25 Addition Word Problems for Year 2 to Year 6 With Tips On Supporting Pupils’ Progress

Addition word problems appear throughout KS1 and KS2. Children are introduced to simple addition and subtraction word problems in the early years. This knowledge is then built upon throughout primary school, right up to Year 6, when pupils work with complex multi-step word problems involving large whole numbers and decimal numbers.

In the early stages, in Key Stage one and lower Key Stage two, addition word problems are taught through the use of concrete resources and visual images, using and developing subitising skills. As pupils become more confident with the formal written methods, children progress to use these to help solve more complex addition and subtraction word problems.

Children benefit from regular exposure to word problems, alongside any fluency work they are doing. To help you with this, we have put together a collection of 25 addition word problems with answer keys, which can be used with pupils from Year 2 to Year 6.

Addition word problems in the National Curriculum

Addition word problems in Year 1

Pupils in Year 1 are introduced to simple one-step problems involving place value addition and subtraction word problems, through the use of concrete objects, pictorial representations and missing number problems. At this stage, children should be memorising and reasoning with number bonds to 10 and 20. They also need to understand the effect of adding zero.

Addition word problems in Year 2

In Year 2, pupils continue to use concrete objects and pictorial representations to solve addition problems, including those involving numbers, quantities, measures and simple money word problems. They are also expected to apply their increasing knowledge of mental and written methods,  using one and two-digit numbers. Pupils start working on basic written addition and are introduced to the concept of regrouping.

Addition word problems in Year 3

By Year 3, pupils are starting to tackle more complex addition word problems. They begin to use written methods to add 3-digit numbers, using formal column method for addition. Pupils also begin solving addition problems involving fractions, in addition to building on their mental addition skills to add a three-digit number and ones, tens and hundreds. 

Addition word problems in Year 4

Pupils in Year 4 progress to solving two-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why. They are also beginning to work with larger numbers, adding up to four digits using the formal written method of column addition.

Addition word problems in Year 5

By Year 5, pupils are solving multi-step word problems in contexts. They add whole numbers with more than four digits and decimal numbers, using formal written methods. Children are also adding increasingly larger numbers mentally.

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Addition word problems in Year 6

Pupils in Year 6 continue to work with larger numbers and decimals, solving increasingly complex multi-step problems, deciding which operations to use and why. By this stage students should have a solid grasp of the written methods for all four operations.

Why are word problems important for children’s understanding of addition

Word problems help children to make sense of addition. In the Early Years, simple story problems aid understanding of what is being asked, alongside the use of concrete resources and visual images. Real-life word problems are an important element of the maths curriculum for children throughout the school, giving them the opportunity to put the addition skills they have learnt into context, to understand how they can be used in the outside world. 

How to teach addition word problem solving in primary school

Pupils need to be taught how to approach word problems, beginning by reading the questions carefully and making sure they fully understand what is being asked. The next step is to determine what calculation is needed and whether there are concrete resources or pictorial representations  they can use to help solve it, or if 

Here is an example:

There were 3,756 people on a cruise ship.

456 people get on after the first week, whilst 623 get off.

How many passengers are on board the ship now after the first week?

How to solve:

What do you already know?

• There are 3,756 on the cruise ship at the start of the journey.
• 456 people get on after the first week, therefore we need to add 456 to 3,746. This gives us a total of 4,212 people
• 623 people get off, so we need to subtract 623 from the total number of passengers now on the boat. When we subtract 623 from 4,212, we get a total of 3,589.

How can this be represented pictorially?

• We can draw 2 bar models to represent this problem.
• The number of passengers who got on the ship after the first week is added to the  total number of people on the boat at the start of the trip. 
• We then draw a second bar model to show how many passengers were left on the ship once the 623 passengers got off after the first week.

Addition word problems for year 2

Addition word problems in Year 2 require pupils to work with 1 and 2-digit numbers. At this stage it is important children are working with concrete resources to support their understanding. Children also begin to learn how to check their answers by finding the inverse of  calculations.

Addition word problems for year 3

Word problems for Year 3 require pupils to work with larger numbers. By this stage, children are becoming more confident with the formal written column  method and are able to use this to solve 2 and 3 digit addition word problems. Addition word problems can be incorporated into other areas of the maths curriculum, for example, through time word problems. 

Addition word problems for year 4

With word problems for Year 4, pupils progress onto 4 digit addition word problems. They are also beginning to solve more complex, two-step word problems. Children should be encouraged to estimate and find the inverse, to check the accuracy of their calculations. In Year 4, pupils also solve addition word problems involving  fractions and decimals.

Addition word problems for year 5

Word problems for Year 5 require pupils to solve addition word problems with larger numbers (more than 4 digits), using formal written methods and  mentally. Word problems become more complex multi-step problems, involving other operations. Pupils at this stage should continue to be encouraged to check their answers by finding the inverse.

Addition word problems for year 6

With word problems for Year 6, pupils need to be able to solve word problems using larger whole numbers of up to 6 or 7 digits, problems involving fraction word problems and problems involving decimals.  Addition word problems in SATs include one-step, two-step and more complex multi-step problems.

Looking for more word problems resources?

Take a look at our comprehensive collection of word problems practice questions covering a wide range of topics such as ratio word problems, percentages word problems, multiplication word problems, division word problems and more.