Free printable math drill — download and print instantly
This Mixed Add Subtract drill has 40 problems for Grade 2. Ocean theme. Answer key included.
⬇ Download Free Math DrillGet new free worksheets every week.
All worksheets checked by our AI verification system. No wrong answers — guaranteed.
Max spotted three lost dolphins trapped by the coral reef! He must solve math problems to guide them safely home before the tide changes.
Mixed-add-subtract problems are a critical bridge in Grade 2 math development. At this age, students are moving beyond single-operation thinking and beginning to understand that numbers can be combined and separated in sequence. When children solve problems like "5 + 3 - 2," they're strengthening their mental flexibility and number sense—skills they'll rely on for multi-step word problems, money transactions, and everyday counting situations like adding shells to a collection and then giving some away. This type of practice also builds working memory, as students must hold intermediate results in mind while performing the next operation. Mastering mixed operations now prevents confusion later when math becomes more abstract. These drills help students develop automaticity, meaning they can solve these problems quickly and accurately without counting on fingers, freeing up mental energy for more complex reasoning.
Many Grade 2 students reverse operations, adding when they should subtract or vice versa—especially when the subtraction comes second. You'll notice this if a child writes "5 + 3 - 2" as "5 + 3 + 2 = 10." Another common error is losing track of the intermediate step: students solve "5 + 3" correctly to get 8, but then forget to subtract 2 and write 8 as their final answer. Some children also rush and skip re-reading the second operation symbol. Check their work by asking them to point to each symbol and say it aloud before solving—this catches careless errors quickly.
Use snack time or toy counting as a natural practice ground. Say, 'You have 4 crackers, I gave you 3 more, then you ate 2. How many do you have left?' Have your child say the operations aloud—'4 plus 3 equals 7, then 7 minus 2 equals 5'—before answering. This builds the habit of verbalizing each step, which strengthens comprehension and catches mistakes early. Repeat this with small numbers (totals under 10) during everyday moments, and your child will internalize the rhythm of mixed operations naturally.