictly left to right regardless of operational hierarchy (e.g. 2 + 3 * 4 = 20)
  • Believing addition must always precede subtraction rather than treating them with equal left-to-right priority

Curriculum links

Indicative matches to Common Core State Standards. Check wording and codes against the official document.

  • 6.EE.A.1 Write and evaluate numerical expressions involving whole-number exponents.

Sample sheet and answers

Six questions at the level's usual difficulty. Open the editor to change, add or regenerate any of them.

Order of Operations

Grade 6 math

Qs
6
Marks
18
NameDateScore / 18
1.
23 − 8 × 2 + 7 =
[3]
2.
(7 + 2) × 9 =
[3]
3.
(3 + 9) × 9 =
[3]
4.
(8 + 6) × 3 =
[3]
5.
9 + 7 × 3 =
[3]
6.
(7 + 6) × 9 =
[3]

Answer key

  1. 14Multiply first: 8 × 2 = 16; 23 − 16 + 7 = 14
  2. 81Brackets first: 7 + 2 = 9; Then multiply: 9 × 9 = 81
  3. 108Brackets first: 3 + 9 = 12; Then multiply: 12 × 9 = 108
  4. 42Brackets first: 8 + 6 = 14; Then multiply: 14 × 3 = 42
  5. 30Multiply first: 7 × 3 = 21; Then add: 9 + 21 = 30
  6. 117Brackets first: 7 + 6 = 13; Then multiply: 13 × 9 = 117