Word Problems for Grade 1: 20 Problems with Solutions
Word problems are the hardest part of grade 1 — they require understanding, not just calculating. Here are 20 problems by level, plus the method that makes them click.
Why word problems are harder than equations
The equation 5+3 requires only calculation. The problem "Masha has 5 candies and gets 3 more" requires: reading, understanding the situation, choosing the operation, calculating, and stating the answer. That's 5 skills instead of one!
Level 1 — Simple addition problems
1) 4 sparrows sat on a branch. 2 more flew in. How many now? (4+2=6)
2) Pete has 3 toy cars, Vic has 5. How many cars together? (3+5=8)
3) There are 6 apples in a bowl. Mom added 3 more. How many apples? (6+3=9)
4) 5 books on a shelf. Dad added 4 more. How many books now? (5+4=9)
5) The princess has 7 stars. A unicorn gave her 3 more. How many stars? (7+3=10)
Level 2 — Simple subtraction problems
6) There were 8 candies. 3 were eaten. How many left? (8−3=5)
7) 9 cars in a parking lot. 4 drove away. How many remain? (9−4=5)
8) Katie has 10 stickers. She gave away 6. How many does Katie have? (10−6=4)
9) 7 ducks swam in a pond. 2 flew away. How many ducks in the pond? (7−2=5)
10) 6 pies on a plate. All 6 were eaten. How many left? (6−6=0)
Level 3 — Comparison problems
11) Masha has 5 dolls, Dasha has 8. How many more does Dasha have? (8−5=3)
12) The first basket has 9 mushrooms, the second has 4. How many fewer in the second? (9−4=5)
13) Pete is 7 years old, his sister is 4. How much older is Pete? (7−4=3)
Level 4 — Reverse problems (harder!)
14) Nick had some stamps. He received 3 more and now has 8. How many did he start with? (8−3=5)
15) There were pencils in a box. 4 were taken, 6 remain. How many were there? (6+4=10)
16) Birds sat in a tree. 5 flew away, 3 remain. How many birds were there? (3+5=8)
Level 5 — Two-step problems
17) Anna has 4 red balloons and 3 blue ones. 2 balloons popped. How many remain? (4+3=7, 7−2=5)
18) 6 people rode a bus. At a stop, 2 got off and 5 got on. How many people on the bus? (6−2=4, 4+5=9)
19) Mom bought 10 apples. 3 were eaten in the morning, 4 in the evening. How many left? (10−3=7, 7−4=3)
20) Victor has 5 toy soldiers, Dima has 2 more than Victor. How many do the boys have together? (5+2=7, 5+7=12)
How to practice word problems
- 1–2 problems a day is enough
- Always ask for a drawing or diagram
- Ask WHY that operation was chosen
- Have your child invent their own problems — the ultimate sign of understanding
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