Can you say "12!" the instant you're asked what 7+5 is, without counting on your fingers? Having the answer pop into your head instantly, without needing to work through each calculation step one by one, is called "automaticity." Speed Math Challenge is a game for building that automatic calculation sense, by solving problem after problem for a short 60-second stretch.
Why does practicing fast calculation matter? Solving a hard math problem usually means working through several steps. If you have to slowly calculate every simple addition or multiplication that comes up along the way, you won't have enough mental energy left to think about the heart of the problem itself. When simple calculations pop out automatically, that frees up room to focus on the hard parts.
The problems that show up change depending on the difficulty. Lower elementary gets single-digit addition and subtraction; upper elementary mixes in two-digit addition, subtraction, and basic multiplication facts. Middle school difficulty adds three-digit addition and subtraction along with two-digit multiplication, requiring much faster calculation. It's best to start at a difficulty a bit easier than your own grade level to build confidence, then move up one step at a time.
This game has something called a "combo." Answer problems correctly in a row and your combo builds up, earning a bonus every 5 in a row. But miss even one problem and the combo resets back to 0. So instead of mashing the button as fast as possible, calculating accurately first and then answering quickly leads to a much higher score. It's practice for building speed and accuracy at the same time.
Fast mental math comes up often in everyday life too. Estimating roughly how much your total will be while grocery shopping, or quickly splitting the cost of something with friends, both draw on this same skill. Practicing for just a few minutes every day is more effective for building calculation sense than one long session all at once.
On our activity page, pick a difficulty and hit the start button, and a 60-second timer begins. Calculate each problem quickly, enter your answer, and hit enter. Challenge yourself to see how many you can get, and how accurately, and try to beat your own record.