FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers

E3.2 Add and subtract using three-digit numbers

Subject content [reformed] functional skills: Mathematics (DfE, Feb 2018): 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/functional-skills-subject-content-mathematics

Here comes spring!

Written with the 2025 spring equinox in mind (March 20 2025 at 0901) but I got struck down by a virus so it's a bit late! A set of Entry Level tasks - starting with E1-2 analogue clock/date/calendar type questions about the equinox and British summertime. Followed by a similar E2-E3 section. The final two sections (mostly E3) are about a garden centre and cover number, measures, money and rounding. Although the underpinning skills are all Entry Level some of the problem solving tasks are multi-step and would also be suitable for Level 1.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E1.1 Read, write, order, compare numbers to 20
FM E1.6 Read 12 hour digital & analogue clocks in hours
FM E2.7 Know the number of hours in a day and weeks in a year.
FM E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to £1 & in whole £s of multiple items, use correct symbols (£ or p)
FM E2.13 Read & record time in common date formats, & read time displayed on analogue clocks in hours, half hours & quarter hours, & understand hours from a 24-hour digital clock
FM E3.5 Approximate by rounding numbers less than 1000 to the nearest 10 or 100, use rounded answer to check results
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.11 Round amounts of money to the nearest £1 or 10p
FM E3.12 Read, measure & record time using am & pm
FM E3.13 Read time from analogue & 24 hour digital clocks in hours & minutes
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
Context
Gardening & Horticulture
Science, Nature & Weather

E3-L1 How to check your answers with reverse calculations

A good way for learners to understand the importance of using reverse calculations to check an answer to a previous question.  These check questions are appearing more and more in functional skills exams. I hope you find it as useful as I and my learners do.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
FM E3.3 Divide 3-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers, express remainders
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables
FM L1.2 Recognise and use positive and negative numbers
FM L1.4 Use multiplication facts and make connections with division facts
FM L1.11 Add, subtract, multiply & divide decimals up to 2 decimal places

E2-E3 How to check your answers with reverse calculations

A good way for learners to understand the importance of using reverse calculations to check an answer to a previous question.  These check questions are appearing more and more in functional skills exams. I hope you find it as useful as  I and my learners do.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
FM E2.6 Times tables 0x0 to 12x12
FM E2.8 Divide 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, express remainders
FM E3.3 Divide 3-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers, express remainders
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
FM E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to £1 & in whole £s of multiple items, use correct symbols (£ or p)
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E2.22 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, bar charts
FM E3.21 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, charts; create frequency tables

Addition & subtraction for E3-L1 Reformed Functional Maths

I've just designed this ready for my new starts in September.  It is surprising how many learners come that get basic things wrong. 

As we know FS is all about reading the questions and showing workings out.  I always do 5 weeks of no calculators as for some they just do not get the borrowing / carrying over and this is of course important on the non calculator papers now.

There is also an E2-E3 version of this resource.

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM L1.2 Recognise and use positive and negative numbers
FM L1.11 Add, subtract, multiply & divide decimals up to 2 decimal places

Addition & Subtraction for E2-E3 Reformed Functional Maths

8/8/2021 Error fixed on page 3, no. 13.

I've just designed these ready for my new starts in September.  It is surprising how many learners come that get the simplest things wrong. 

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
FM E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to £1 & in whole £s of multiple items, use correct symbols (£ or p)
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence

Basic addition and subtraction worksheet generator

This is a MS Excel resource that is designed to be a useful resource for producing sheets for starter activities or homework. This also provides a tutor marking sheet. The sheet can be used to differentiate by choosing larger or smaller numbers, and can be addition or subtraction.

Editor’s note
Creates printable sheets of 20 problems (plus answer sheets). Clever and useful!

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
AN N1/L1.3
AN N1/E3.2
AN N1/E2.3
AN N1/E1.5
AN N1/E1.4
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