Counting Back Games Online Free
Take away 1, 2 or 3 from a number up to 20. Start at the bigger number and count back in your head.
Type answers on your keyboard, or tap the number pad.
Practise these again:
What is counting back in subtraction?
Counting back means starting at the first number and counting down by the number you’re taking away. For 17 − 3, start at 17 and count 16, 15, 14. The answer is 14.
It’s quick for taking away small numbers, which is what this game practises. It’s the subtraction partner of counting on.
How to play Counting Back
- Choose the 60-second challenge or untimed practice, then press Start.
- Type each answer on your keyboard or tap the number pad. It’s checked as soon as you’ve typed enough digits, or press ✓.
- Get one wrong and you’ll see the right answer, and the question comes back a little later.
- At the end, check your score and the facts to practise again.
Counting Back skills
- Counting back from any number to 20
- Subtracting 1, 2 and 3
- Saying the number before
Level: Kindergarten–Grade 1 (ages 5–7)
Tips for counting back
Don’t say the starting number when you count. For 12 − 2, start at 12 and say 11, 10.
Taking away 1 is just the number before, so 15 − 1 should come without counting.
Use a number line: start on the first number and jump back.
Counting Back questions and answers
Why does the game only take away 1, 2 or 3?
Counting back works well for small numbers. Counting back 7 or 8 is slow and easy to get wrong, so for those children use facts they know, like 15 − 7 = 8 because 7 + 8 = 15.
What is the most common counting back mistake?
Counting the starting number. For 9 − 3, children say “9, 8, 7” and answer 7 instead of 6. Start counting from the number below.
What happens if I get one wrong?
The game shows the count back, for example 17 − 3: 16, 15, 14. The question returns a few questions later.