Learning Map

Adding and subtracting (age 9+)

Solve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

If your child 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?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Two-step addition and subtraction problemsages 8–9Two-step A+S problems are prerequisite to multi-step problems with larger numbers
Fluent addition and subtraction (age 9+)ages 9–10Must have fluent written method before applying to multi-step contexts
Mental addition and subtraction (age 9+)ages 9–10Mental methods support choosing appropriate methods in multi-step problems
Adding and subtracting (age 9+)this skill · ages 9–10
Unlocks
Adding and subtracting (age 10+)ages 10–11Multi-step A+S to 10M extends Y5 multi-step A+S problems

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M3A02medium confidenceYear 3 · Algebra

extend and apply knowledge of addition and subtraction facts to 20 to develop efficient mental strategies for computation with larger numbers without a calculator

AC9M5N05medium confidenceYear 5 · Number

solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with the same or related denominators, using different strategies

AC9M3A01medium confidenceYear 3 · Algebra

recognise and explain the connection between addition and subtraction as inverse operations, apply to partition numbers and find unknown values in number sentences

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MA3-AR-01high confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 3
MA2-AR-01high confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 2

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M3A02high confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Algebra strand
VC2M5N06medium confidenceMathematics · Level 5 · Number strand
VC2M4N06medium confidenceMathematics · Level 4 · Number strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

All Addition & Subtraction skills →