Mathematics·Addition & Subtraction·procedural
Adding and subtracting (age 9+)
Solve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why
Suggested ages 9–10
Learning journey
Your child is mastering mental arithmetic with large numbers and using formal written methods for complex calculations, while learning to choose the most efficient method for different types of problems.
Evidence of understanding
- A school collects 12,450 bottles in Week 1 and 8,372 in Week 2; their target is 25,000 — how many more do they need?
- Choose between mental and written methods for each step and explain why
- Solve a three-step problem involving addition and subtraction of five-digit numbers
Assessment prompt
If Adding and subtracting (age 9+) is given a multi-step problem — like planning a budget where money is added and spent in several steps — can they decide which operations to use at each stage and explain their thinking?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.