Make efficient use of subtraction strategies including column subtraction
I can make efficient use of subtraction strategies including column subtraction.
Make efficient use of subtraction strategies including column subtraction
I can make efficient use of subtraction strategies including column subtraction.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A mental strategy may be more efficient than a column method
- Look carefully at the numbers in a calculation to decide a method
- Column subtraction might be the most efficient method to use if regrouping is needed
Keywords
Efficient - Being efficient means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.
Mental strategy - A mental strategy is a method chosen to find something out which can be done in your head or with some jottings.
Regrouping - The process of unitising and exchanging between place values is known as regrouping.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that column subtraction is always the most efficient strategy where regrouping is needed.
Emphasise calculations where adjustment is the most efficient strategy (e.g. 456 - 199). Regrouping is needed in both the tens and hundreds, but is is not the most efficient strategy.
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Make efficient use of subtraction strategies including column subtraction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Make efficient use of subtraction strategies including column subtraction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 maths lessons from the Column subtraction unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions




Exit quiz
6 Questions
