Conceptions and skills of fifth graders related to algebraic equation solving in three pilot tests

Algebra is a content domain in which Finnish pupils have the most problems achieving good results in international comparisons. In a development and research project on early algebra the authors are designing teaching materials and approaches to help primary school pupils construct important meanings and ideas connected to algebraic equation solving while still studying arithmetic. In
order to get a better picture of the state and development of the algebraic conceptions and skills of the Finnish primary school pupils, the authors are developing tests for large numbers of first, third and fifth graders. In this paper, the authors report on the fifth graders’ conceptions and skills related to algebraic equation solving in three pilot tests which were conducted to inform the
construction of the final test. Although a reasonable proportion of the pupils showed signs of different types of algebraic thinking, they only demonstrated an elementary understanding of the concept of variable.