Addition and subtraction - Assessment

The Year 3 addition and subtraction assessment is a resource aimed at gauging the proficiency of students in these fundamental arithmetic operations. It starts with exercises that require completing part-whole models to find missing numbers, an activity that helps to reinforce the concept of number bonds and the relationship between addition and subtraction. For instance, students are presented with a model that shows 1,600 as the whole and 1,000 and 600 as parts, prompting them to determine the missing number to complete the equation, which in this case would be 1,000.

The assessment includes practical word problems, such as one where a boy named Malachi has 432 stickers and buys 7 more, challenging students to calculate the new total amount of stickers he has. The paper also tests the ability to perform calculations with both addition and subtraction through a series of equations, encouraging students to show their working for full understanding. For example, the tasks might include solving 16 + 59, 73 - 18, and 56 + 77, with the expectation of finding the correct sums and differences. Additionally, students are asked to reflect on their confidence with place value, a crucial underpinning skill for both operations. The assessment culminates with more complex problems, such as explaining the mistake in a subtraction calculation and providing an alternative method to solve it, thereby demonstrating a deeper comprehension of the mathematical processes involved.