Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
If n + 15 = 20, what is n?
- 7
- 4
- 5
- 6
Answer: 5 — Take 15 from both sides: n = 5. n = 5.
11+ simple algebra questions
Simple algebra comes up in the maths paper of every major 11+ format. Here is what the questions look like, the method that works under time pressure, and five worked examples with the full reasoning, from a gentle start to a hard paper.
Maths · examined by GL and CEM · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- A letter just stands for a number we don't know yet.
- Undo what was done to it — take 3 off both sides.
Where marks get lost: So n = 4. Check it: 4 + 3 = 7 ✓
Worked examples
Every question below is generated by the same engine your child practises on, and every answer is derived by our checker rather than written by hand — which is why we can put them on a public page at all.
Example 2 · level 2 — typical of early practice
If 2n + 6 = 10, what is n?
- 3
- 4
- 1
- 2
Answer: 2 — Take 6 from both sides: 2n = 4. Then divide by 2: n = 2.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
If 3n + 11 = 23, what is n?
- 4
- 12
- 3
- 5
Answer: 4 — Take 11 from both sides: 3n = 12. Then divide by 3: n = 4.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
If 4n + 8 = 28, what is n?
- 5
- 20
- 4
- 6
Answer: 5 — Take 8 from both sides: 4n = 20. Then divide by 4: n = 5.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
If 6n + 74 = 194, what is n?
- 19
- 21
- 20
- 120
Answer: 20 — Take 74 from both sides: 6n = 120. Then divide by 6: n = 20.
How to practise this at home
- Work in short, frequent sessions. Ten minutes daily beats an hour at the weekend, because the recall gap is what builds memory.
- Insist on written working, even for questions your child can do in their head — under exam pressure the method is what survives.
- When an answer is wrong, ask them to explain their reasoning before you correct it. The error is almost always in one step, not the whole approach.
Practise simple algebra with a tutor that explains
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