Basic Math
Arithmetic Operations
Long addition (carrying), subtraction (borrowing), multiplication, and division.
Questions are set in office and accounting environments. Expect payroll totals, inventory counts, and budget figures.
What the exam tests
Vertical Exercises
Numbers aligned vertically for manual calculation of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Multiple Choice Questions
Select the correct answer from four or five choices. You can check your work with inverse operations. For example, multiply to verify a division answer by back-checking each choice.
Word Problems
Short scenarios in an office or accounting context where you must identify which arithmetic operations are needed to reach a solution.
Data Filtering Problems
Questions containing irrelevant information designed to test your ability to isolate only the data required for the calculation.
Estimation and Approximation
Use rounding to quickly narrow down multiple-choice options without performing full long-form calculations.
Core Arithmetic Mechanics
Key rules
- ›Carrying: pass digits to the next column in addition when a column sum exceeds 9.
- ›Borrowing: take from the next column in subtraction when the top digit is smaller than the bottom.
- ›Multiplication: multiply each digit of the upper number by both the units and tens digits of the lower number, with proper carrying and zero-placement for each row.
- ›Long division: compare the dividend and divisor to determine quotients; handle remainders until the result is zero.
Simplification Strategies
Key rules
- ›Numerical decomposition: break complex calculations into smaller components (e.g., 192 ÷ 3 = (180 ÷ 3) + (12 ÷ 3) = 60 + 4 = 64).
- ›Round numbers to estimate and eliminate implausible answer choices before calculating precisely.
- ›For multiple-choice division, try multiplying each answer choice by the divisor to back-check. This is often faster than full long division.
Common traps
- !Data filtering: read word problems carefully and cross out numbers that are not needed for the specific calculation asked.
Verification and Cross-Checking
Key rules
- ›Check subtraction by adding the result to the subtracted number. The sum should equal the original.
- ›Check division by multiplying the quotient by the divisor. The product should equal the dividend.
- ›When solving for an unknown (X), use inverse operations to isolate the variable.
Try one
Perform the following addition: 237 + 80 +125 ──── What is the total?
237 + 80 = 317; 317 + 125 = 442. Carry check: units 7+0+5=12, write 2 carry 1; tens 3+8+2+1=14, write 4 carry 1; hundreds 2+1+1=4. Answer: 442.
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