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Simple word problems – practice for Years 2–3

Sample questions on Simple word problems with the right answer and a worked solution, from easy to hard. In the Pickles Academy app a child gets new questions of the same kind every time, so they can't just learn the answers by heart.

Subject
Maths
Year
Years 2–3
Curriculum area
Problem solving and non-routine tasks

Question types: Word problem

Rule: Simple word problems

Find out what the question asks, then pick the operation:

more than → +, fewer than → −, times as many → ×, share equally → ÷

Example: Class 3A has 17 pupils, 3B has 6 fewer: 17 − 6 = 11 pupils

Watch out: “How many times as much?” means dividing: £36 and £12 → 36 ÷ 12 = 3 times.

Sample questions

  1. Question 1 Easy

    Jack has £40 and George has £8. How many times as much money does Jack have as George?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 5

    How it works: "how many times as much" means divide: 40 ÷ 8 = 5

  2. Question 2 Normal

    Dad cycled 60 km in the morning and 25 km in the afternoon. How many kilometres did he cycle altogether?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 85

    How it works: 60 + 25 = 85 km

  3. Question 3 Hard

    Peter had £35. He paid £18 for a toy. How many pounds did he have left?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 17

    How it works: 35 − 18 = £17

Related topics

All Maths topics

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