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This Mixed Add Subtract drill has 40 problems for Grade 2. Pet Shop theme. Answer key included.
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Max discovers three hamsters escaped their cages! He must solve math problems fast to find them before closing time!
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
Mixed addition and subtraction problems are a critical stepping stone in Grade 2 math because they require students to slow down, read carefully, and choose the right operation—not just compute automatically. At age 7-8, children's brains are developing the ability to pause and think about what a problem is asking, rather than rushing through. When your child sees 5 + 3 - 2, they must hold multiple numbers in mind, decide which operation comes first, and execute each step correctly. This skill builds mental flexibility and prevents the common mistake of treating all math problems the same way. In real life, this shows up constantly: if a child has 8 toy cars, gets 2 more, then loses 1, they need mixed-add-subtract thinking. Mastering this now creates a solid foundation for two-digit operations and word problems in later grades.
What your student will practice
- Identify whether each operation in a problem is addition or subtraction
- Solve two-step mixed problems by working left to right accurately
- Apply mixed operations to real-world scenarios with multiple actions
- Check their own work by reversing or re-reading the problem carefully
Common mistakes to watch for
The most common error is when students compute left to right but misread the operation symbol—they might see 7 - 2 + 3 and add the 2 instead of subtracting it. Another frequent mistake happens when children solve only the first operation and forget the second part entirely, writing 7 - 2 = 5 and stopping there. You can spot this by having them read the problem aloud and point to each symbol before they write anything. Asking "What do we do first? What do we do next?" helps catch kids who are guessing rather than reading.
Create a simple "pet-shop inventory" game at home using objects—stuffed animals, blocks, or toy figures work perfectly. Say: "We have 6 pet toys. The store gets 4 more deliveries. Then 3 are sold. How many are left?" Let your child manipulate the objects physically while you write the math sentence (6 + 4 - 3). This hands-on approach helps 7-8-year-olds connect the abstract symbols to real movement and counting, making mixed operations feel concrete rather than confusing.