Which numbers are used?

To 10 and 20 in Balvatika and early Class 1, to 100 for Class 1, and to 1000 for Classes 2 and 3.

Why are some pairs so close?

Many pairs differ by a little or share digits, like 47 and 74, so children compare tens before ones instead of guessing.

Are some pairs equal?

Yes, a few in each sheet, so = gets used too.

Comparing Numbers Worksheets: Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

Place value in action

Comparing two-digit numbers is really a place value question: which has more tens? Pair this page with place value worksheets.

NCF and NCERT links

UKGThe NCF-FS (C-8.5) has children comparing numbers up to 9 and using words like “more than” and “less than”.
Class 1Children compare numbers up to 20 and say which is bigger or smaller.
Class 2Children compare two-digit numbers and make the greatest and smallest number from given digits; NIPUN Bharat expects numbers to 999 by the end of Class 2.

The NCF-FS keeps the words before the signs: children say “more” and “less” about real things long before they write < or >. If the signs confuse a child, have them read each problem aloud first, then write the sign.

A common Class 2 task is building the biggest and smallest number from two digit cards, such as 3 and 8 making 83 and 38. Do this with cards before the sheet, then the close pairs on the worksheet make sense.

Summarised in our own words from the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCERT, 2022) and the NIPUN Bharat guidelines (Ministry of Education, 2021).