Column Subtraction Support Sheet: Four-Digit Numbers

Year 5 MathsAddition and Subtraction8 pages

About this worksheet

A support sheet for Year 5 pupils who are not yet sure of column subtraction. Every calculation has its own grid, with Exchange, Number, Subtract and Answer rows under TTh, Th, H, T and O. Two worked examples, 4,263 โˆ’ 2,147 and 6,534 โˆ’ 2,712, show one exchange from the tens and one from the thousands. Pupils then do 15 four-digit subtractions with no exchange and 15 with one. Five-digit and missing-number questions come last. All 45 answers are on the final page. It covers England National Curriculum addition and subtraction.

Page 1 of 8

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Curriculum objectives covered

Number - addition and subtraction

โ€œAdd and subtract whole numbers with more than 4 digits, including using formal written methods (columnar addition and subtraction)โ€

Questions 31 to 36 are five-digit column subtractions with one exchange each, set out in the same grid.

Number - addition and subtraction

โ€œAdd and subtract numbers mentally with increasingly large numbersโ€

Questions 37 to 44, such as 54,000 โˆ’ ? = 31,000 and 1,000 less than 48,250, can be done without the grid.

What's inside this worksheet

Worked examples

Two completed grids with the crossed-out digits and new values written in, and a sentence on each step.

Warm Up: 4-Digit Subtraction (No Exchanges)

Questions 1 to 15, such as 4,856 โˆ’ 1,234 and 9,876 โˆ’ 5,432, each with an empty grid.

Level Up: 4-Digit Subtraction (One Exchange)

Questions 16 to 30. The first two grids already show the exchange and the ones answer, so pupils finish 5,432 โˆ’ 2,118 and 6,751 โˆ’ 3,426.

Beat the Clock: 5-Digit and Missing Numbers

Six five-digit subtractions such as 45,672 โˆ’ 12,348, six calculations with a missing number, and three worded items such as the difference between 8,500 and 6,200.

Answers

All 45 answers, grouped by section.

How teachers use it

Intervention group

Talk through the two worked examples with a small group, saying each exchange aloud. Then let them finish Questions 16 and 17, which are half done.

Find the stuck point

Questions 1 to 15 need no exchange. A pupil who gets those right but not 18 onwards needs help with exchanging, not with layout.

Ready to move on

Use the five-digit questions on page 7 as the check. Pupils who get 31 to 36 right can work without the grids next time.

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