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This Mixed Add Subtract drill has 48 problems for Grade 3. Video Game Heroes theme. Answer key included.
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Max must solve 20 math codes to unlock the crystal portal before the villain's robots destroy the hero headquarters!
Standard: CCSS.MATH.3.NBT.A.2
Preview
Page 1 — Drill
Page 2 — Answer Key
What's Included
About this Grade 3 Mixed Add Subtract Drill
By Grade 3, students need to fluently solve problems that mix addition and subtraction in a single expression—a critical leap from only adding or only subtracting. This skill mirrors real-world situations kids face daily: earning allowance, spending it, then earning more again. When a child tracks video-game-hero points across multiple rounds, they're adding, subtracting, then adding again. Mastering mixed operations strengthens number sense, helps students see that addition and subtraction are related, and builds the foundation for algebra later. At ages 8–9, brains are developing stronger working memory, so holding multiple operations in mind becomes developmentally appropriate and exciting. This worksheet trains that flexibility, moving students beyond memorized fact families into genuine mathematical thinking.
What your student will practice
- Solve expressions with two or more mixed addition and subtraction operations left to right
- Recognize when to add versus subtract based on operation symbols in sequence
- Verify answers by checking work using inverse operations
- Apply mixed operations to two-step word problems with context
Common mistakes to watch for
Many Grade 3 students reverse operations when moving left to right—they see 12 – 5 + 3 and subtract the 3 instead of adding it. Others forget the operation symbol entirely and treat every number as additive. A third common error occurs when students solve in the wrong order; for example, completing the addition before the subtraction that appears first. Watch for inconsistent answers on similar problems or answers that are always too high (suggesting skipped subtraction) or too low (suggesting extra subtraction). Ask your child to point to each symbol and say the operation aloud before solving.
Play a simple score-tracking game during everyday activities: when riding in a car, say 'We start with 20 points, we lose 7, now we gain 5—how many points do we have?' Have your child solve aloud and explain each step. Rotate who keeps score and gradually increase the numbers or add a third operation. This real-time, low-pressure practice embeds the left-to-right habit and shows your child that mixed operations happen naturally outside worksheets.