Add & Subtract — Starter Test
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About this resource
The starter test for Addition & Subtraction. Twelve questions covering basic recall: reading + and = symbols, single-step adding and subtracting numbers to 20, and number bonds to 10. Every wrong answer shows an explanation so the child learns from each one. Takes about 5 minutes.
Aim for 70% before moving to the Main test. If a child scores below 50%, return to the worksheet and games first.
What you'll learn
- Adding & subtracting DfE NC Maths KS1 (Y1–Y2)
- Number bonds & related facts DfE NC Maths KS1 (Y1–Y2)
- Reading & writing number sentences DfE NC Maths KS1 (Y1)
Inside this resource
- 12 questions
For the student — how to do this
You're going to try 12 maths questions. They're about adding and taking away.
Read each question carefully. Tap the answer you think is right. If you get one wrong, the screen will tell you the right answer and explain it — so you learn from EVERY question, not just the ones you got right.
You can do this on a tablet, a phone or a computer. There's no time limit. Take a deep breath and have a go!
For parents and carers
This is the warm-up assessment in the Addition & Subtraction series. It covers what your child should know by the end of Year 1 — the basics of + and − to 20, number bonds to 10, and reading the maths symbols.
It takes about 5 minutes. Sit alongside your child the first time so you can talk through any tricky moments — every wrong answer comes with a plain-English explanation, which is the most valuable part of the test.
If they score 70% or more, they're ready for the Main Test. If they score below 50%, that's a useful signal — go back to the Add & Subtract worksheet and number-bond games in this pack first, then come back to the test in a few days.
For teachers and tutors
A diagnostic warm-up covering the Year 1 addition and subtraction programme of study (DfE NC Mathematics Y1). Question coverage: reading + = − symbols (2 questions), number bonds to 10 (2 questions), single-step ± within 20 (4 questions), zero behaviour (2 questions), and one-step word problems (2 questions).
Use as: a settling-in assessment at the start of an addition/subtraction unit; a quick check after a series of worksheets; a homework task; or differentiated catch-up for pupils returning from absence. Pass mark is 70%. Pupils scoring below 50% typically need to revisit number-bond fluency before progressing to the Main Test.
Common misconceptions to watch for: children answering 0 + 7 = 0 (treating zero as a "value"); subtracting from the smaller number (e.g. answering 6 - 2 = 8 by adding); and confusing the + and = symbols.
How to check the work
The test marks itself instantly. At the end the child sees their score out of 12 and a percentage. A pass-mark pill shows whether they hit the 70% threshold.
The Review section at the bottom of the result screen lists every question — right ones marked ✓, wrong ones marked ✗ with the correct answer and the explanation. Children learn most from going through this together. The score and review are saved automatically — you can revisit them from the dashboard at any time.