Maths Library

Word Problems: Four Operations: Year 4 maths

Apply addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to contextual real-world scenarios. Worksheets challenge pupils to identify the correct operations and solve multi-step problems.

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What this covers

Word Problems: Four Operations is taught in Year 4 (age 8 to 9, KS2) as a main teaching focus. It sits in the Number strand.

Worked example

A school buys 4 boxes of pens with 25 pens in each box. If 15 pens are given away, how many pens remain

  1. Find total pens bought: 4 × 25 = 100
  2. Subtract pens given away: 100 - 15 = 85

Answer: 85

Difficulty scale

The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.

  1. Single-step word problems with integers up to 100
  2. Two-step word problems involving combinations of addition and subtraction
  3. Two-step problems combining multiplication or division with addition or subtraction
  4. Multi-step problems requiring three operations or interpreting remainders in context
  5. Complex multi-step problems involving decimals, money, or hidden constraints

Common mistakes

  • Selecting operations purely from keywords (e.g. assuming 'more' always means addition)
  • Solving only the first step of a multi-step problem and recording an incomplete answer

Curriculum links

Indicative matches to National Curriculum for England. Check wording and codes against the official document.

  • Solve two-step word problems involving combinations of operations, interpreting the context accurately.

Sample sheet and answers

Six questions at the level's usual difficulty. Open the editor to change, add or regenerate any of them.

Word Problems: Four Operations

Year 4 maths

Qs
6
Marks
18
NameDateScore / 18
1.
There are 9 bags with 13 coins in each. How many coins are there altogether?
[3]
2.
Priya has 47 beads and gives away 6. How many are left?
[3]
3.
Noah shares 20 stickers equally between 4 friends. How many does each friend get?
[3]
4.
There are 9 bags with 6 marbles in each. How many marbles are there altogether?
[3]
5.
Noah shares 25 shells equally between 5 friends. How many does each friend get?
[3]
6.
Asha shares 55 stickers equally between 5 friends. How many does each friend get?
[3]

Answer key

  1. 1179 × 13 = 117
  2. 41Subtract: 47 − 6 = 41
  3. 520 ÷ 4 = 5
  4. 549 × 6 = 54
  5. 525 ÷ 5 = 5
  6. 1155 ÷ 5 = 11