What an 11th grader learns in math and reading

11th grade · Algebra II · the Common Core skills, in plain words · updated 2026-11-02

This is the whole list: 44 math skills and 12 reading skills an 11th grader is expected to learn, with the Common Core code next to each one. In math, 11th grade is mostly f-if, s-ic, a-apr. In reading, the weight is on language and literature.

Math: 11th grade (Algebra II)

N-CN

• Imaginary numbers N-CN.A.1 — i² = −1. Powers of i repeat every 4: i, −1, −i, 1.
• Complex number arithmetic N-CN.A.2 — Add real with real and i with i. To multiply, use brackets and i × i = −1.
• Complex solutions N-CN.C.7 — x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) ÷ 2a. A negative under the root gives ± i.

A-SSE

• Reading exponential models A-SSE.A.1 — 1.04 means 4% more. 0.85 means 15% less. The power says how often.
• Structure of polynomials A-SSE.A.2 — x⁴ is (x²)². Treat x² as one thing and factor.
• Series sums A-SSE.B.4 — Pair the ends for adding the same jump. Doubling terms: the sum is one less than the next term.

A-APR

• Multiplying polynomials A-APR.A.1 — Each term of the first times each term of the second. Then collect like powers.
• Remainder theorem A-APR.B.2 — Dividing by (x − k) leaves remainder p(k). Put k in for x.
• Zeros of polynomials A-APR.B.3 — Each bracket is 0 at one x. (x − 2) is 0 at x = 2. (x + 5) is 0 at x = −5.
• Polynomial identities A-APR.C.4 — Split the number into a round number plus or minus a small one. Use the pattern.
• Rational expressions A-APR.D.6 — Factor and cancel, or divide: the first term of the answer times the bottom, take away, repeat.

A-CED

• Equations from stories A-CED.A.1 — Count the doublings. For work together, add the parts done each hour.
• Exponential models A-CED.A.2 — Find the factor: the second value divided by the first. Keep multiplying.
• Constraints in a plan A-CED.A.3 — Check the plan in every limit. One broken limit rules it out.
• Rearranging harder formulas A-CED.A.4 — Put in what you know, then undo the operations around the letter one at a time.

A-REI

• Rational and radical equations A-REI.A.2 — Clear the fraction or square the root. Then check: squaring can add a false answer.
• Absolute value inequalities A-REI.B.3.1 — |ax − b| ≤ c means −c ≤ ax − b ≤ c. Solve both ends.
• Graphs that meet A-REI.D.11 — Where the curves cross, the two sides are equal. Undo the function to find x.

F-IF

• Repeats and turns F-IF.B.4 — A repeat every T minutes: add T. Each bracket gives one x-intercept.
• Domains of functions F-IF.B.5 — Under a root: 0 or more. Inside a log: more than 0.
• Rates on curves F-IF.B.6 — Work out f at both ends. Change in f over change in x.
• Graph families F-IF.C.7 — In y = A sin x + c, A is the height of the wave and c the middle line.
• Exponential forms F-IF.C.8 — 4 = 2², so 4^(t/6) = 2^(t/3). Split a yearly factor into 12 equal monthly ones.
• Comparing function types F-IF.C.9 — Find the start and the growth of each. Times beats plus in the end.

F-BF

• Combining functions F-BF.A.1 — Work out f and g at the number first, then multiply or take away.
• Stretches and flips F-BF.B.3 — −f(x) flips over the x-axis. f(−x) flips over the y-axis. 2f(x) stretches up.
• Inverse functions F-BF.B.4 — Undo f: take away first, then the cube root. Inverse swaps x and y.

F-LE

• Exponential equations F-LE.A.4 — Write both sides as a power of the same base, or take logs: x = log c ÷ log b.
• Laws of logarithms F-LE.A.4.1 — Logs turn times into plus and divide into minus.
• Reading logarithms F-LE.A.4.2 — log₂ 32 asks: 2 to what power is 32? Count the doublings.
• Estimating logarithms F-LE.A.4.3 — Find the powers of the base on either side. 1 over a power has a negative log.

F-TF

• Radians and degrees F-TF.A.1 — Radians = arc ÷ radius. π radians is 180°.
• Unit circle F-TF.A.2 — On the unit circle, cos is the x of the point and sin is the y.
• Six trig functions F-TF.A.2.1 — csc = 1 ÷ sin, sec = 1 ÷ cos, cot = 1 ÷ tan.
• Modeling with waves F-TF.B.5 — Amplitude is half the gap from top to bottom. The midline is halfway between.
• Pythagorean identity F-TF.C.8 — sin² + cos² = 1. Then pick the sign from the quadrant.

G-GPE

• Naming conic sections G-GPE.A.3.1 — Both squared, same number: circle. Both, different plus numbers: ellipse. One squared: parabola. A minus between: hyperbola.

S-ID

• Normal distribution S-ID.A.4 — 68% sit within 1 standard deviation of the mean, 95% within 2. A z-score counts the steps.

S-IC

• Samples and populations S-IC.A.1 — A random sample gives every member the same chance. Scale its share up to the whole.
• Checking a model S-IC.A.2 — Expected count is the chance times the number of tries. Rare in the model means surprising.
• Surveys and experiments S-IC.B.3 — An experiment assigns a treatment at random. An observational study only watches.
• Margin of error S-IC.B.4 — The true value is likely within the margin: add it and take it away.
• Comparing treatments S-IC.B.5 — Count how often shuffling alone gave a difference that big.
• Judging data reports S-IC.B.6 — Ask who was counted, how many, and how the question was asked.

Reading: 11th grade

Language

• Usage conventions L.11-12.1a — Usage is a matter of convention, and conventions change.
• Hyphen use L.11-12.2a — Hyphenate two words that work as one adjective before a noun: a well-known author.
• Context clues L.11-12.4a — Infer from position, function and the whole text.
• Word families L.11-12.4b — conceive, conception, conceivable.
• Hyperbole and paradox L.11-12.5a — A paradox seems to contradict itself but holds a truth.
• Nuances in meaning L.11-12.5b — Similar denotation, different connotation.

Literature

• Interacting themes RL.11-12.2 — Two themes can build on each other.
• Author's choices RL.11-12.3 — Why did the author set it there, or start the story there?
• Satire and understatement RL.11-12.6 — What is really meant is different from what is said.

Informational text

• Interacting central ideas RI.11-12.2 — How do two ideas build on each other across the text?
• Style and content RI.11-12.6 — How do style and content add power or beauty?
• Legal and public reasoning RI.11-12.8 — Evaluate the premises, purposes and arguments.

Reading practice includes 30 short texts at this level, among them 6 science and 6 history passages, with questions that check understanding.

SAT: from 11th grade

From 7th grade, SAT practice can be turned on as a third subject on the same login: a 16-question diagnostic sets a projected score out of 1600, then 10 questions a day on the SAT skills worth the most points, with hints that stop before the answer and timed checks at SAT pace.

How Teach Me uses this list

The check asks a few questions from this grade and the ones around it to find where your child really is, which is often not the grade on the door. Each day's set then comes from the skills they have not got yet. A skill counts as known when they get it right on their own, more than once. Parents see which skills are open and which are solid, and can point the practice at any topic above.

Teach Me is free. It follows the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts; high school math follows California's traditional pathway (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus).

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