Prove
All outcomes
Learning

Addition & Subtraction Fluency

8 weeks · 3 milestones

Develop fluency with addition and subtraction within 20 (Grade 1) and within 100 (Grade 2), including word problems and mental strategies. Proof: 80%+ on Khan Academy Grade 1–2 Math course mastery meter (screenshot with name visible), or teacher-graded test at 80%+.

Milestone map

Milestone map

3 milestones

Add and subtract within 20

2–3 weeks (daily 15-min drill)

Reach instant recall of all addition facts to 20 and their corresponding subtraction facts. The goal is fluency — answers in under 3 seconds without counting on fingers. A parent or teacher gives timed flashcard drills (2 minutes, 40 mixed facts) and checks that at least 35 of 40 are answered correctly.

Proof required

Submit a photo of a completed timed fact drill (addition and subtraction to 20, 40 questions, 2-minute limit) with a parent or teacher note confirming the score and timing.

What gets checked

  • 35 of 40 facts answered correctly within 2 minutes
  • No finger-counting observed by verifier during the drill
  • Both addition and subtraction facts to 20 included — not just addition

Common mistakes

  • Practising only the easy facts (1+1, 2+2) while avoiding the tricky ones (8+7, 15-9) — a parent can identify the slow facts from drill errors and focus practice there
  • Rushing through exercises incorrectly to build speed before accuracy is solid — accuracy first, then speed

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

  • Run the drill yourself — write or print 40 random addition/subtraction facts to 20, set a 2-minute timer, and check answers
  • Watch for finger-counting — if observed, note which facts trigger it so the student can focus practice there
  • Score 35+ correct in 2 minutes confirms fluency; below that means more daily drill is needed before advancing

Solve word problems with regrouping

1–2 weeks (20 min/day)

Apply addition and subtraction to word problems involving numbers up to 100. This includes regrouping (carrying and borrowing) in written column form. A parent or teacher gives 10 word problems from a text or worksheet and checks both the setup (equation written) and the answer. The goal is translating a real-world situation into a correct equation and solving it.

Proof required

Submit a photo of 10 completed word problems (with numbers up to 100, at least 5 requiring regrouping) showing the written equation and answer for each, with a parent or teacher note confirming the answers are correct.

What gets checked

  • Equation written for each problem — not just an answer
  • 8 of 10 problems answered correctly
  • At least 5 problems involve regrouping (carrying or borrowing)

Common mistakes

  • Skipping the written equation and solving mentally — the equation is the proof of understanding; without it, only the answer is visible
  • Avoiding regrouping problems — picking only the 'easy' ones confirms fluency on the easy cases but not readiness for Level 3

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

  • Check that equations are written — a correct answer without a written equation is a partial pass at best
  • Count the regrouping problems specifically — at least 5 of 10 must require carrying or borrowing
  • 8 of 10 correct is the bar; below that, identify which problem types are failing (carrying? borrowing? reading the problem?) and target practice there

Pass 1st or 2nd Grade Math assessment at 80%

2–3 days (consolidation and review)

Reach 80% mastery on the Khan Academy 1st Grade or 2nd Grade Math course (whichever applies to the student's current level). A teacher-graded test covering addition/subtraction to 100 with regrouping at 80% or above is also accepted. This is the level gate for advancing to Level 3 (Multiplication and Division).

Proof required

Submit a screenshot of your Khan Academy 1st or 2nd Grade Math course showing 80% or above in the course mastery meter (or a teacher-graded test covering addition and subtraction to 100 with regrouping scoring 80%+). Your name must be visible.

What gets checked

  • 80%+ shown in the course summary — not just one unit
  • If teacher-graded: test covers both addition and subtraction, including regrouping, with numbers up to 100
  • Score on the screenshot or test is clearly legible and includes the student's name

Common mistakes

  • Submitting a single exercise score instead of the course summary — the course mastery percentage across all units is what the gate checks
  • Skipping the word problem units and only mastering computation — word problems are part of the course and must be covered

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

  • Open the Khan Academy course with the student and confirm 80%+ shown in the overall course mastery display
  • If teacher-graded: confirm the test includes regrouping problems (not just basic facts to 20)
  • Check that the student's name is visible in the screenshot or written on the test paper

We use analytics to improve Powstik. No ads, ever.