Achieving level 2 To achieve level 2 children will need to be able to carry out several different subtraction tasks. These include: subtracting a 1-digit number from a 1-digit number (eg 7 - 5). subtracting a 1-digit number from a 2-digit number (eg 26 - 8). subtracting a multiple of 10 from a multiple of 10 (eg 60 - 30). subtracting a multiple of 10 from a 2-digit number (eg 65 - 20).   The first of these (eg 7 - 5) is much easier if children know the addition facts for all single digit numbers. If they know that 5 + 2 equals 7 they can use this knowledge to answer 7 – 5. When carrying out the second task (eg 26 - 8 ) it might be necessary to ‘bridge through the tens boundary’. This means if counting back a child reaches 20 and then continues down below twenty to reach 18. A good knowledge of counting on and back is required for this. The third task (eg 60 - 30) will use the known number fact that 6 + 3 = 9 to work out that 60 + 30 = 90. Sometimes it is easier to partition the number (or split it into two parts). When taking 20 from 65 the 65 can be split into 60 and 5. Take the 20 from the 60, leaving 40 and adding the 5 back on to make 65. Sometimes, when numbers are quite close together, the most efficient method of taking away is to count on. For example, 11 – 8 is easily done by counting on from 8. You will find lots of worksheets on these tasks in our Year 2 Subtraction section, but perhaps even better are our Year 2 Subtraction Maths Games, especially the Subtraction Strategies category. They give unlimited practice at these skills and really good results can be printed out and used as a record of achievement. Why not have a look now? Year 2 Subtraction Worksheets Year 2 Subtraction Games