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This Mixed Add Subtract drill has 40 problems for Grade 2. Cycling theme. Answer key included.
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Max's bike chain broke mid-race! He must solve equations fast to earn repair tools before the finish line.
Standard: CCSS.MATH.2.OA.B.2
Preview
Page 1 — Drill
Page 2 — Answer Key
What's Included
About this Grade 2 Mixed Add Subtract Drill
By Grade 2, students need to move beyond single-operation thinking and handle problems that mix addition and subtraction in the same step. This is a critical bridge skill: it teaches children that numbers can change in multiple directions and that they must read carefully to know whether to add or subtract. At ages 7–8, kids are developing stronger number sense and working memory, which makes this the perfect time to practice. When your child encounters a mixed problem like "Start with 8, add 3, then subtract 2," they're not just calculating—they're sequencing operations, tracking a changing total, and learning to follow multi-step directions. These skills transfer directly to real life: managing allowance, counting toys after trading with a friend, or tracking score in a game. Mastering mixed-add-subtract builds confidence and prevents the frustration that comes when students later encounter word problems or two-step equations.
What your student will practice
- Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mixed operations in sequence
- Follow operational directions correctly and identify when to add versus subtract
- Track a running total across multiple steps without losing place
- Apply mixed-add-subtract reasoning to simple word problems
Common mistakes to watch for
The most common error is that children perform only the first operation and ignore the second—for example, seeing "8 + 3 − 2" and stopping after "8 + 3 = 11" without subtracting the 2. Another frequent mistake is reversing the operation, such as subtracting when the problem asks to add. You'll spot this pattern if a child's answers are consistently too high or too low, or if they rush through and don't reread the symbols. Some students also lose track of their running total and restart from the original number instead of using their intermediate answer.
Try a "score-and-change" game during everyday moments: if your child scores 7 points, then gains 5 more, then loses 3, have them say the running total aloud after each change. Use physical objects like blocks, coins, or game pieces so they can see and touch the quantity shifting. This concrete, dynamic approach helps them see that mixed operations happen to the same group of items over time, mirroring how they think about real-world situations—much like tracking which bikes are in the garage after friends arrive and some leave.