The 11+ syllabus now includes basic algebra — particularly in CEM-style and independent-school papers. Children who haven't touched algebra arrive at the test confused. The good news: 11+ algebra is straightforward to teach.
What "algebra" means at 11+ level
It's not solving simultaneous equations or factorising quadratics. 11+ algebra typically involves:
- Simple substitution (if a = 3, what is 2a + 5?)
- One-step equations (3x = 12, find x)
- Two-step equations (2x + 3 = 11, find x)
- Combining like terms (3a + 2a = 5a)
- Forming simple expressions from word problems
Worked examples
Substitution
If x = 5, find 2x² - 3.
2(5)² - 3 = 2(25) - 3 = 50 - 3 = 47.
One-step equation
4y = 28. Divide both sides by 4. y = 7.
Two-step equation
5x + 2 = 17. Subtract 2 from both sides: 5x = 15. Divide by 5: x = 3.
Combining like terms
3a + 2b - a + 5b = 2a + 7b.
Word to expression
"A pencil costs y pence. A pen costs 5p more than a pencil. What does a pen cost?" Answer: y + 5.
The key concept
The letter just stands for a number we don't yet know. Anything we do to one side of an equation, we must do to the other.
Practice plan
15 minutes a day for 4 weeks is enough for most Year 5 children to be comfortable. Quest Arena's maths worksheets include 30 algebra sheets graded from foundation to top-tier 11+.