Money: Coins, Totals and Change
Money: Coins, Totals and Change is the Year 2 skill of combining coins to make a given amount, finding different combinations of coins that total the same amount, and solving simple problems that involve adding money together or working out change, using the pound (£) and pence (p) symbols.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Start with real or good-quality play coins so the child can sort them by value and feel the difference in size before any sums are involved.
- Make sure the child knows all the coin values used at KS1: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.
- Directly tackle the biggest misconception in this topic: children often think more coins means more money. Put five 1p coins next to a single 20p coin and count each pile aloud to prove the single coin is worth more, since coin size and coin count do not equal value.
- Practise combining coins to make a target amount, starting with the biggest coin that still fits under the target and adding smaller coins until the exact total is reached.
- Show that the same amount can be made in more than one way, e.g. 10p can be one 10p coin, or two 5p coins, or five 2p coins, so there is rarely only one right answer.
- Introduce giving change by counting up from the price to the amount paid (e.g. from 35p up to 50p), which is usually easier for a child than a formal subtraction.
- Move between physical coins and written £/p notation regularly, so the child links the coin in their hand to the number and symbol on the page.
Worked example
Freya buys a pencil for 35p. She pays with a 50p coin. How much change should she get?
- Write down the price (35p) and the amount paid (50p).
- Count up from 35p to 50p in small, manageable jumps: 35p + 5p = 40p.
- Continue counting up: 40p + 10p = 50p.
- Add the two jumps together: 5p + 10p = 15p, so Freya should get 15p change.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1How many pence are there in a 20p coin?Show answer
Answer: 20 pence
Q2Write these coins as a total: a 10p coin and a 5p coin.Show answer
Answer: 15p
Q3Which coin is worth more: 50p or £1?Show answer
Answer: £1, because it is worth 100p, which is more than 50p
Q4Tara has three 10p coins. How much money does she have in total?Show answer
Answer: 30p (10p + 10p + 10p = 30p)
Q5A sticker costs 8p. Milo pays with a 10p coin. How much change does he get?Show answer
Answer: 2p (10p - 8p = 2p)
Q6Show two different ways to make 20p using coins from: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p.Show answer
Answer: For example: one 20p coin, or two 10p coins, or one 10p coin and two 5p coins (any correct combination totalling 20p)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS1 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A drink costs 45p. Show one way to pay the exact amount using coins from: 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
A toy costs 65p. Ollie pays with a £1 coin. How much change does he get? Show your working.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Jess has one 50p coin, one 20p coin and one 5p coin. Does she have enough money to buy a book that costs 80p? Show your working and explain your answer.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the money: coins, totals and change worksheet pack - 8 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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