What math should a 2nd grader know by the end of the year?

Quick answer

By the end of 2nd grade, children should know all sums of two one-digit numbers from memory, add and subtract fluently within 100, and add and subtract within 1,000 using place value. They also read and compare numbers to 1,000, skip-count by 5s, 10s and 100s, tell time to the nearest five minutes, count money, measure length, and split shapes into halves, thirds and fourths.

2nd grade is the year addition and subtraction become quick and flexible, and numbers grow all the way to 1,000. Below is a parent-friendly checklist of what 2nd graders are expected to know by the end of the year, based on the Common Core State Standards used by most U.S. states (your state or school may differ). Each item lists its standard code, so you can match it to report cards and teacher notes.

Don't worry if your child hasn't checked every box yet. These are end-of-year goals, and children get there at different speeds.

Operations and algebraic thinking: addition and subtraction

• Know all sums of two one-digit numbers from memory, like 8 + 7 = 15, and add and subtract within 20 quickly using mental strategies (2.OA.B.2).
• Solve one- and two-step word problems within 100, including ones where the unknown is at the start: “Some birds were on a fence. 7 flew away and 18 are left. How many were there at first?” (25) (2.OA.A.1).
• Tell odd from even for groups of up to 20 objects by pairing them or counting by 2s, and write an even number as a double, like 14 = 7 + 7 (2.OA.C.3).
• Find the total of an array with up to 5 rows and 5 columns by adding equal rows, the first step toward multiplication (2.OA.C.4).

Fact strategies like make ten and doubles are a reliable path to memorized facts. Our addition and subtraction guides walk through them.

Number and operations in base ten: place value to 1,000

• Understand hundreds, tens and ones: 706 is 7 hundreds, 0 tens and 6 ones, and 100 is a bundle of ten tens (2.NBT.A.1).
• Count within 1,000 and skip-count by 5s, 10s and 100s (2.NBT.A.2).
• Read and write numbers to 1,000 as numerals, in words and in expanded form: 482 = 400 + 80 + 2 (2.NBT.A.3).
• Compare three-digit numbers using >, = and < (2.NBT.A.4).
• Add and subtract fluently within 100 using place-value strategies (2.NBT.B.5), and add up to four two-digit numbers (2.NBT.B.6).
• Add and subtract within 1,000 with models or drawings, regrouping tens and hundreds when needed (2.NBT.B.7).
• Mentally add or subtract 10 or 100 for numbers from 100 to 900: 467 + 100 = 567 (2.NBT.B.8).
• Explain why a strategy works, using place value (2.NBT.B.9).

Regrouping (carrying and borrowing) becomes a major skill this year, especially in subtraction and with three-digit numbers. Our guides to addition with regrouping and subtraction with regrouping explain it step by step.

Measurement and data: length, time, money and graphs

• Measure length with rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks and tape measures; estimate in inches, feet, centimeters and meters; find how much longer one object is than another (2.MD.A.1–4).
• Solve length word problems within 100 and show sums and differences on a number line (2.MD.B.5, 2.MD.B.6).
• Tell time to the nearest five minutes on analog and digital clocks, using a.m. and p.m. (2.MD.C.7).
• Solve money problems with dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies, using $ and ¢ correctly: 2 dimes and 3 pennies make 23¢ (2.MD.C.8).
• Make and read graphs: line plots of measurements, plus picture graphs and bar graphs with up to four categories (2.MD.D.9, 2.MD.D.10).

The number line is a tool kids use all year, for lengths and for adding and subtracting:

Geometry: shapes and equal shares

• Recognize and draw shapes from their features, such as the number of angles or faces: triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons and cubes (2.G.A.1).
• Split a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares and count them (2.G.A.2), an early step toward multiplication and area.
• Split circles and rectangles into 2, 3 or 4 equal shares and use the words halves, thirds, fourths, “half of” and “a third of.” Know that a whole is two halves, three thirds or four fourths, and that equal shares don't have to be the same shape (2.G.A.3).

Fraction symbols like 1/2 and 1/4 come in 3rd grade. In 2nd grade, the words and pictures come first.

Can my child do this? A quick self-check

Ask these casually over a few days, in the car or at dinner. Quick, confident answers mean the skill is on track; hesitation simply tells you what to practice.

Signs your child may need extra help

Every child has off days. If any of these patterns last for several weeks, it's worth a conversation with the teacher:

• Still counting from 1, or on fingers every time, for facts like 6 + 3 late in the year.
• Mixing up 47 and 74, or not knowing what the 4 in 47 stands for.
• Subtracting the smaller digit from the bigger one in every column: 52 − 37 = 25 instead of 15.
• Guessing in word problems instead of picturing the story.
• Saying “I'm bad at math” or getting upset before trying.

None of these is unusual, and all of them respond to the right practice. Our guide for when a child struggles with math has next steps.

5–10 minute math ideas for home

• Partners to 10 and 100: flip a playing card (ace to 9) and say its partner to 10. Then try tens: 30 and 70 make 100.
• Coin store: price toys at 35¢ or 62¢ and pay with real coins. Ask for change from a dollar.
• Clock checks: ask “What time is it?” on an analog clock a few times a day.
• Skip-count walks: count steps by 5s or 10s, or by 100s up to 1,000.
• Measure and compare: measure two shoes in inches. How much longer is one?
• Snack fractions: cut a sandwich into halves, thirds or fourths and name the pieces.

More ideas: how to make math fun at home, plus free addition and subtraction worksheets.

How 2nd grade sets up 3rd grade

• Arrays and equal rows (5 + 5 + 5) become multiplication (3 × 5) and then division. Skip counting by 5s and 10s turns into the first times tables; see our skip counting guide.
• Halves, thirds and fourths become fractions written as numbers, like 1/3 and 3/4, placed on a number line.
• Place value to 1,000 leads to rounding and fluent adding and subtracting within 1,000.
• Quick addition facts free up attention for multiplication facts, which 3rd graders are expected to know from memory by the end of the year.

See what's next in our 3rd grade math checklist, or look back at the 1st grade checklist if some foundations need a refresh.

Practice set

2nd grade practice (with answers)

1. 9 + 6 = ?
2. 14 − 8 = ?
3. 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = ?
4. 38 + 45 = ?
5. 71 − 26 = ?
6. 345 + 278 = ?
7. 600 − 245 = ?
8. What is 100 more than 389?
9. Is 15 odd or even?
10. 3 dimes and 4 nickels make how many cents?
11. Write 608 in expanded form
12. Which is greater: 529 or 592?

Show answers

Frequently asked questions

What math should a 2nd grader know by the end of the year?

By the end of 2nd grade, children should know all sums of two one-digit numbers from memory, add and subtract fluently within 100, and add and subtract within 1,000 using place value. They should also read and compare numbers to 1,000, tell time to the nearest five minutes, solve money problems, measure length, and split shapes into halves, thirds and fourths.

Should a 2nd grader know addition facts by heart?

Yes. Common Core standard 2.OA.B.2 says that by the end of 2nd grade, children should know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers, such as 8 + 7 = 15, and add and subtract within 20 fluently. Most children get there by learning strategies like doubles and make ten, then practicing a few minutes a day.

Do 2nd graders learn multiplication?

Not formally. In 2nd grade, children find the total of arrays with up to 5 rows and 5 columns by adding equal rows (5 + 5 + 5 = 15), and they skip-count by 5s, 10s and 100s. Those are the foundations. Multiplication itself, with the × sign and times tables, starts in 3rd grade under the Common Core.

Do 2nd graders learn fractions?

Only the beginnings. 2nd graders split circles and rectangles into two, three or four equal shares and describe them with words like halves, thirds and fourths (2.G.A.3). Writing fractions as numbers, such as 1/4, and placing them on a number line is a 3rd-grade topic.

What time-telling skills should a 2nd grader have?

By the end of 2nd grade, children should tell and write time from both analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, and use a.m. and p.m. correctly (2.MD.C.7). Telling time to the exact minute and working out how much time has passed come in 3rd grade.

What should I do if my 2nd grader is behind in math?

First, find the specific gap: a quick self-check like the one on this page shows whether it's facts, place value or word problems. Then talk with the teacher, who sees your child's work every day. Short, regular practice on that one skill, with games and real objects, usually helps more than long worksheet sessions.

Sources

• Common Core State Standards for Mathematics — CCSSI
• Common Core State Standards: Grade 2, Operations & Algebraic Thinking — CCSSI
• Common Core State Standards: Grade 2, Number & Operations in Base Ten — CCSSI
• Common Core State Standards: Grade 2, Measurement & Data — CCSSI
• Common Core State Standards: Grade 2, Geometry — CCSSI

Written by The Mathing Team for parents and teachers. Grade expectations follow the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics; your state or school may sequence skills a little differently.