Mathematics Addition & Subtractionusually ages 6–7

Addition and subtraction strategies

Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Add 8 + 3 by starting at 8 and counting on 3 (9, 10, 11)
Subtract 12 − 3 by counting back 3 from 12 (11, 10, 9)
Explain that counting on is a way to add

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Try this together

If your child needs to work out '8 + 5', can they start from 8 and count up five more — rather than starting from 1 every time?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on

Addition as combining or putting together twoages 4–6Counting on as an addition strategy requires understanding addition

One More Each Timeages 4–6Counting on/back relies on understanding that each successive number is one more/less

Subtraction as taking away or separatingages 4–6Counting back as a subtraction strategy requires understanding subtraction

Addition and subtraction strategiesthis skill · ages 6–7

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

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

AC9MFN05medium confidenceFoundation · Number

represent practical situations involving addition, subtraction and quantification with physical and virtual materials and use counting or subitising strategies

AC9M2A02medium confidenceYear 2 · Algebra

recall and demonstrate proficiency with addition facts to 20; extend and apply facts to develop related subtraction facts

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

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

MAE-CSQ-01medium confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M3A02medium confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Algebra strand

VC2M2A02medium confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Algebra strand

VC2M2A04medium confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Algebra 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

Adding and subtracting tens mentallyages 6–7 Adding Three Small Numbersages 6–7 Adding two two-digit numbersages 6–7 Adding within 100ages 6–7

All Addition & Subtraction skills →