Addition and Subtraction
33 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 33 free KS2 SATs Maths practice questions on Addition and Subtraction, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Addition and Subtraction: example questions & answers
33 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
What is 234 + 156?
- A380
- B390✓
- C410
- D400
Answer: 234 + 156 = 390. You can add by columns: 4 + 6 = 10 (write 0, carry 1), 3 + 5 + 1 = 9, 2 + 1 = 3.
What is 500 - 237?
- A237
- B253
- C273
- D263✓
Answer: 500 - 237 = 263. Breaking it down: 237 + 263 = 500.
A school library has 1,250 books. After buying 385 new books, how many does it have now?
- A1,535
- B1,625
- C1,635✓
- D1,835
Answer: 1,250 + 385 = 1,635.
What is 3,456 + 2,789?
- A6,235
- B6,145
- C5,245
- D6,245✓
Answer: 3,456 + 2,789: 6 + 9 = 15 (write 5, carry 1), 5 + 8 + 1 = 14 (write 4, carry 1), 4 + 7 + 1 = 12 (write 2, carry 1), 3 + 2 + 1 = 6. Answer: 6,245.
Calculate 5,000 - 1,234
- A3,756
- B3,766✓
- C3,856
- D4,234
Answer: 5,000 - 1,234 = 3,766.
What is 256 + 344 + 100?
- A600
- B700✓
- C800
- D900
Answer: 256 + 344 = 600, then 600 + 100 = 700.
A shop sells 450 apples on Monday and 325 apples on Tuesday. How many apples did it sell in total?
- A765
- B785
- C125
- D775✓
Answer: 450 + 325 = 775 apples.
What is 2,340 + 1,560 + 500?
- A4,300
- B4,350
- C4,400✓
- D4,500
Answer: 2,340 + 1,560 = 3,900, then 3,900 + 500 = 4,400.
What is 1,000 - 456?
- A454
- B544✓
- C556
- D646
Answer: 1,000 - 456 = 544. Check: 456 + 544 = 1,000.
A book costs £12.50 and a pen costs £3.75. What is the total cost?
- A£16.25✓
- B£8.75
- C£16.75
- D£15.25
Answer: £12.50 + £3.75 = £16.25.
What should be added to 2,345 to make 5,000?
- A2,655✓
- B2,555
- C3,655
- D2,755
Answer: 5,000 - 2,345 = 2,655. Check: 2,345 + 2,655 = 5,000.
A school has 1,200 pupils. 450 are in Year 5 and 380 are in Year 4. How many are in other years?
- A830
- B480
- C620
- D370✓
Answer: Year 5 and Year 4 together: 450 + 380 = 830. Pupils in other years = 1,200 - 830 = 370.
What is 4,567 - 2,345?
- A2,122
- B2,232
- C3,222
- D2,222✓
Answer: 4,567 - 2,345 = 2,222. Check: 2,222 + 2,345 = 4,567.
A farmer has 3,000 metres of fencing. He uses 1,250 metres for one field and 875 metres for another. How much fencing is left?
- A875✓
- B1,000
- C1,125
- D2,125
Answer: Used fencing: 1,250 + 875 = 2,125 metres. Remaining: 3,000 - 2,125 = 875 metres.
What is 6,789 + 3,456 - 2,345?
- A7,800
- B7,900✓
- C8,000
- D8,100
Answer: 6,789 + 3,456 = 10,245, then 10,245 - 2,345 = 7,900.
A shop has 1,247 apples. They receive a delivery of 856 more apples. How many apples do they have now?
- A1,913
- B2,103✓
- C2,013
- D2,203
Answer: 1,247 + 856 = 2,103 apples.
What is 5,023 - 1,456?
- A3,657
- B3,576
- C3,756
- D3,567✓
Answer: 5,023 - 1,456 = 3,567.
Sarah has £24.56. She buys a book for £7.99. How much money does she have left?
- A£16.47
- B£32.55
- C£17.57
- D£16.57✓
Answer: £24.56 - £7.99 = £16.57.
Add: 2.34 + 5.67 + 1.99
- A10.00✓
- B8.99
- C9.99
- D9.00
Answer: 2.34 + 5.67 = 8.01, and 8.01 + 1.99 = 10.00.
A runner completes a race in 4 minutes 38 seconds. Another runner finishes in 5 minutes 12 seconds. What is the difference in their times?
- A1 minute 44 seconds
- B1 minute 34 seconds
- C34 seconds✓
- D44 seconds
Answer: 5 minutes 12 seconds - 4 minutes 38 seconds = 4 minutes 72 seconds - 4 minutes 38 seconds = 34 seconds.
What is 1,234 + 2,567 + 3,456?
- A7,257✓
- B7,457
- C7,247
- D7,357
Answer: 1,234 + 2,567 + 3,456 = 7,257.
A book has 342 pages. You read 89 pages on Monday and 156 pages on Tuesday. How many pages are left to read?
- A97 pages✓
- B107 pages
- C189 pages
- D245 pages
Answer: 342 - 89 - 156 = 342 - 245 = 97 pages.
Subtract: 10.5 - 3.27
- A6.27
- B7.27
- C7.23✓
- D7.33
Answer: 10.5 - 3.27 = 10.50 - 3.27 = 7.23.
Three children collect pocket money. Tom saves £12.34, Lucy saves £15.67, and Ben saves £18.99. How much do they save altogether?
- A£45.00
- B£46.00
- C£47.00✓
- D£48.00
Answer: £12.34 + £15.67 + £18.99 = £47.00.
What must be added to 2,567 to make 5,000?
- A2,423
- B2,433✓
- C7,567
- D3,433
Answer: 5,000 - 2,567 = 2,433.
A storage box contains 750 g of rice, 320 g of pasta, and 480 g of lentils. What is the total weight?
- A1,230 g
- B1,550 g✓
- C1,650 g
- D1,470 g
Answer: 750 + 320 + 480 = 1,550 g.
Subtract 456.78 from 1,234.56
- A777.78✓
- B787.78
- C787.88
- D777.88
Answer: 1,234.56 - 456.78 = 777.78.
A farmer starts with 2,500 sheep. He sells 340 sheep in spring, 285 sheep in summer, and 156 sheep in autumn. How many sheep does he have left?
- A1,620
- B1,900
- C1,719✓
- D1,819
Answer: 2,500 - 340 - 285 - 156 = 2,500 - 781 = 1,719.
What is 6.25 + 3.75?
- A9.50
- B10.00✓
- C9.00
- D10.50
Answer: 6.25 + 3.75 = 10.00.
A distance of 8.5 km has been walked. If the total distance to walk is 15 km, how far remains?
- A7.5 km
- B6.5 km✓
- C5.5 km
- D6 km
Answer: 15 - 8.5 = 6.5 km.
What is 5 + 3 × 4?
- A12
- B17✓
- C27
- D32
Answer: Multiplication is worked out before addition. First 3 × 4 = 12, then 5 + 12 = 17.
What is (8 + 2) × 3?
- A13
- B14
- C24
- D30✓
Answer: Work out the brackets first. 8 + 2 = 10, and then 10 × 3 = 30.
What is 30 − 4 × 5?
- A10✓
- B20
- C26
- D130
Answer: Multiplication comes before subtraction. First 4 × 5 = 20, then 30 − 20 = 10.