Number patterns: what comes next? — Maths Olympiad practice

How to solve it

Look at the gaps — “write the jump between each pair of numbers — the jumps show the rule”

1. Look at two numbers side by side and find the jump: 5 → 10 is a jump of +5.
2. Is the jump the same every time? Then add the same jump once more to the last number.
3. Going down? Take away the same jump. Harder patterns: the jump can grow (+2, +3, +4 …) or the numbers can double (2, 4, 8, 16 …).

Use it for: “What comes next”, “find the missing term” and pattern questions in every Olympiad paper.

Worked example: What comes next? 5, 10, 15, 20, ? → 25

✏️ Practice

Work it out on paper, then tap the answer you think is right. Stuck? Press “Show me how” to see every step.

🏁 Topic 2 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 🧩 Olympiad Pattern Pro badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 7 topics of Part 1 · Class 2–4. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Number Series Worksheet for Maths Olympiad

• Worksheet set 1 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 2 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 3 (PDF)