A collection of some of the best new A level maths questions that really test and push students knowledge, understanding and ability. These are the new, unique and often multi-topic questions that teachers think are great and which students students really need to get to grips with for the new style maths A level. I make all my students complete these and then we dissect each of these in class to look for; the clues in the question that tell us what to do, the recall and knowledge that students need to bring to complete the question, and the work required to put into the question to get to the answer. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. Includes all exam paper references so you can check the markschemes too. Includes pdf and Word document files. **I’ll continue to more to this document as more questions become available so this resource includes a link to access the most recent version of this document

Loads of files here… MathsTricks.ppt is a collection of some of the best, most engaging, maths questions and ideas that I’ve collected over several years of high school maths teaching. Use as lesson starters, discussion points, presentation/assembly materials or whatever other purpose you desire. Files here include… MathsTricks.ppt is a version to print, laminate and create a set of A5 playing cards where each card is one ‘trick’, like a magician! Includes both an editable Powerpoint file and a PDF. MathsTricksICT.ppt is a version of Maths Tricks to display on the whiteboard. This is same as above but with teacher’s notes removed. Includes both an editable Powerpoint file and a PDF. LinksAndNotes.doc is notes, answers and further links (YouTube videos etc.) for each trick. Includes both an editable Word file and a PDF. GreatQuestionsInMaths.docx is a small but great collection of interesting maths questions suitable for GCSE higher or A Level students. No answers here I’m afraid but some can be found in the links & notes document for the main Maths Tricks file. Includes both an editable Word file and a PDF. All of the Summer Fayre documents are a probability task extension of the original question Maths Tricks question. Files here include… SummerFayre.ppt is a single slide containing the original question TheSummerFayreAnswerAndNotes.doc explains the maths behind this game including the probability of winning / losing and the probability of the school winning / losing over multiple plays. TheSummerFayrePrompts.doc is a few starter questions that you could ask students to get them thinking about the maths behind this game. TheSummerFayreSimulation.xlsx is an Excel file demonstration of the probabilities behind playing this game many times.

Perfect for top-end GCSE or A level/GCSE consolidation. Here’s a well laid out task consisting of 20 questions, being 4 questions based on each of; Pythagoras Standard right-angled trig Sine rule Cosine rule Sine rule for area. As well as a couple of straightforward questions there’s also real clanger or two of a question in each section. This will keep students busy for a full lesson. Answers included. Tried and tested, and corrected(!), in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original powerpoint file for easy editing.

Here’s seven triple-simultaneous-equations plus one quadruple-simultaneous-equation. A great extension task for more able students (whilst others consolidate and ensure that they understand regular, two-simulataneous-equations). Whilst harder, these all have whole number solutions (bar the last triple question) so that students can focus on the maths and proceedures without getting bogged down in numberwork. Includes answers. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original Word file for easy editing.

Here’s a well thought out set of binomial expansion questions for Year 13 students (A level Year 2). Includes the general formula at top of page then eight questions for learning plus another eight for more practice plus an* application of* style question to finish. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original word file for easy editing.

This is an activity for Yr13 pupils to check and extend their understanding of vectors. This is a a set of questions to really check understanding of several vector concepts including magnitudes of vectors, vector equations of lines, scalar product and closest distance between a point and a line. Answers and workings included for our suggested vectors but you, the teacher, could choose to ask students for their own vector suggestions which would give completely different answers. Bonus Resource 1: Notes on Vectors. This is the set of ‘notes on a page’ that I give to my students doing this topic. Bonus Resource 2: Vector Triangles in 3D Space - A great problem-solving-style, simple question with many approaches and possible answers; Sort these triangles into scalene, isosceles and equilateral. Which are right angled too? The task involves using lots of those key vector techniques that students need to be able to perform. Sorry, no answers here this time though. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes all files as pdfs as well as the original word files for easy editing.

Video guide to this resource at [](Video guide to this resource at ). This file has been adapted from the original Easy Report Writer to make writing UCAS reports quick and easy. There are sections for comments including Work Ethic, Teamwork, Written, Verbal, Degree and Tail. With this file you can write up to 5 UCAS subject reports at a time. There is a premium version of this file available too which has more comments and enables you to write up to 35 reports at a time. Upgrade to the full version of this resource at https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/easy-ucas-report-writer-premium-11845636. This file will save you hours. With this Lite version of this resource you can write reports on up to 5 students at a time. We do recommend reading your subject reports through to check that they flow well and that use of name vs he/she reads well. Please aim to create your own UCAS comments rather than using the example ones here. If you find this useful please leave a positive comment. An important note… This file uses macros to do all the fancy stuff, but macros do work on Macs so you’ll need to run this file on a windows computer. It’s an Apple thing and is the same with all macro-based files. Any issues at all, please contact me at .

Video guide to this resource at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ7yDRU1vxg. This file has been adapted from the original Easy Report Writer to make writing UCAS reports quick and easy. There are sections for comments including Work Ethic, Teamwork, Written, Verbal, Degree and Tail. With this ‘Premium’ version of this file you can write up to 35 UCAS subject reports at a time. Please create your own UCAS comments rather than using the example ones here and make sure that your reports conform to format and requirements of your school/organisation. Once you’ve created your comment banks, this file will save you hours and hours. If you find this useful please leave a positive comment. An important note… This file uses macros to do all the fancy stuff, but macros don’t work on Macs so you’ll need to run this file on a windows computer. It’s an Apple thing and is the same with all macro-based files. Any issues at all, please contact me at grahamcolman@colmanweb.co.uk.

Video guide to this resource at www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ7yDRU1vxg. Write reports easily with this template/writing frame. It will save you hours - aim to create a set of good reports in 20mins per class. With this full version of this resource you can write reports on up to 35 students at a time and this version includes more ready made comments. An important note… This file uses macros to do all the fancy stuff, but macros don’t work on Macs so you’ll need to run this file on a windows computer. It’s an Apple thing and is the same with all macro-based files. Use the existing maths comments or add/replace with your own, following the instructions and formats given. When report day comes around just choose the relevant comments by typing a number and hitting ‘create&save’ and your reports are written. Simply copy and paste into eportal/sims etc. This download includes a BONUS RESOURCE – Easy UCAS Report Writer ‘Lite’ Excel file. This file is based on the same style as the original report writer but is adapted for writing UCAS reports with sections for comments including Work Ethic, Teamwork, Written, Verbal, Degree and Tail. With this file you can write up to 5 UCAS subject reports at a time. There is a premium version of this file available too which has more comments and enables you to write up to 35 reports at a time. Upgrade to the full version of this resource at https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/easy-ucas-report-writer-premium-11845636. If you find this useful please leave a positive comment. Any issues at all, please contact me at grahamcolman@colmanweb.co.uk.

A lovely quiz to check pupils understanding of some key concepts from the AQA Core 3 module. Here are 12 rich-maths questions covering the typical major misconceptions. Includes answers. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original word file for easy editing.

This is a great, open ended, rich maths task which encourages students to understand connections - relationships - between many areas of maths. Here is… a number machine, algebra, graph, sentence, sequence and input/output table for students to investigate… and hopefully come to the conclusion that all represent the same relationship in different ways. I’ve tried this a few times with Yr7, 8, 9 students and, although they start off slow and I keep my own input to a minimum, they usually get there and appreciate it all the more after a while. If the class is really struggling then you could use the suggestions for ways to investigate which are on slide 4. To extend this rich, open task students could create their own set of cards. The file ‘Relationships’ is the main activity and the ‘LessonPlan’ goes with this. I suggest print out the main page for pairs of students as well as projecting from of class. A subsequent activity / lesson could be students to complete the number machine, table, sentence and graph from the algebra. The file ‘Relationships2’ are the resources that you’ll need for this with the file ‘LessonPlan2’ as the lesson plan. Tried and tested, and corrected(!), in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf files as well as the original powerpoint and word files for easy editing.

Pupils earn points by solving the equations. Easier questions earn less points so pupils self-differentiate and decide their own level of difficulty for themselves (although the teacher should check that they do this sensibly of course!). I tell pupils that those with most points after a given time period win. The competitive nature of this activity encourages pupils to push themselves more than they would usually and I’m always pleasantly surprised at what equations they can do here. Answers to the equations are included. as well as an easier version (v3) with no negative answers. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes a files as well as the original word files for easy editing.

A decent set of reverse percentage questions for pupils to check their knowledge and understanding of this topic. All questions involve sensible numbers so that students can focus on the task at hand without getting bogged down in the numberwork, this also means that able students can complete this with or without a calculator. Includes answers. Tried and tested, and corrected(!), in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original word file for easy editing.

Here’s a set of really quite challenging percentage questions to really test students understanding of percentages as well as their mathematical reasoning skills. Tried and tested in the classroom many times but I’ve left the answers to you, the teacher, this time around. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original word file for easy editing.

This was found at a local supermarket by a pupil with very good knowledge of percentages! Show this image to the class and ask them what the mistake is. A great discussion point and lesson starter. Large and small image downloads here.

A well structured set of questions to check students understanding and abilities in… Percentage of, Percentage increase & decrease, Reverse percentage, Compound interest Includes answers. Ideal for Yr7-9 students. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original word file for easy editing.

A match-up activity for students to learn about the history of maths. Students match up famous mathematicians names, pictures, dates, 'most famous for', 'something else' and 'about the person' cards. I suggest allow students to use laptops etc to support. Designed to instigate knowledge and awareness of some of the most famous mathematicians as well as learning methods for finding info online. My Year 12 groups really enjoy this and we drop aspects of some of the mathematicians into appropriate topics. Tried and tested in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original powerpoint file for easy editing.

Three match-up puzzles for pupils to practice chain rule. First is straightforward polynomial brackets, second involves square roots and negative &/or fractional indices, the third involves exponentials and trig functions. The stars indicate the questions but you can choose whether or not to tell students this. Answers included together with blank templates for pupils to create their own puzzles. Tried and tested, and corrected(!), in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original powerpoint file for easy editing. Also available as complete set together with chain and product rule match-ups.

Three match-up puzzles for pupils to practice product rule. First is straightforward polynomial brackets, second involves square roots and negative &/or fractional indices, the third involves exponentials and trig functions. The stars indicate the questions but you can choose whether or not to tell students this. Answers included together with blank templates for pupils to create their own puzzles. Tried and tested, and corrected(!), in the classroom many times. This download includes a pdf file as well as the original powerpoint file for easy editing. Also available as complete set together with chain rule and quotient rule match-ups.