Word problems feel hard because two skills are tested at once: reading and maths. Separate them and the fear disappears.
Step 1: read twice, write once
Read the problem once for the story, once for the numbers. Then write down what is given and what is asked — in symbols, not sentences. Half of all word-problem mistakes happen before any maths begins, in the translation from English to equation.
Step 2: name your unknowns
"Let the speed of the train be x km/h" is not a formality — it is the sentence that turns a story into algebra. If there are two unknowns, name both and look for two relationships.
Step 3: find the bridge
Every word problem hides one bridge equation: distance = speed × time, profit = SP − CP, work done = rate × time. Ask yourself: which formula connects what is given to what is asked?
Step 4: solve small, check units
Solve step by step, carrying units. If your answer for a person's age comes out as 240, the units and common sense are telling you a translation step went wrong — go back to step 1, not step 3.
Step 5: re-read the question
The classic lost mark: solving for x perfectly when the question asked for 2x, or the other person's share, or the total. Re-read the final line of the problem before writing your final answer.
Practice beats talent
Word problems come in about a dozen families — ages, mixtures, speed, work, percentages, profit and loss. Solve five from one family in a row and the pattern locks in. Generate a fresh practice set for any family free at 7Marks, and when one defeats you, 7Solve will show every step of the way out.