What does a child have to do to find a sequence term in the 11+?

Use a stated or inferred linear rule to find a named term. It is one of 55 named maths skills in the 11+, in the number strand, and this page carries 1 interactive exercise that practises it.

What is the trap in an 11+ find a sequence term question?

Term 10 sits 9 steps along, not 10 steps along. The wrong answers on this skill are built out of that, not out of random numbers, so it is worth naming out loud before your child meets it under time pressure.

What can I say if my child is stuck on find a sequence term?

Point at the next move rather than explaining the whole rule. Count how many steps separate term 1 from term 10, and note that it is one fewer than 10.

What is not part of find a sequence term in the 11+?

The skill map draws the line here: One linear sequence only. A question past that line is testing a different named maths skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.

Which other 11+ skills should we practise alongside find a sequence term?

The number strand holds 13 skills that are tested together, and the pages next to find a sequence term are multiply whole numbers or decimals, read place value and round to a stated place. Each has its own exercise and its own link, and none of them needs an account.

How can my child practise find a sequence term for free?

Use Frog Sequence Hop, embedded on this page. It is the exercise the skill map attaches to find a sequence term, it runs in the browser with no account to make, these exercises are not scored and do not save learner records. The separate quiz sends answers for marking and shows a score, without saving an assessment record. It also has its own link, so you can send it to a child without sending them anywhere else first.

Maths · Number

Find a sequence term

Use a stated or inferred linear rule to find a named term.

Watch the worked example

Open the video page

Jump to Any Term

This video shows how to use a linear rule to find a particular term in a number sequence. Watch an 11+ maths question solved step by step.

0:00 / 2:37

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Read the transcript

Keep practising with Trace Learn. Find topics to practise next

Quick quiz: Find a sequence term

10 questions, with feedback after each one. No sign-up needed.

Read the questions in this quiz

Question 1
Ivy writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 17?
Term 1
Value
44
Term 2
Value
53
Term 3
Value
62
Term 4
Value
71
Term 5
Value
80
Position Value
Term 1 44
Term 2 53
Term 3 62
Term 4 71
Term 5 80
- A.188
- B.197
- C.179
- D.153
Question 2
Noah writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 26?
Term 1
Value
47
Term 2
Value
61
Term 3
Value
75
Term 4
Value
89
Term 5
Value
103
Position Value
Term 1 47
Term 2 61
Term 3 75
Term 4 89
Term 5 103
- A.383
- B.397
- C.411
- D.364
Question 3
Priya writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 24?
Term 1
Value
28
Term 2
Value
42
Term 3
Value
56
Term 4
Value
70
Term 5
Value
84
Position Value
Term 1 28
Term 2 42
Term 3 56
Term 4 70
Term 5 84
- A.350
- B.364
- C.420
- D.336
Question 4
Ivy writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 15?
Term 1
Value
5
Term 2
Value
19
Term 3
Value
33
Term 4
Value
47
Term 5
Value
61
Position Value
Term 1 5
Term 2 19
Term 3 33
Term 4 47
Term 5 61
- A.215
- B.210
- C.187
- D.201
Question 5
Omar writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 26?
Term 1
Value
37
Term 2
Value
51
Term 3
Value
65
Term 4
Value
79
Term 5
Value
93
Position Value
Term 1 37
Term 2 51
Term 3 65
Term 4 79
Term 5 93
- A.401
- B.364
- C.387
- D.373
Question 6
Rosa writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 19?
Term 1
Value
48
Term 2
Value
69
Term 3
Value
90
Term 4
Value
111
Term 5
Value
132
Position Value
Term 1 48
Term 2 69
Term 3 90
Term 4 111
Term 5 132
- A.399
- B.447
- C.405
- D.426
Question 7
Noah writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 15?
Term 1
Value
50
Term 2
Value
64
Term 3
Value
78
Term 4
Value
92
Term 5
Value
106
Position Value
Term 1 50
Term 2 64
Term 3 78
Term 4 92
Term 5 106
- A.210
- B.260
- C.246
- D.232
Question 8
Priya writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 23?
Term 1
Value
39
Term 2
Value
48
Term 3
Value
57
Term 4
Value
66
Term 5
Value
75
Position Value
Term 1 39
Term 2 48
Term 3 57
Term 4 66
Term 5 75
- A.207
- B.246
- C.228
- D.237
Question 9
Rosa writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 16?
Term 1
Value
11
Term 2
Value
32
Term 3
Value
53
Term 4
Value
74
Term 5
Value
95
Position Value
Term 1 11
Term 2 32
Term 3 53
Term 4 74
Term 5 95
- A.305
- B.326
- C.347
- D.336
Question 10
Rosa writes down the first 5 terms of a number sequence. What is term 22?
Term 1
Value
47
Term 2
Value
56
Term 3
Value
65
Term 4
Value
74
Term 5
Value
83
Position Value
Term 1 47
Term 2 56
Term 3 65
Term 4 74
Term 5 83
- A.245
- B.227
- C.236
- D.198

Position	Value
Term 1	44
Term 2	53
Term 3	62
Term 4	71
Term 5	80

Position	Value
Term 1	47
Term 2	61
Term 3	75
Term 4	89
Term 5	103

Position	Value
Term 1	28
Term 2	42
Term 3	56
Term 4	70
Term 5	84

Position	Value
Term 1	5
Term 2	19
Term 3	33
Term 4	47
Term 5	61

Position	Value
Term 1	37
Term 2	51
Term 3	65
Term 4	79
Term 5	93

Position	Value
Term 1	48
Term 2	69
Term 3	90
Term 4	111
Term 5	132

Position	Value
Term 1	50
Term 2	64
Term 3	78
Term 4	92
Term 5	106

Position	Value
Term 1	39
Term 2	48
Term 3	57
Term 4	66
Term 5	75

Position	Value
Term 1	11
Term 2	32
Term 3	53
Term 4	74
Term 5	95

Position	Value
Term 1	47
Term 2	56
Term 3	65
Term 4	74
Term 5	83

Practise it now

The frog can only land on a stone that carries on the pattern. Tap the lily pads to fill both blank stones.

This exercise practises find a sequence term alongside its own main skill, Number Sequences.

Loading the interactive exercise. Nothing you do here is saved or scored.

A worked example

One question of the kind this skill is tested with, worked all the way through: the reasoning, and what the wrong answers are there to catch.

Jumping to a term further down a sequence

Omar writes down the first 4 terms of a number sequence. What is term 10?

The Position column numbers the terms; the Value column holds them.

Term 1

Value: 10

Term 2

Value: 17

Term 3

Value: 24

Term 4

Value: 31

Position	Value
Term 1	10
Term 2	17
Term 3	24
Term 4	31

Answer: 73

How you get there

Term 1 is 10 and each step adds 7, and there are 9 steps from term 1 to term 10, so the value is $10 + 9$ x 7, which equals 73.

Why the other answers tempt

Term 10 sits 9 steps along, not 10 steps along.

If they are stuck, say this

Count how many steps separate term 1 from term 10, and note that it is one fewer than 10.

Now do it live in Frog Sequence Hop

Kitchen-table script for parents

Try this together

A friendly mini script for the breakfast table, school run or a quiet two minutes. Read it aloud as written, or make it your own.

Ready? Let's have a go at Find a sequence term together. Take a look at the picture. Here is what matters: The Position column numbers the terms; the Value column holds them. Here comes the question: Omar writes down the first 4 terms of a number sequence. What is term 10? Before we race ahead, let us choose one good first step. Here is a helpful clue: Count how many steps separate term 1 from term 10, and note that it is one fewer than 10. Nice work. Now let us follow the thinking: Term 1 is 10 and each step adds 7, and there are 9 steps from term 1 to term 10, so the value is 10 + 9 x 7, which equals 73. So our answer is: 73. There is one sneaky trap to watch for: Term 10 sits 9 steps along, not 10 steps along. Can you show me that first move again in your own words? Brilliant. No rush; we are practising a method you can reuse, not trying to win a speed contest.

What this exercise is doing

Frog Sequence Hop

The frog can only land on a stone that carries on the pattern. Tap the lily pads to fill both blank stones.

This engine’s own main skill is Number Sequences. It practises find a sequence term alongside it.

The trap here is to spot the first gap and assume every gap is the same. From 3 to 6 the gap is 3, but from 6 to 12 the gap is 6, and from 12 to 24 it is 12. When the gaps themselves keep growing, stop adding and start looking for a multiplier: 3 times 2 is 6, 6 times 2 is 12, 12 times 2 is 24, so the sequence doubles and the next terms are 48 and 96. The general strategy for any sequence is to write the differences underneath first. Equal differences mean add the same number every time. Growing differences mean try multiplying, and if that fails try squares or a two-step rule such as double then add one.

What to say if they get stuck

Work out what happens between each pair of stones. Write the jumps down: 3 to 6, 6 to 12, 12 to 24.
The jumps are 3, then 6, then 12. They are not the same size, so this is not an adding sequence.
Each stone is the one before it multiplied by 2. So the next stone is 24 times 2.

Open Frog Sequence Hop on its own page to share it

How find a sequence term differs from the skills beside it

The same exercise practises several skills, and telling them apart is often the difficulty rather than the exercise itself. On this page the skill is: use a stated or inferred linear rule to find a named term, and it stops where one linear sequence only.

Continue a number sequence
Infer and apply one arithmetic sequence rule. Excludes alternating rules and algebraic nth terms.
Continue a letter or number sequence
Infer and apply one or two repeating symbolic rules. Record rule count and alternation separately.

Related maths skills

Add whole numbers or decimalsCalculate one addition with aligned place values.
Calculate a whole-number operationCalculate one stated addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
Compare and order numbersOrder or compare a bounded set of integers or decimals.
Divide whole numbers or decimalsCalculate one division and interpret any remainder as stated.
Evaluate a mixed expressionApply operation order to a supplied numerical expression.
Multiply whole numbers or decimalsCalculate one multiplication using place-value reasoning or a written method.
Read place valueState the value of one digit in an integer or decimal.
Round to a stated placeRound one integer or decimal to the stated place value.
Scale by a power of tenMultiply or divide a number by 10, 100, or 1000 using place value.
Solve a one-step number problemChoose and perform one operation in a short context.
Subtract whole numbers or decimalsCalculate one subtraction with aligned place values.

All maths 11+ skills

Questions parents ask about find a sequence term

What this skill involves, common mistakes and ways to practise it at home.

: Use a stated or inferred linear rule to find a named term. It is one of 55 named maths skills in the 11+, in the number strand, and this page carries 1 interactive exercise that practises it.
: Term 10 sits 9 steps along, not 10 steps along. The wrong answers on this skill are built out of that, not out of random numbers, so it is worth naming out loud before your child meets it under time pressure.
: Point at the next move rather than explaining the whole rule. Count how many steps separate term 1 from term 10, and note that it is one fewer than 10.
: The skill map draws the line here: One linear sequence only. A question past that line is testing a different named maths skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.
: The number strand holds 13 skills that are tested together, and the pages next to find a sequence term are multiply whole numbers or decimals, read place value and round to a stated place. Each has its own exercise and its own link, and none of them needs an account.
: Use Frog Sequence Hop, embedded on this page. It is the exercise the skill map attaches to find a sequence term, it runs in the browser with no account to make, these exercises are not scored and do not save learner records. The separate quiz sends answers for marking and shows a score, without saving an assessment record. It also has its own link, so you can send it to a child without sending them anywhere else first.

Knowing which maths topic to practise is most of the work

A free diagnostic covers arithmetic, fractions, geometry, measure and data handling, and comes back with the topics to spend the next few weeks on.