Why not just teach moving a term and flipping its sign?

That is only the end result of a rule, and pupils who misremember the direction lose the whole item. Saying subtract the same number from both sides, step by step, shows exactly where a mistake happened.

Can the check be skipped?

No. Substituting back takes thirty seconds and is the only quick way to catch a side that was changed alone; at Primary 5 the marks are for the steps.

Primary 5 Maths: Simple Equations — Practice Paper 1 (10 Questions)

2026-10-29

Tutor Prep Guide · Primary Maths

The first equations paper drills doing the same thing to both sides: one-step addition and subtraction, one-step multiplication, two-step equations, and forming an equation from a word problem. Every item needs steps and a check.

Quick answer　10 questions, about 25 minutes. Items 01 and 02 are addition and subtraction equations, items 03 and 04 are multiplication equations, items 05 to 07 are two-step equations, items 08 and 09 form an equation from words, item 10 is the usual order slip.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10 questions
Suggested time	25 minutes
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: Primary 5 Maths: Simple Equations — Tutor Lesson Plan
Level	Primary 5

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationSolve: x + 7 = 15
FoundationSolve: x − 9 = 14
FoundationSolve: 4x = 36
FoundationSolve: 6x = 54
IntermediateSolve: 2x + 5 = 17
IntermediateSolve: 3x − 4 = 17
IntermediateSolve: 5x − 3 = 22
ChallengeA pen costs $x. Four pens are bought, $50 is paid and $14 change is given. Write an equation and find x.
ChallengeMing has x stamps, gives 5 to his brother and has 12 left, then splits the rest into 3 equal parts. How many in each part?
Error redoIn 2x + 5 = 17 the usual slip is dividing by 2 first. What is the correct first step, and what is x?

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	x = 8	Subtract 7 from both sides: x = 15 − 7 = 8, and 8 + 7 = 15 checks it.
2	x = 23	Add 9 to both sides: x = 14 + 9 = 23, and 23 − 9 = 14 checks it.
3	x = 9	4x means four x, so divide both sides by 4: x = 36 ÷ 4 = 9, and 4 × 9 = 36 checks it.
4	x = 9	Divide both sides by 6: x = 54 ÷ 6 = 9, and 6 × 9 = 54 checks it.
5	x = 6	Clear the +5 first: subtract 5 from both sides to get 2x = 12, then divide both sides by 2 for x = 6; 2 × 6 + 5 = 17.
6	x = 7	Add 4 to both sides to get 3x = 21, then divide by 3 for x = 7; 3 × 7 − 4 = 17.
7	x = 5	Add 3 to both sides for 5x = 25, then divide by 5 for x = 5; 5 × 5 − 3 = 22.
8	4x = 36, so x = 9	Start with let x be the price of one pen. The 36 spent, 50 minus 14, is the cost of four pens, so 4x = 36 and x = 9.
9	x = 17, 4 stamps each	The equation x − 5 = 12 gives x = 17; the question asks per part, so continue with 12 ÷ 3 = 4. Both steps must be written.
10	Subtract 5 from both sides; x = 6	Clear the addition first and divide last: subtract 5 for 2x = 12, then divide by 2 for x = 6. Dividing first gives x + 2.5 = 8.5 and only adds confusion.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

Find a tutor free

Questions and answers are written originally by the TutorZone team and are not taken from any school, publisher or examination authority paper. Every value is checked by computer.