Is my child ready for Algebra 1?

A free, no-signup way to find out in about 15 minutes — then a clear 4-week plan to close any gaps before they turn into a hard year.

Why algebra struggles usually start earlier

Most students don't struggle with Algebra 1 because algebra itself is hard. They struggle because something earlier never got solid — fractions, negative numbers, multi-step equations, the coordinate plane, or how to read a word problem. Math is cumulative, so one unfinished topic from Pre-Algebra quietly becomes "my child is bad at algebra" a year later.

From the outside it's hard to tell which gap is the culprit. Grades say "math" without saying where the problem lives. Worksheets feel random. Tutoring is expensive and slow to diagnose. The first useful move isn't more practice — it's finding the specific gap.

The skills a readiness check should test

"Ready for algebra" isn't one skill; it's a short list of foundations. A good readiness check looks at each of these directly:

• Integers and negative numbers — comparing, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing signed numbers.
• Fractions and decimals — operations, converting between forms, and reasoning about size.
• Ratios, rates, and percents — the proportional reasoning algebra word problems lean on.
• Order of operations and expressions — evaluating and simplifying without losing a sign or a step.
• Solving equations — one- and two-step equations, then multi-step.
• The coordinate plane — plotting points and reading position, the bridge into graphing lines.

A gap in any one of these is normal and fixable. The point of a readiness check is to name it precisely so the next few weeks of practice actually target it.

How the ClearMath readiness check works

1. Take the 15-minute placement check. 30 questions across Pre-Algebra and Algebra I readiness. It's not a graded test — it's a routing tool that finds where to start.
2. See exactly which topics need work. A clear, parent-readable gap report shows what's solid and what isn't, with no jargon and a recommended starting course.
3. Follow a 4-week repair plan. Four lessons sequenced in curriculum order, targeting the actual gaps. Print it, download it, or copy it — the plan is yours.
4. Practice, review, and build. Each lesson includes practice and a checkpoint. Missed problems flow into a Review queue so nothing slips. An optional AI tutor offers hints when your child gets stuck — never the final answer on a quiz or checkpoint.

What you get — and what we don't claim

You get a specific gap report (topics named one by one, strong areas, weak areas, a starting-course recommendation), a 4-week plan you can keep, and free access to the full lesson library. Progress saves locally on your device, and you can export it as a file for a backup.

What we won't promise: a readiness check is a snapshot, not a guarantee of a grade. It tells you where to start, honestly. There's no signup wall and nothing to buy to see your results.

If the check shows gaps: where to go next

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my child is ready for Algebra 1?

They're ready when the skills algebra leans on are solid: integers and negative numbers, fractions and decimals, ratios and percents, order of operations, multi-step equations, and the coordinate plane. The fastest honest check is a placement diagnostic that tests those skills directly rather than relying on a single grade. The free ClearMath check does this in about 15 minutes.

What math should a child know before Algebra 1?

Comfort with integer operations, fractions and decimals, ratios, rates and percents, order of operations, basic expressions, one- and two-step equations, and plotting points on the coordinate plane. These are Pre-Algebra topics; a gap in any one tends to surface later as trouble with algebra.

Is the readiness check really free?

Yes. The check and the 4-week plan are free — no account, no email, and no credit card to take it and see your results.

What happens after the check?

You get a parent-readable gap report naming the specific topics that are solid and the ones that need work, plus a recommended starting course and a 4-week repair plan you can print, download, or copy.