KS2 Arithmetic (SATs) textbook

Chapter 6: Algebra and formulae

Strand Algebra
Level Year 6
Practice 87 questions with step-by-step solutions

KS2 SATs practice for arithmetic (Year 6). Original questions in the style of the national tests. Content: Use simple formulae written in words and in letters, and substitute values into them (Year 5-6), Generate and describe linear number sequences, including the term-to-term rule in words (Year 5-6), Express missing number problems algebraically, for example a + b = 10 (Year 5-6), Find pairs of numbers that satisfy an equation with two unknowns (Year 5-6), Enumerate the possibilities of combinations of two variables in a systematic table (Year 5-6).

Open Year 6 chapter

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

Write a formula in letters from a description in words
Substitute values into a formula and work out the answer
Describe a linear sequence with a term-to-term rule and find a missing term
Find a missing number in an equation with a letter
List all the pairs or combinations that fit a rule, in a systematic table

You should already know

Order of operations (Chapter 1 of this book)
Multiplication facts and missing number sums (Year 5 maths)

Where this leads

Measures, conversions and formulae for perimeter and area (Chapter 8 of this book)

Lessons in this chapter

Read the whole chapter on one page (good for printing).

Practise with real exam questions

The DfE publishes every past KS2 test, with mark schemes, for free.

KS2 Arithmetic (SATs) past papers