Engage your pupils in meaningful problem-solving with this Year 6 addition and subtraction word problems worksheet. Children are presented with a clothes shop scenario featuring items with labelled prices, and are then asked to solve multi-step word problems involving totals, differences, discounts and change. Questions require pupils to identify the correct operations and calculate accurately, often combining more than one step. This KS2 worksheet offers real-life context to practise written addition and subtraction with money, encouraging reasoning and methodical working.
Key Curriculum Focus
This KS2 calculation worksheet aligns with the national curriculum by supporting:
- Solving multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use
- Using addition and subtraction to solve problems involving money
- Applying written methods to real-life word problems with clear reasoning
The Year 6 addition and subtraction word problems worksheet supports learners in using addition and subtraction flexibly, particularly when dealing with decimals and money. Children are required to select the correct operations independently, perform calculations accurately and interpret answers in context. The tasks promote number fluency, methodical working and mathematical reasoning, making them ideal for upper KS2 consolidation.
Addition and Subtraction Word Problems in Year 6 Maths
Addition and subtraction skills are used regularly in real life, especially when dealing with money. In Year 6, pupils are expected to add and subtract whole numbers and decimals using efficient written methods. For example, when combining £52.45, £18.50 and £29.99, children use column addition or rounding strategies to find the total. Solving word problems also helps them understand how to break problems into steps and check for reasonableness using estimation or inverse operations.
Activity Idea: Shopping List
Ask each pupil to create a shopping list using any three items from the worksheet. Then give them a budget (e.g. £120) and ask them to calculate the total cost, how much change they would receive, or how much more they would need to buy extras. This task reinforces calculation skills and decision-making with money.
Explore more Year 6 maths resources
If your pupils are building confidence with multi-step calculations, they may enjoy the Year 6 Estimating to Check Answers Worksheet, which helps children practise rounding and verifying the reasonableness of their answers. For more KS2 resources like this, explore our full selection of Year 6 maths worksheets focusing on real-world problem-solving and written calculation.
