← GCSE Mathematics

A17 Solving linear equations

Currently Developing · last touched 2026-10-19

Return condition met on 10 and 12 Oct (cold minus-bracket equation, every line valid): proposed secure, for adjudication. Not yet seen inside a timed section.

Every change

WhenChangeEvidenceSession
2026-10-20Developing → Developing19 Oct cold warm-up: 5(x-2)=3x+8 solved unaided, every step on its own line, x=9; first item of the session.session 119
2026-10-16Developing → Developing16 Oct, non-calc, unaided: 4(x-1) less than 8 solved 4x-4 less than 8, 4x less than 12, x less than 3, 3/3 lines valid, 2 min. Bracket expansion inside a solve now right untimed; the 14 Oct timed version was 4x-1.session 111
2026-10-14Developing → Developingpaper #9 Q5: 1/3, loss=knowledge — first timed sighting: bracket expansion multiplied only the first term; the solve from her own line was validsession 104
2026-10-12Developing → Developing12 Oct, session 95, cold, non-calc, worded expand the bracket, collect the plain numbers first, then solve: 12 - 2(x - 5) = 4x - 2 gave 12 - 2x + 10 = 4x - 2, 12 - 2x + 12 = 4x, 24 - 2x = 4x, 24 = 6x, 4 = x, x = 4. 6/6 lines valid, expansion sign right with no prompt, 6 min, 1/1 unaided. Second separate day with every line valid (first 10 Oct): meets the return condition recorded on 9 Oct; proposed secure, for adjudication. Retrieval outcome: correct.standalone
2026-10-10Developing → Developing10 Oct, cold, non-calc, worded 'expand the bracket, collect the plain numbers first, then solve': 9 - 2(x - 4) = 3x + 2 -> '9 - 2x + 8 = 3x + 2, 17 - 2x = 3x + 2, 15 - 2x = 3x, 15 = 5x, 3 = x'. 5/5 lines valid, expansion sign and collecting line right, 7 min, 1/1 unaided. First of the two separate days needed after the 9 Oct demotion. Retrieval outcome: correct.standalone
2026-10-09Exam-ready → DevelopingDemotion: collecting line wrong cold on a second day. 9 Oct, non-calc: 8 - 3(x - 2) = 2x + 4 -> line 1 right, then '3x + 6 = 2x + 12', x = 6 (wrong); right after 5 prompts in 11 min. Same day: 7 - 2(3x - 4) -> '-6x + 15' first time; fresh 10 - 2(x - 3) = 3x + 1, no hints -> four valid lines, x = 3, 5 min. 8 Oct: minus lost when collecting, 5 prompts. Session 90. Retrieval outcome: retry.standalone
2026-10-08Exam-ready → Exam-ready8 Oct, cold, non-calc: expand and simplify 5 - 3(x + 2). Expansion 5 - 3x - 6 right first time, sign unprompted; simplified line written as 3x - 1 (minus lost). Said yes to a failing x = 1 check with no sums; could not rewrite the line when asked. Then 5 - 6 gave minus 1, an either/or gave minus 3x, and she wrote the correct line. Right after 5 prompts, 21 min.session 88
2026-10-07Exam-ready → Exam-readyExam practice 7 Oct (test #7, attempt #15, timed) Q5: 5(x - 2) = 2x + 11 solved in four typed lines; 3/3 in 2 min of a 3 min guide, unaided. No minus-bracket item on the paper, so that loose end is untested. Marking only: no status change. Retrieval outcome: correct.standalone
2026-10-05Exam-ready → Exam-readyMixed round Q5, non-calc, 'you must show your working': 7 − 2(x+3) = 4x − 11 → six lines, answer 2 right, but line 1 '7 - 2x + 6' (sign) and line 2 '2x + 6 = 4x - 4' invalid; a valid chain only after 5 prompts, incl. an either/or to remove −2x. Fresh item unaided at the end: 9 − 4(x+1) = 2x − 13 → six valid lines, x = 3.session 71
2026-09-25Exam-ready → Exam-ready25 Sep starter, non-calc, unlabelled: 3(2x−1) = 4x+9 → '6x - 3 = 4x + 9, x = 6'. Correct; expansion line written, collection line skipped again.session 46
2026-09-22Exam-ready → Exam-ready22 Sep starter, non-calc, no notes: labelled method marks only 4(x−1) = 2x+10 → 3 working lines then x = 7; unlabelled 6(x+1) = 4x+16 → 2 working lines then x = 5, collection line 2x = 10 written. Both correct.session 38
2026-09-21Exam-ready → Exam-ready21 Sep starter, non-calc, UNLABELLED: 5(x+2) = 3x+16 → 5x+10 = 3x+16, x = 3. Correct; expansion line written, the collection line (2x = 6) skipped.session 34
2026-09-18Exam-ready → Exam-ready18 Sep starter, non-calc, labelled method marks only: 4(x−2) = 3x+5 → 4x−8 = 3x+5, 4x = 3x+13, x = 13. Three lines of working written before the answer, unprompted.session 31
2026-09-14Exam-ready → Exam-ready12 Sep starter: 3(x+4) = 2(x−1) → x = −14, with 3x+12 = 2x−2 written out unprompted — the expansion line she skipped on the 8 Sep exam-ready retest.session 23
2026-09-08Secure → Exam-ready8 Sep starter: 5(x−3) = 2x+9 → x = 8, working written out, more than three weeks after securing on 13 Aug. Spaced re-test passed.session 11
2026-09-03Secure → Secure2 Sep starter: 4x + 7 = 2x − 3 → x = −5 correct, but answer only with no working, despite working being asked for. 20 days after securing on 13 Aug — one day short of the three-week spacing rule, and a single question — so not promoted to exam-ready.session 3

In papers

AttemptPaperQMarksNote
Exam practice — week 41 — GCSE Mathematics sectionexam-skills #753/3M1 5x − 10 = 2x + 11. M1 3x = 21 (via 5x = 2x + 21). A1 x = 7. Full working shown, 2 min against a 3 min guide.