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Tamil Nadu (TNBSE)Class 1 Mathematics★ 6-8 marks in TN Class 1 Term 1 exam — counting exercises, number writing, and simple addition/subtraction within 9

Numbers

Samacheer Kalvi (TN State Board) Class 1 Mathematics — Chapter 2, Numbers. Counting, Addition and Subtraction 1–9. Study notes, key concepts, worked examples, practice questions and quick revision for exam preparation.

⏱ 10 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Count objects from 1 to 9 correctly by pointing at each object
2Read and write numbers 0 to 9 in digits and words (e.g., 5 and 'five')
3Compare two numbers and tell which is bigger or smaller using > and < symbols
4Find the number that comes before, after, or between given numbers (e.g., what comes after 6? → 7)
5Add two numbers whose sum is 9 or less (e.g., 3 + 4 = 7)
6Subtract a smaller number from a bigger number within 9 (e.g., 8 − 3 = 5)

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Why this chapter matters

Numbers are the first real mathematics a child learns. This chapter takes a child from 'one, two, three' to adding and subtracting within 9 — using real objects like pencils, balls, and fruits. It is the foundation for every single maths topic they will learn from Class 1 all the way to Class 12 and beyond. A child who is confident with numbers 1-9 will never fear maths.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Numbers — Class 1 Mathematics (Samacheer Kalvi)

TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 1 Mathematics, Chapter 2. Counting, Addition and Subtraction 1–9.

1. About this chapter

This chapter covers Numbers as part of the Class 1 Samacheer Kalvi Mathematics curriculum. It deals with counting, addition and subtraction 1–9 and builds conceptual understanding essential for the TN School Term Exam.

By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

Count objects up to 9
Add and subtract single-digit numbers

2. Key concepts

Concept 1: Count objects up to 9.
Concept 2: Add and subtract single-digit numbers.

3. Important terms and formulas

Term / Formula	Description
Count objects up to…	Count objects up to 9
Add and subtract single-digit…	Add and subtract single-digit numbers

4. Worked examples

Example 1. Applying a key concept from this chapter.

Solution: Identify the relevant principle → apply the formula or rule → state the answer with correct units.

Example 2. A typical exam-style question on numbers.

Solution: Break the problem into steps, use the appropriate formula and verify the answer.

5. Common mistakes

Mistake: Skipping units or forgetting to state them. Fix: Always write units alongside every quantity and answer.
Mistake: Confusing similar terms or concepts in this chapter. Fix: Make a comparison table of the terms during revision.

6. Practice (exam-style)

Define the main term or principle covered in Chapter 2.
Give two real-life examples related to numbers.
Solve a short numerical or descriptive question from this chapter.
State one important formula and explain each symbol.

7. Answer key (hints)

Refer to section 2 (Key concepts) above for the definition.
Examples should be drawn from daily experience and local context.
Apply the formula from section 3, show all steps clearly.
Formula with units — refer to the textbook glossary for symbol meanings.

8. Quick revision

Class 1 Mathematics — Chapter 2: Numbers.
Core idea: Counting, Addition and Subtraction 1–9.
Key outcomes: Count objects up to 9; Add and subtract single-digit numbers.
Always revise diagrams / tables from the Samacheer Kalvi textbook before the exam.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Counting numbers 1–9

1 (One), 2 (Two), 3 (Three), 4 (Four), 5 (Five), 6 (Six), 7 (Seven), 8 (Eight), 9 (Nine).

Count by touching or pointing at each object. The last number you say tells 'how many'. The number 0 (Zero) means 'nothing' or 'no objects'.

Comparing numbers — bigger and smaller

If a number comes later while counting, it is BIGGER. Example: 7 comes after 4, so 7 > 4 (7 is greater). 3 comes before 6, so 3 < 6 (3 is smaller).

The hungry crocodile always opens its mouth towards the bigger number: 3 < 7 or 7 > 3.

Before, After, Between

Before a number = one less. After a number = one more. Between two numbers = the number that comes exactly in the middle.

Example: Before 5 is 4. After 5 is 6. Between 3 and 5 is 4.

Addition (putting together)

Adding means putting two groups together and counting the total. 2 apples + 3 apples = 5 apples. Symbol: + (plus), = (equals).

Always count carefully. Use fingers, draw dots, or use objects. Result is called the SUM.

Subtraction (taking away)

Subtracting means taking away some objects from a group. 7 birds − 2 birds = 5 birds left. Symbol: − (minus).

You can only subtract a smaller number from a bigger or equal number in Class 1. Result is called the DIFFERENCE.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Counting the same object twice or skipping one

✓ Always touch or point at each object one by one. Say one number per object. Line objects up in a row to make counting easier.

WATCH OUT

✗ Writing numbers backwards — writing 3 like Ɛ or 7 like ﾌ

✓ This is very common at age 5-6 and gets better with practice. Write numbers on a slate or notebook daily. Use dotted tracing sheets.

WATCH OUT

✗ Adding 2 + 3 and getting 5, but subtracting 5 − 2 and also getting 5

✓ Addition and subtraction are opposite. Use objects: Start with 5 pencils, take 2 away — how many left? Count the remaining ones.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying 'after 0 is 2' or forgetting zero exists

✓ Zero is a number. After 0 comes 1. Zero means nothing — if you have no chocolate, you have 0 chocolates.

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Count

Count the stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ — How many?

▶ Show solution

7 stars

Q2EASY· Number name

Write the number name for 8.

▶ Show solution

Eight

Q3EASY· Before/After

What number comes after 4?

▶ Show solution

5

Q4EASY· Compare

Which is bigger: 3 or 7? Use the correct symbol (< or >).

▶ Show solution

7 is bigger. So 3 < 7.

Q5EASY· Addition

Add: 4 + 3 = ?

▶ Show solution

4 + 3 = 7

Q6MEDIUM· Subtraction

Subtract: 9 − 5 = ?

▶ Show solution

9 − 5 = 4

Q7MEDIUM· Word problem

Ravi has 6 toffees. He gives 2 toffees to his friend. How many toffees are left?

▶ Show solution

6 − 2 = 4 toffees left

Q8HARD· Between

Which number comes between 5 and 7? Also write the number name.

▶ Show solution

6 — Six

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Numbers 0 to 9: 0 (Zero), 1 (One), 2 (Two), 3 (Three), 4 (Four), 5 (Five), 6 (Six), 7 (Seven), 8 (Eight), 9 (Nine).
•Comparing: Later while counting = bigger. Earlier while counting = smaller.
•Symbols: > means is greater than, < means is less than.
•Before = one less. After = one more. Between = number in the middle.
•Addition (+): Putting two groups together. The result is the SUM.
•Subtraction (−): Taking away. The result is the DIFFERENCE.
•Zero (0) means nothing or no objects.

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6-8 marks in TN Class 1 Term 1 Mathematics exam

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Count and write	1 each	2-3	Counting objects from pictures and writing the number
Before/After/Between	1 each	2-3	Number sequencing and order
Addition / Subtraction	1-2 each	2-3	Simple sums and differences within 9, including word problems

Prep strategy

Practise counting objects daily — toys, fruits, books, anything at home
Write numbers 0 to 9 in order on a slate or notebook every day
Memorise number names: One, Two, Three... Nine
Use fingers for addition and subtraction — the most natural tool for a child
Solve one addition and one subtraction problem every day

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Counting everyday objects

Children count their pencils, crayons, toys, fruits, and family members. Number sense is developed through real counting, not just memorising digits.

Sharing and taking away

When sharing toffees with a friend or eating some of the snacks, a child naturally does subtraction. 'I had 5 biscuits, I ate 2 — now I have 3.'

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Counting questions: Touch/point at each object in the picture and count aloud in your head
Before/After questions: Silently count 1 to 9 and see which number is just before or after
Addition: Draw dots for each number, then count all dots together
Subtraction: Draw dots for the first number, cross out the second number's worth, count remaining
Always double-check your counting — it's easy to miss one

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Try counting beyond 9: learn 10 to 20.
Try addition with three numbers: 2 + 1 + 3 = ?
Number patterns: What comes next? 1, 3, 5, 7, ___? (odd numbers)
Missing addend: 3 + ___ = 7 (what number added to 3 gives 7?)

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

TN School Term 1 ExamHigh

School Unit TestsHigh

Maths Olympiad (IMO Class 1)Medium

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

9 is the biggest single-digit number. After 9, we move to two-digit numbers starting with 10.

Zero (0) is a number that means 'nothing'. If you have no apple, you have 0 apples. Zero was invented in India.

Count from 1: whichever number you say LATER is bigger. For example, you say 7 after you say 3, so 7 is bigger than 3.

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