Subtract two 2-digit numbers mentally when no borrowing is needed.
Where your child meets this in real life: Finding differences, calculating change, or comparing quantities
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 subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow) into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Mentally subtract a 2-digit multiple of 10 from a 2-digit number (e.g., 87 - 40 = 47)
Mentally subtract any 2-digit number from another when no borrowing is needed (e.g., 86 - 34 = 52)
Try three free questions from our subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow) 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.
Charlotte has 67p in her purse. She spends 20p on a pencil. How much money does she have left?
Lucy has 96 marbles. She gives 42 marbles to her brother Reece. How many marbles does Lucy have left?
A shop had 98 jumpers. On Saturday they sold 32 jumpers. On Sunday they sold 25 more jumpers. How many jumpers are left?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Lucy has 78p in her pocket. She spends 30p on a sticker at the school fair.
How much money does she have left?
78 − 30
Partition 78 as 7 tens and 8 ones.
Step 1 of 5
Lucy has 78p in her pocket. She spends 30p on a sticker at the school fair.
How much money does she have left?
Lucy has 48p left.
The key insight: When you subtract tens, only the tens digit changes - the ones digit stays exactly the same!
Common mix-up: 78 − 30 = 75. Subtracting 3 from the ones instead of 3 tens from the tens.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow), including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow)? 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