A French math word problem is two challenges in one: understanding the language, then choosing the right operation. The good news is that both can be taught with a short, repeatable routine. Read the problem, underline what matters, draw it, write the calculation, and answer in a full sentence. This guide gives you that routine, a bilingual vocabulary table, worked examples for different ages, and places to find good practice problems.
TL;DR
- Use one routine every time: read, highlight, sketch, calculate, write a response sentence (the phrase-réponse).
- Teach the vocabulary of the problem (en tout, de plus que, il reste), but never let a single word decide the operation.
- Let your child explain the problem in the language they know best, with objects or drawings, before solving it in French.
- Practise a little each day with short problems matched to the grade, not long worksheets once a week.
- Quebec’s evaluation framework gives problem solving real weight, so the habit pays off at report-card time.
Table of Contents
- Why French word problems feel harder than plain calculations
- A five-step routine your child can use on any problem
- Bilingual math vocabulary for word problems
- Mots-pièges: when a key word points the wrong way
- Know the problem types: addition and subtraction come in families
- Worked examples at three levels
- Helping a bilingual child understand before solving
- Where to find good French word problems for practice
- How word problems fit into the Quebec curriculum
- Our perspective: the method matters more than the worksheet
- Support from a tutor who works with your child’s plan
- FAQ
- Sources
Why French word problems feel harder than plain calculations
Your child may add and subtract with ease on a worksheet of bare numbers, then freeze at “Léa a 14 billes. Elle en perd 6.” That is normal. A word problem asks for several things at once: decoding the sentences, picturing the situation, picking an operation, calculating and checking.
For a child in French immersion, or a child who speaks another language at home, the first step carries extra weight. A problem is not hard because the maths is hard. It is hard because one unknown word blocks the picture of the story.
That is encouraging, because language is the easiest obstacle to fix. When the vocabulary is clear and the method is steady, the same child often solves problems they would have skipped a month earlier.
Quebec’s ministry describes four things it looks for when children solve problems: understanding the situation, using the right concepts, explaining the solution and validating the result. The routine below follows those same four ideas, so it matches what teachers expect to see on the page.
A five-step routine your child can use on any problem
Post these steps on the fridge. A resource for young learners suggests a similar sequence: read the problem, highlight key words, sketch if needed, turn the situation into a calculation and write a response sentence.
- Lire deux fois. The first read is for the story. The second is for the question. Ask: “Qu’est-ce qu’on cherche?”
- Souligner. Underline the numbers in one colour and the key information in another. Circle the question.
- Dessiner. A quick sketch with bars, circles or a number line makes the story visible. Stick figures are perfectly fine.
- Calculer. Write the number sentence, for example 14 − 6 = ☐, then solve it.
- Répondre et vérifier. Write a full sentence: “Léa a 8 billes.” Then ask: does 8 make sense? Is it smaller than 14, as expected when something is lost?
Think of it as a game with five levels. Your child collects a point for each step, and the answer is only the last point. This takes the pressure off the “right answer” and rewards the process, which is exactly what teachers grade.
A mini-checklist for the end of every problem
- Did I answer the question that was asked?
- Is my unit there (billes, dollars, minutes)?
- Does my answer make sense in the story?
- Did I write a complete sentence?
Bilingual math vocabulary for word problems
Children read faster when they own the vocabulary. Go through the table below together, then let your child build their own page with a small drawing next to each phrase. Treat it as a hint about the situation, not a rule: the next section explains why.
| French phrase | English meaning | What it often suggests |
|---|---|---|
| en tout, au total | in all, in total | Putting amounts together |
| ajouter, gagner, recevoir | to add, to earn, to receive | An amount increases |
| enlever, perdre, donner | to remove, to lose, to give away | An amount decreases |
| il reste | there is left | What remains after a removal |
| de plus que | more than | Comparing two amounts |
| de moins que | fewer than, less than | Comparing two amounts |
| la différence | the difference | How far apart two amounts are |
| chaque, par | each, per | Equal groups |
| partager également | to share equally | Division into equal parts |
| le double, le triple | double, triple | Multiplying by 2 or 3 |
| la moitié, le quart | half, quarter | Fractions of a whole |
| la somme, le produit | the sum, the product | Result of addition, of multiplication |
| le quotient | the quotient | Result of division |
One resource for early learners links the word ajouter with the plus sign and enlever with the minus sign. That is a fine starting point for Grade 1. Beyond that, children need to go further than word matching.
Mots-pièges: when a key word points the wrong way
Parents often hear the advice “look for the key word.” It works until it doesn’t. Consider: “Samir a 12 autocollants. Il en a 5 de plus que Mia. Combien Mia en a-t-elle?” The phrase de plus que tempts a child to add. But Mia has fewer: 12 − 5 = 7.
This is a classic mot-piège (trap word). France’s Ministry of Education notes that teachers should avoid relying only on problems where the wording simply matches the operation, because children then answer automatically instead of thinking. The same document points out that a problem which is too immediate stops being a real problem.
Here is how to practise safely:
- Mix problems where the key word fits with problems where it misleads.
- Always ask your child to draw before choosing the operation.
- Ask “Qui a le plus? Qui a le moins?” and compare with the answer.
- Celebrate when your child spots a trap. It means they are reading, not guessing.
Know the problem types: addition and subtraction come in families
Teachers do not group problems by the words in them but by the situation. French primary programmes describe additive and subtractive problems as transformation, composition of states and comparison. A sample bank from Ontario’s ministry labels its French problems in a similar way: addition, subtraction, removal and comparison.
| Type | Example | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Transformation | Léa a 14 billes. Elle en perd 6. Combien lui en reste-t-il? | A starting amount, an arrow, a final amount |
| Composition | Il y a 9 filles et 7 garçons dans la classe. Combien d’élèves y a-t-il? | Two parts and a whole |
| Comparison | Samir a 12 autocollants, soit 5 de plus que Mia. Combien Mia en a-t-elle? | Two bars of different lengths |
If your child can name the family, the operation usually follows. “C’est une comparaison” is a stronger clue than any single word.
Worked examples at three levels
Grade 2: transformation within 100
Noé a 45 cartes de hockey. Il en reçoit 20 à son anniversaire. Combien de cartes a-t-il maintenant?
- Lire: on cherche le nombre de cartes à la fin.
- Souligner: 45, 20, reçoit, maintenant.
- Dessiner: a start bar of 45 with an arrow adding 20.
- Calculer: 45 + 20 = 65.
- Répondre: « Noé a maintenant 65 cartes. » It is more than 45, so it makes sense.
Grade 4: a two-step problem
Une classe compte 28 élèves. Chaque élève apporte 3 dollars pour une sortie. L’enseignante dépense 60 dollars pour les billets. Combien d’argent reste-t-il?
- Lire: two things happen, so there are two steps.
- Étape 1: 28 × 3 = 84 dollars collected.
- Étape 2: 84 − 60 = 24 dollars left.
- Répondre: « Il reste 24 dollars. »
Quebec’s ministry observes that the order of operations in a problem depends on the sense of the situation and often requires intermediate steps. That is why writing each step separately, rather than one long line, protects your child from mistakes.
Grade 6: decimals and a trap word
Un cahier coûte 3,75 $. Un stylo coûte 1,40 $ de moins. Quel est le prix des deux articles ensemble?
- Dessiner: two bars, the pen shorter than the notebook.
- Étape 1: 3,75 − 1,40 = 2,35 $ for the pen. Here de moins is not the final operation.
- Étape 2: 3,75 + 2,35 = 6,10 $.
- Répondre: « Les deux articles coûtent 6,10 $ ensemble. »
Notice the French decimal comma and the dollar sign after the number. If your child writes 3.75 $ in a Quebec classroom, the teacher will understand. Still, it is worth practising the format used in class.
Helping a bilingual child understand before solving
When the French words are the obstacle, start in the language your child knows best. Ontario’s ministry guide for families suggests that parents invite children to present a problem through role-play, real objects, drawings or counting on fingers, starting from simple everyday activities.
A simple three-part conversation works well:
- Explain in any language. “Tell me the story in your own words.” Use coins, blocks or toy cars.
- Name it in French. Once the story is clear, attach the French words: il en reste, en tout, de plus.
- Solve and write in French. The response sentence is the place to practise full French sentences.
Talking matters in maths too. Ontario’s secondary curriculum stresses that explaining strategies and justifying reasoning helps students refine their thinking. Ask “Comment as-tu trouvé?” after every problem, right or wrong.
Keep a small word notebook
Each time your child meets an unknown word, add it with a drawing and the English equivalent. Review five words at breakfast. After a month, the problems that once looked like walls become familiar stories.
Where to find good French word problems for practice
What you need is a steady supply of short, grade-appropriate problems. Several Canadian sources cover different needs:
- Quebec programme alignment: the 100 Problèmes collection is designed for Grades 1 to 6 and follows Quebec’s Progression des apprentissages.
- Daily short practice (Grade 2): the Problème du jour bundles offer monthly themed problems in a one-page-per-week or interactive notebook format, with skills such as addition, subtraction to 100, fractions, money and elapsed time.
- Grade 3 across all strands: a bundle of 78 problems is geared to Grade 3, can be used in Grades 2 and 4, and aligns with Ontario’s 2020 curriculum.
- Grade 1 with open-ended tasks: a pack of 32 problems on addition, subtraction and money mixes single-answer questions with tasks where children show answers with pictures, numbers and words.
- Grade 5 with an answer key: a lesson on adding and subtracting natural and decimal numbers provides student sheets, a workbook and an answer key.
- Grade 5 and up, real-life situations: the Learn71 French immersion hub offers 3-Act Tasks around financial literacy and fractions that are easy to adapt.
For more titles by grade, see our guide to the best math workbooks for Canadian kids.
How much practice is enough?
Ten minutes, four or five days a week, beats an hour on Sunday. Choose two problems: one that your child can solve alone, and one that stretches them slightly. Quick mental calculation also supports problem solving, so you can pair this routine with our mental arithmetic tips for 7 to 9 year olds.
How word problems fit into the Quebec curriculum
If you are in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil or elsewhere in Quebec, problem solving is not a side topic. The ministry’s primary evaluation framework states that solving mathematical problems accounts for 20% of the evaluation in Cycle 1 and 30% in Cycles 2 and 3. That is a large share of the mark, and it rewards the explaining and validating steps of the routine above.
For a broader view of what your child is expected to learn each year, read our explainer on the Quebec primary curriculum. If your child is heading for secondary school entrance exams, our five core math topics for entrance exams shows where word problems tend to appear, and the primary exam preparation plan shows how to schedule practice.
Parents elsewhere in Canada will find the same skills in other provincial programmes. British Columbia’s French mathematics curriculum, for example, specifies addition and subtraction up to 1,000 in Grade 3 and up to 10,000 in Grade 4. The numbers differ by province, but the routine does not.
Our perspective: the method matters more than the worksheet
We have worked with students for more than 25 years, and one pattern repeats: children rarely fail word problems because they cannot calculate. They fail because nobody has shown them how to enter the story.
That is why our tutoring starts with a personalised learning plan. We look at the student’s strengths, challenges, pace and goals. A child who understands the maths but stumbles on French vocabulary needs a different plan from one who reads fluently but picks the wrong operation.
Our university-level tutors work online, so the session is a conversation: the student explains, draws and tests, and the tutor adjusts. We build custom material around the topics your child is working on and track progress so you can see the change from one month to the next.
Above all, we want children to feel that a word problem is a game they can win. Confidence comes first. Speed and accuracy follow.
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Support from a tutor who works with your child’s plan
Some families prefer to have a second voice at the table. Our online sessions for elementary and secondary students in Quebec include French and mathematics, with a tutor who builds the plan around your child. A regular session runs at $30–35 per hour, and the one-off registration fee is $65, as published on our pricing page. If the first session does not satisfy you, we offer a refund for it.
To see how it works, explore our regular online sessions, our French tutoring programs, or register for tutoring. Summer is a good time to rebuild confidence, and our summer session is designed for that.
FAQ
Should my child translate the whole problem into English first?
Not necessarily. Start with the language your child knows best to understand the story, using objects or drawings if needed. Then name the key ideas in French and solve in French. Over time, the translation step shrinks on its own.
Which words tell me whether to add or subtract?
Words like en tout and ajouter often suggest addition, while enlever and il reste often suggest subtraction. Treat them as hints only. Phrases such as de plus que can mislead, so always draw the situation before choosing the operation.
How many problems should my child do each day?
Two or three short problems, about ten minutes, is plenty for most elementary students. Choose one easy problem for confidence and one that stretches them. Stop while your child still feels successful.
What if my child understands the French but still gets the wrong answer?
Look at which step breaks down: the picture, the calculation or the check. Ask your child to explain the drawing aloud. If the pattern continues across several problems, a tutor can pinpoint the gap and build exercises around it.
Sources
- Cadre d’évaluation, Mathématique primaire (Québec)
- Arithmétique, troisième cycle du primaire (Québec)
- Les mathématiques avec votre enfant (Ontario)
- Mathématiques, programme-cadre 9e et 10e (Ontario)
- Banque de problèmes (Ontario)
- FR Math K-9 Content (British Columbia)
- La résolution de problèmes, Eduscol
- Programmation pour apprendre à résoudre des problèmes
- Période 1, Mon manuel de Mathématiques Primaire 1
- 100 problèmes, Éditions MD
- Le problème du jour, Grade 2 bundle
- French Math Word Problems Bundle, Grade 3
- Grade 1 Math: French Word Problems
- Additionner et soustraire des nombres naturels et des nombres décimaux
- Number Sense, Learn71 French immersion
