Order of operations worksheets
Evaluating expressions in the right order: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction (PEMDAS).
Download the free order of operations worksheet (PDF)
Order of operations worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 50 questions on order of operations, sized for US Letter paper
- 2 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grades 5–6, matching Common Core 5.OA.A.1, 6.EE.A.2
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new order of operations worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh order of operations worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose Core, Standard or Challenge level, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
Order of operations: a worked example (3 + 4 × (6 − 2))
- Parentheses first: 6 − 2 = 4.
- Then multiply: 4 × 4 = 16.
- Then add: 3 + 16 = 19.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Have your child rewrite the whole expression after each step so nothing gets lost. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Working left to right, giving (3 + 4) × 4 = 28.
- Doing all multiplication before all division instead of left to right.
What to practice before and after order of operations
- Before: exponents. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- After: solving equations, once this one is mostly right.
- Learn it first: the grades 6–8 guide.
More grades 6–8 worksheets
Last reviewed
Questions parents ask
Does multiplication always come before division in PEMDAS?
No. Multiplication and division share the same level, so do them from left to right. The same goes for addition and subtraction.
What grade is this order of operations worksheet for?
It is written for grades 5–6 and matches Common Core standards 5.OA.A.1, 6.EE.A.2.
Can I get a different version of this order of operations worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new order of operations worksheet with different numbers every time, at Core, Standard or Challenge level, with its own answer key.