Life Skills

Counting to 10

Revision Note

What You Need to Know

Counting to 10 is one of the most important skills you will learn at nursery. The examiner expects you to count fluently from 1 to 10 without skipping any numbers or getting distracted by a nearby snack.

This topic builds on Counting to 5, which you should have already completed. If not, go back and revise - the examiner will notice.

The Numbers 1-10

The table below shows each number, its word form, and a visual representation. You are expected to memorise all ten.

Number	Word	Fingers	Dots
1	One	☝️	●
2	Two	✌️	● ●
3	Three	🤟	● ● ●
4	Four	🖖	● ● ● ●
5	Five	🖐️	● ● ● ● ●
6	Six	🖐️☝️	● ● ● ● ● ●
7	Seven	🖐️✌️	● ● ● ● ● ● ●
8	Eight	🖐️🤟	● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
9	Nine	🖐️🖖	● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
10	Ten	🖐️🖐️	● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Key Terminology

Cardinal number: A number that tells you "how many" (e.g. there are three biscuits left).

One-to-one correspondence: Pointing to each object exactly once as you count. Double-pointing or skipping an object will lose marks.

Worked Example

📝 Worked Example

Count the ducks in the pond.

🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

1 Point to each duck one at a time as you count

2 Say each number out loud: "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven"

3 The last number you say is the total number of ducks

Answer: There are 7 ducks ✓

Counting Strategies

There are several approved strategies for counting to 10:

1. The Finger Method - hold up one finger for each item you count. This is the most reliable method and is accepted by all exam boards.

2. The Singing Method - sing the numbers in order. Research shows that singing improves recall by up to 40% (source: Peppa Pig, Series 3, Episode 12).

3. The Stomping Method - stomp your foot for each number. Effective but may disrupt other candidates. Use with caution in exam conditions.

💡 Examiner Tip

The examiner will be looking for clear, confident counting. Whispering or mumbling may cost marks. Practice your outdoor voice.

Remember: eye contact with the examiner while counting shows confidence and is worth up to 2 bonus sticker marks.

⚠️ Common Mistake

Many candidates skip the number 7. This is because 7 is a tricky number that doesn't get as much screen time as numbers like 3 or 5.

Practice saying "six, SEVEN, eight" with extra emphasis on seven. Some students find it helpful to shout seven, though this is not required in exam conditions.