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Maths•Number Basics

Addition and subtraction

Lower Primary 5 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What addition and subtraction means

You practise adding and taking away small numbers up to 100. This helps you answer class exercises quickly and check your working in simple word problems.

What you will practise

  • Add single-digit numbers within 100
  • Subtraction facts with numbers up to 100
  • Break two-digit numbers into tens and ones
  • Choose the correct sign for each sum

Before you start

You should know numbers up to 100 and be able to read them. It also helps if you can count forwards and backwards with ease.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

What is 7 + 8?

Answer: 15

Working: Seven plus eight equals fifteen.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Mixing up plus and minus. Look carefully at the sign before you answer.
  • Forgetting to carry out place value steps. Split tens and ones when numbers are larger.
  • Counting from the wrong number. Start at the first number, then add on carefully.
  • Writing an answer that is too large or too small. Check by counting again.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES Basic 1 to 3 syllabusSchool-based assessment

In Lower Primary, this usually comes early in number work and supports counting, place value and simple number facts. It also gives useful practice for school-based continuous assessment and end-of-term tests.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other Number Basics skills in Maths, at the same point in the course.

Other Maths topics

Counting with PicturesPicture Addition & SubtractionEarly NumeracySHS Core MathematicsUniversity MathematicsAlgebra

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Exams that assess addition and subtraction

Lower Primary work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the Maths topics that appear on it.

GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the WASSCE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
DigiTransact Mastermind editorial team
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All Maths skills

Practise addition and subtraction

5 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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