ACT Math · 17% of the test
Elementary Algebra
Elementary Algebra covers solving single-variable linear equations and inequalities, basic polynomial operations, and substitution into algebraic expressions.
What's actually tested
Items in this category test the algebra you would have learned by the end of an Algebra 1 course. They are direct, short, and reward fluent algebraic manipulation.
Subtopics
Click any subtopic to see filed practice questions, worked solutions, and a short tactical guide.
Single-variable linear equations
Solving ax + b = c and similar equations.
Polynomial addition and multiplication
Adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomials including FOIL.
Substitution and evaluation
Plugging values into an expression and simplifying.
Absolute value equations and inequalities
Solving |expression| = k and |expression| < k.
Sample practice questions in this topic
- Easy Single-variable linear equations If 3x + 5 = 14, what is the value of x?
- Easy Single-variable linear equations If 3x + 8 = -10, what is the value of x?
- Medium Single-variable linear equations If 3x − 6 = 9, what is the value of x?
- Medium Single-variable linear equations If 6x − 9 = -33, what is the value of x?
- Medium Single-variable linear equations If 5x + 8 = 53, what is the value of x?
- Hard Single-variable linear equations If 8x − 5 = 35, what is the value of x?
- Easy Single-variable linear equations If 7x − 11 = -4, what is the value of x?
- Easy Single-variable linear equations If 4x + 0 = -36, what is the value of x?
- Medium Single-variable linear equations If 3x − 3 = -27, what is the value of x?
- Medium Single-variable linear equations If 7x + 1 = -48, what is the value of x?
- Medium Single-variable linear equations If 4x − 5 = 11, what is the value of x?
- Hard Single-variable linear equations If 8x + 1 = 49, what is the value of x?
See all 56 questions in Elementary Algebra →
How students lose points here
Distribution sign errors and forgetting to flip the inequality when multiplying by a negative. The good news: nearly every common mistake on this topic comes from one of three or four recurring patterns. Spend an hour reviewing those patterns and your accuracy on this topic typically jumps two or three percentage points immediately, which on a balanced test is worth ten to twenty scaled score points depending on your band.
How to study this topic
Drill until algebraic manipulation is automatic. There is no substitute for repetition here; understanding alone is not fast enough on test day. A reasonable session looks like fifteen practice items, untimed, with you reading the worked solution after every one — even the questions you got right, because being right by accident teaches nothing. After two or three such sessions, attempt a timed mini-set of ten items. If your accuracy stays above 80%, move on. If it doesn't, drill the lowest-accuracy subtopic for another session before you push forward.