Term / weeks	Teaching focus	Evidence to look for
1–2	Diagnose evidence, rules and representation Repair one missing prerequisite	Separate component baseline
3–4	Compare counts and proportions Inspect the sample and time period	Fair-comparison explanation
5–6	Identify a claim and its missing link Test a proposed necessary assumption	Argument bridge and denial
7–8	Chain absolute rules Use a countermodel against a reversal	Forward/backward rule map
9–10	Branch on a restrictive clue Record a complete solution set	Auditable constraint table
11–12	Compare fixed and variable charges Check whole-number capacity boundaries	Cost/capacity justification
13–14	Interpret views and hidden information Compare weighted routes	Two models and route audit
15–16	Trace a changing state Use parity to prove impossibility	Invariant plus reachable example
17–18	Find the worst case avoiding a target Prove a guarantee with one-less check	Guarantee argument
19–20	Complete a mixed transfer sample Revisit an earlier error after a delay	Midyear diagnostic portfolio
21–22	Seek discriminating evidence Improve a flawed comparison design	Small investigation proposal
23–24	Strengthen or weaken the stated link Separate evidence from emotional appeal	Focused argument comparison
25–26	Distinguish all, some and not all Check existence and possible overlap	Membership countermodels
27–28	Find a lower bound for an optimum Construct an arrangement reaching it	Bound-and-witness solution
29–30	Test two data statements separately Look for a unique target rather than all values	Sufficiency decision
31–32	Build solids sharing one view Specify a second informative view	Spatial ambiguity explanation
33–34	Compare search procedures Test boundary inputs and stopping rules	Algorithm audit
35–36	Choose representations in short mixed sets Explain when to abandon an unhelpful method	Strategy reflection
37–38	Design a challenge with one intended solution Have another solver check ambiguity	Original item and answer audit
39–40	Complete the Year 5 checkpoint Plan Year 6 around the actual test window	Targeted progression plan

Term / weeks

Teaching focus

Evidence to look for

1–2

Diagnose evidence, rules and representation Repair one missing prerequisite

Separate component baseline

3–4

Compare counts and proportions Inspect the sample and time period

Fair-comparison explanation

5–6

Identify a claim and its missing link Test a proposed necessary assumption

Argument bridge and denial

7–8

Chain absolute rules Use a countermodel against a reversal

Forward/backward rule map

9–10

Branch on a restrictive clue Record a complete solution set

Auditable constraint table

11–12

Compare fixed and variable charges Check whole-number capacity boundaries

Cost/capacity justification

13–14

Interpret views and hidden information Compare weighted routes

Two models and route audit

15–16

Trace a changing state Use parity to prove impossibility

Invariant plus reachable example

17–18

Find the worst case avoiding a target Prove a guarantee with one-less check

Guarantee argument

19–20

Complete a mixed transfer sample Revisit an earlier error after a delay

Midyear diagnostic portfolio

21–22

Seek discriminating evidence Improve a flawed comparison design

Small investigation proposal

23–24

Strengthen or weaken the stated link Separate evidence from emotional appeal

Focused argument comparison

25–26

Distinguish all, some and not all Check existence and possible overlap

Membership countermodels

27–28

Find a lower bound for an optimum Construct an arrangement reaching it

Bound-and-witness solution

29–30

Test two data statements separately Look for a unique target rather than all values

Sufficiency decision

31–32

Build solids sharing one view Specify a second informative view

Spatial ambiguity explanation

33–34

Compare search procedures Test boundary inputs and stopping rules

Algorithm audit

35–36

Choose representations in short mixed sets Explain when to abandon an unhelpful method

Strategy reflection

37–38

Design a challenge with one intended solution Have another solver check ambiguity

Original item and answer audit

39–40

Complete the Year 5 checkpoint Plan Year 6 around the actual test window

Targeted progression plan

Thinking Skills

Not sure where to begin?

Compare evidence fairly and choose the next useful check

Find the missing link and challenge the argument precisely

Follow a rule without turning it around

Find every allowed plan and prove the best is possible

Quantitative reasoning: rates, capacity and sufficient information

Spatial reasoning: views, networks and hidden information

Patterns and algorithms: invariants and efficient search

Strategic reasoning: guarantees, competing methods and uncertainty

Year 5 Thinking Skills test

Suggested 40-week sequence