As SATS get underway today, 7 year olds across the country are facing questions like this one – but can you work it out?

This SATS question, aimed at year 2 students (aged 7) has caused some debate online amongst parents trying to work out the correct answer – but is it as difficult as it might first look?

Posted by a mum on Twitter this one got a debate going:

“There were some people on a train. 19 people get off the train at the first stop. 17 people get on the train. Now there are 63 people on the train. How many people were on the train to begin with?”

Mum Louise Bloxham tweeted the question and stated that the answer is 46…but is she correct? Other Twitter users answered 65 (which was the answer our office came up with!). It seems the best way to answer this is to work backwards – so, take the 63 people and deduct the 17 that got on, giving you 46, then add the 19 who got off, taking it up to 65.

As no official answer has been posted we can’t confirm if we’re right or if Louise has got it right, but we’re sticking with our answer!

Either way this strikes me as a long and complex question for 7 year olds – i don’t remember primary school being as tricky as that!

Let me know what you think the answer is either in comments below or on our Facebook page.