Free printable practice
Adding Doubles Plus 2 Practice Activities
Printable maths drills for practising near-double addition facts where one addend is 2 more than the other.
Practice that builds confidence
What this skill builds
These Adding Doubles Plus 2 worksheets help children use known double facts to solve near-double addition facts such as 4 + 6, 7 + 9, and 8 + 10. The focus is on seeing a relationship, not counting every number one by one.
The printable activities give repeated, varied practice with addition facts where the two addends differ by 2. Children learn to think, “double the smaller number, then add 2,” or use the middle number as a helpful bridge.
Adding doubles plus 2 sits inside Mathematics > Math Drills > Addition Facts because it strengthens fast recall through patterns. A child who knows 6 + 6 = 12 can reason that 6 + 8 is 14. This makes addition facts feel connected instead of separate facts to memorise.
How the thinking progresses
At first, children may write or say the double fact: 5 + 7 becomes 5 + 5 + 2. With practice, they begin to recognise the shape of the fact quickly: the numbers are almost the same, with a gap of 2. Some children may also notice that 5 + 7 equals double 6, because 6 is the number in between. Both ideas are useful as long as the child can explain the step clearly.
A simple parent routine
Choose five facts from a worksheet and ask your child to circle the smaller addend. Then say the matching double aloud: for 4 + 6, say “4 + 4 is 8, and 2 more is 10.” Let your child complete a short row independently, then check by explaining two answers. Keep the focus on the strategy before speed.
Classroom uses for teachers
Teachers can use these pages for daily maths drills, warm-ups, early finisher tasks, or small-group practice after teaching doubles. They also work well in centres where pupils sort facts into “doubles,” “doubles plus 1,” and “doubles plus 2.” Asking pupils to mark the double they used helps reveal whether they are reasoning or guessing.
Common errors to watch for
Some children double the larger number and still add 2, so 6 + 8 becomes 18 instead of 14. Others see the 2-number gap but forget to add both parts of the fact. Encourage them to point to the smaller number, double it, and then add 2. If they use the middle-number method, check that they double the number between the addends.
Free printable PDF download
Use this adding doubles plus 2 worksheet page to preview the activity, print it, or download it as a PDF for quick practice. It works well for homework, homeschool lessons, tutoring, morning work, revision, and classroom centers.
Answers and answer key support
After the child completes the worksheet independently, parents and teachers can use the answer support or answer key information to check the work, review mistakes, and choose the next practice step.
Why iBloom worksheets help
The worksheets give focused repetition without mixing in too many unrelated facts at once. This lets children build confidence with one mental addition pattern before applying it more widely. A child-friendly reminder is: “Find the smaller number, make its double, then hop 2 more.”
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
What does adding doubles plus 2 mean?
It means solving an addition fact where one number is 2 more than the other, such as 5 + 7. Children can use 5 + 5 = 10 and then add 2 to get 12.
How is doubles plus 2 different from a normal double fact?
A double fact has the same addend twice, such as 6 + 6. A doubles plus 2 fact has addends with a gap of 2, such as 6 + 8.
Which strategy should my child use for 4 + 6?
One clear strategy is to double the smaller number: 4 + 4 = 8, then add 2 more to make 10. Some children may also notice that 4 + 6 is double 5.
Should children memorise these facts or explain the pattern?
Both are useful, but explanation should come first. When children understand the near-double pattern, memorisation becomes more meaningful and less dependent on guessing.
What mistake is most common in doubles plus 2 practice?
A common mistake is doubling the larger number and then adding 2 again. Encourage children to identify the smaller addend before applying the strategy.
Is this adding doubles plus 2 worksheet free?
Yes. You can preview it for free and use the printable worksheet for home or classroom practice.
Can I download this adding doubles plus 2 worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Use the worksheet download option to save a printable PDF, or print the worksheet directly from the page.
Does this adding doubles plus 2 worksheet include answers or an answer key?
When the activity has fixed answers, iBloom includes answer support so parents and teachers can check the completed worksheet.