Australian Curriculum · Year 1 Australian Curriculum v9, Year 1: Mathematics, Number strand (addition and subtraction) Ages 6–7 (Year 1) ⏱️ 3 min read

Addition and Subtraction Strategies: Year 1 Study Guide

Smart strategies make adding and subtracting faster and easier to remember.

Year 1 children solve addition and subtraction problems by counting on, counting back, using drawings and using number facts they know. They learn that addition and subtraction are linked: if 8 + 5 = 13, then 13 − 5 = 8.

The goal is flexible thinking. Children who can choose a strategy for each problem become confident, quick and accurate. Writing the number sentence from a story is a key step.

Number bonds to 10

A ten frame shows how numbers fit into ten.

Numbers that add to 10 are very useful: 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, 5 and 5. If you know 7 + 3 = 10, you can solve 7 + 5 by splitting 5 into 3 and 2: 7 + 3 = 10 and 10 + 2 = 12.

Four helpful strategies

Strategy	What to do	Example
Count on	Start at the bigger number	9 + 3 → 10, 11, 12
Doubles	Use known doubles	6 + 6 = 12
Near doubles	Double plus or minus one	6 + 7 = 12 + 1
Make 10	Fill up to 10 first	8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 14
Think addition	Use a missing number	12 − 5 → 5 + ? = 12

Story problems

Read, picture and write. Jack had 14 marbles and gave 6 to Mia. How many does he have now? The words 'gave' and 'now' tell you it is taking away: 14 − 6 = 8. Always write the answer as a sentence: Jack has 8 marbles now.

Read slowly

What do we know?

Draw it

Dots, a bar or a number line.

Write a number sentence

14 − 6 = ?

Answer in a sentence

Jack has 8 marbles.

Worked examples and common mistakes

Example: 7 + 8 = ? Double 7 is 14, so 7 + 8 = 15. Example: 11 − 4 = ? 4 + 7 = 11, so the answer is 7. Common mistakes: counting the starting number as 1, adding when the story says 'how many more' and thinking that 5 + 3 and 3 + 5 are different. They give the same total because order does not matter in addition (but it does in subtraction).

💡 Pro Tip: Make number bond hearts or houses with the parts and the whole. They show addition and subtraction at the same time.

Check your understanding: model answers

1. 9 + 1 = 10, then add the other 3: 13. 2. 14. 3. 15 − 8 = 7 birds.

✨ Key Takeaways

Use number bonds to 10 to solve harder facts.
Doubles and near doubles are quick strategies.
Addition and subtraction are linked.
Write the number sentence and a word answer.

💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection

Use make 10 to solve 9 + 4.
What is double 7?
There are 15 birds. 8 fly away. How many are left?

Print a daily maths warm-up →

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