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Addition

FoundationChallengeAQAEdexcelOCR

This free Foundation GCSE Maths worksheet on addition helps you revise column addition. Questions build from straightforward to exam standard, with full worked answers in the mark scheme — ideal for revision or homework. Suitable for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. Line up place values and carry into the next column when a total reaches ten.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

Foundation

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Challenge / Extension

Stretch yourself beyond the basics.

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Topic overview

Column addition adds numbers by lining up their place values and working from right to left, carrying whenever a column total reaches ten or more.

The alignment is what matters. Units must sit under units and tens under tens, and with decimals the decimal points must line up vertically. Getting the alignment wrong produces an answer that is wildly out rather than slightly out.

Estimating first is a habit worth building. Rounding each number to one significant figure gives you a rough total, so if your column addition produces something far from that estimate you know to check it.

Revision notes

Setting out the addition

Write the numbers one under another with the place values aligned. With decimals, line up the decimal points and add trailing zeros so every number has the same number of decimal places.

So \(3.4 + 12.75\) becomes \(3.40\) above \(12.75\), with the points in a vertical line.

Carrying

Add each column from the right. If a total reaches ten or more, write the units digit and carry the tens digit into the next column.

Adding \(8 + 7 = 15\) means writing \(5\) and carrying \(1\). The carried digit must be included when you add the next column.

Checking the answer

Estimate by rounding each number to one significant figure and adding. \(3.4 + 12.75\) is roughly \(3 + 13 = 16\), so an answer of \(16.15\) is sensible.

An answer of \(4.615\) would signal an alignment error immediately.

Key points

  • Line up the place values, not the ends of the numbers.
  • Line up decimal points vertically.
  • Add trailing zeros so decimals are the same length.
  • Work from right to left.
  • Carry into the next column when a total reaches ten.
  • Estimate first to check the answer is sensible.

Worked examples

Example 1

Work out \(347 + 268\).

Working

\[7 + 8 = 15\]add the units, write 5 and carry 1
\[4 + 6 + 1 = 11\]add the tens including the carry, write 1 and carry 1
\[3 + 2 + 1 = 6 \text{, giving } 615\]add the hundreds including the carry

Example 2

Work out \(5.7 + 12.46\).

Working

\[5.70 + 12.46\]add a trailing zero so both have two decimal places
\[0 + 6 = 6 \text{, } 7 + 4 = 11\]add from the right, carrying the 1
\[= 18.16\]complete the addition with the decimal point aligned

Example 3

Estimate \(487 + 216\) by rounding to 1 significant figure.

Working

\[500 + 200\]round each number to one significant figure
\[= 700\]add the rounded values for an estimate

Common mistakes

  • Lining numbers up on the right instead of by place value.

    With decimals this misaligns the columns entirely. Always align the decimal points.

  • Forgetting to add the carried digit.

    The carry must be included in the next column's total, or the answer is ten too small.

  • Losing the decimal point in the answer.

    It goes directly below the points in the numbers above.

  • Not checking against an estimate.

    An estimate catches most alignment errors in a couple of seconds.

Exam tips

  • Use squared paper or draw columns so digits stay aligned.
  • Write carried digits clearly under the next column.
  • Add trailing zeros to decimals before starting.
  • Estimate first, then check the exact answer against it.

Key terms

Column addition
A method of adding by aligning place values.
Carry
A digit moved into the next column when a total reaches ten.
Estimate
An approximate answer used to check a calculation.
Place value
The value of a digit based on its position.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.