Learning Map

Multi-Step Problem Solving

With teacher support, make sense of multi-step problems involving larger numbers or mixed operations by breaking them into parts, choosing strategies, and checking answers for reasonableness — children at this stage are developing the habit with guidance; independent strategy evaluation comes later

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

If your child gets an answer that seems way too big or too small for a maths problem, do they notice and go back to check, even without you pointing it out?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Guided Multi-Step Problem Solvingages 6–7Age 7-8 problem-solving builds on age 6-7 problem-solving
Building sentencesages 4–6Cross-subject: making sense of multi-step word problems requires understanding that sentences express complete thoughts (reading comprehension foundation)
Estimating by roundingages 7–9Estimating and checking answers exercises problem-solving at this age
Missing number problems (age 7+)ages 7–8Multi-step A+S problems exercise breaking problems into parts
Trying a New Approachages 7–8Trying a different mathematical strategy when stuck is the maths-specific application of the universal strategy-switching habit
Multi-Step Problem Solvingthis skill · ages 7–8
Unlocks
Multi-Step Problem Solvingages 8–9Age 7-8 problem-sense-making is prerequisite to age 8-9 level
Choosing a Strategyages 9–10The LtL strategy evaluation skill (9-10) builds on the maths-specific checking habit developed with teacher support at 7-8

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M3A02medium confidenceYear 3 · Algebra

extend and apply knowledge of addition and subtraction facts to 20 to develop efficient mental strategies for computation with larger numbers without a calculator

AC9M2N04low confidenceYear 2 · Number

add and subtract one- and two-digit numbers, representing problems using number sentences and solve using part-part-whole reasoning and a variety of calculation strategies

AC9M4A02low confidenceYear 4 · Algebra

recall and demonstrate proficiency with multiplication facts up to 10 x 10 and related division facts; extend and apply facts to develop efficient mental strategies for computation with larger numbers without a calculator

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MAO-WM-01low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3
MA2-AR-01low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 2

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M3A02medium confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Algebra strand
VC2M4N06medium confidenceMathematics · Level 4 · Number strand
VC2M2N04medium confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Number strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

All Mathematical Thinking skills →