Subtracting numbers with 3 or more digits using the column method with borrowing (decomposition).
Where your child meets this in real life: Working out change, finding differences in distances, or calculating how much more is needed
Each SEAG paper has 28 maths questions. Questions 29 to 50 are multiple choice with five possible answers, and questions 51 to 56 need a short written answer. With 56 questions in 60 minutes across English and maths, that is about a minute per question.
SEAGReady breaks column subtraction into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Subtract 3+ digit numbers using column method when each top digit is larger than the bottom digit
Subtract 3+ digit numbers when borrowing (decomposition) is needed from adjacent columns
Subtract when borrowing must cross one or more zeros (e.g., 1003 - 456)
Try three free questions from our column subtraction course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Aaron has saved 986 trading cards. He gives 453 cards to his younger brother. How many cards does Aaron have left?
A cinema has 814 seats. 367 seats are occupied. How many seats are empty?
A concert venue has a capacity of 10000 people. On Saturday night, 6853 people attended. How many empty seats were there?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Noah has saved £875 for a new bicycle. He spends £342 on accessories.
How much money does Noah have left?
875 − 342
Write the larger number on top and align ones under ones, tens under tens and hundreds under hundreds
Step 1 of 4
Noah has saved £875 for a new bicycle. He spends £342 on accessories.
How much money does Noah have left?
Noah has £533 left.
The key insight: When the top digit is always bigger, just subtract column by column!
Common mix-up: Writing 875 − 342 with digits misaligned (e.g., 875 over 342 shifted). Each column must line up by place value or you subtract the wrong values.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in column subtraction, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with column subtraction? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed