Students simplify the fractions using prime factors and then they use a calculator to convert the fraction to a decimal. They then look for patterns in order to work out what the rule is for whether a fraction terminates or recurs. The aim is to spot that once in simplified form, a fraction will recur if the denominator has any factor other than 2s or 5s. This activity is based on one from a 1967 calculator handbook. It interleaves prime factorisation, simplifying fractions and using a calculator. It deepens students’ understanding of how fractions are simplified and leads to new knowledge about recurring decimals.

These activities are designed for a breakfast revision session prior to a non calculator GCSE paper. There are four levels (2 Foundation and 2 Higher) and I’ve provided an editable version in case you want to adapt for your students. Answers are provided. The calculator version is here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/breakfast-gcse-warm-ups-calculator-11909594

Two ‘print budget friendly’ revision activities for Foundation GCSE. Students work through the questions on the sheet to revise facts and procedures for a range of topics. These resources can be printed on a single side of A4 (or A3 if you prefer). If you find any errors please let me know (@mathsjem). Higher versions here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/higher-gcse-revision-workouts-11630772

This is a Pret homework for mean, median, mode and range. In Pret homeworks, pupils practise, recall, extend and think. These homeworks are typically followed in class with spelling or memory tests and discussions about research findings. For an editable version of this homework and Pret homeworks for many more topics, see http://prethomework.weebly.com/

This editable assessment is designed to identify gaps in key skills. It was designed for the end of Year 7/start of Year 8 but would work in other year groups. It might be used at the start of an intervention in order to identify focus areas. The assessment has been written to minimise printing costs (3 A4 sheets only) and marking time (there are no method marks so anyone can easily mark this). It’s also fairly EAL-friendly, with minimal wordy questions.

A basic worksheet on plotting graphs to find intersections. I adapted the linear sheet from another author to add tables of values as my students needed this scaffolding. I also made a short worksheet with two basic quadratic graphs to plot as all the other resources I found on this had trickier quadratics. These sheets are relatively short so I used both in a single lesson. I have included editable versions so teachers can adapt as necessary.

Designed for the new GCSE (AQA Higher), this worksheet is for practising equating coefficients in identities. Answers are provided, plus an editable version. EDIT October 2022: I’ve added an easier version as the last time I used this, my students found it ramped up in difficultly too quickly!

Worksheet and slides on gradient in the context of roads and ramps. Teacher notes/answers provided.

Each student is given 12 questions (on A4) and a clock face (on A3). Students write their workings and answers in each section of the clock. Every 5 minutes or so students should be moving on to the next question/section. If all goes to plan they complete all 12 questions in a one hour lesson. This revision activity allows students to practise working under timed conditions and keeps them on task and engaged throughout the revision lesson. I have made two versions, both with answers. In the first version, the questions are taken from old practice papers and are fairly straightforward. Some of my students got through these questions in 30 - 40 minutes. In the second version, the questions are much more challenging. These questions are taken from IYGB papers.

Each student is given 12 questions (on A4) and a clock face (on A3). Students write their workings and answers in each section of the clock. Every 5 minutes or so students should be moving on to the next question/section. If all goes to plan they complete all 12 questions in a one hour lesson. When I do this lesson I set a timer to sound every five minutes - every time the buzzer sounds I write an answer on the board. This revision activity allows students to practise working under timed conditions and keeps them on task and engaged throughout the revision lesson. These questions are fairly challenging so suitable for students working at a grade A. The questions are taken from IYGB papers.

Each student is given 12 questions (on A4) and a clock face (on A3). Students write their workings and answers in each section of the clock. Every 5 minutes or so students should be moving on to the next question/section. If all goes to plan they complete all 12 questions in a one hour lesson. When I do this lesson I set a timer to sound every five minutes - every time the buzzer sounds I write an answer on the board. This revision activity allows students to practise working under timed conditions and keeps them on task and engaged throughout the revision lesson. These questions are fairly challenging so suitable for students working at a grade A. The questions are taken from IYGB papers.

This worksheet is for students to practise sketching transformations of the graph of y = lnx, particularly combined transformations. Students often get confused with the order of combined transformations - the teacher notes at the end of the worksheet set out an easy method for ensuring the transformations are done in the correct order. Answers are provided - graphs done in Desmos - but please comment if you spot any mistakes.

This enrichment lecture is based on ideas from Simon Singh’s book ‘The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets’. It covers Fermat’s Last Theorem, Mersenne primes, perfect numbers, narcissistic numbers, binary numbers and rock-paper-scissors. The slides include footage from The Simpsons, Futurama and The Big Bang Theory. There are 6 videos embedded in the slides which I believe you will have to save alongside the presentation to make sure they run when clicked. If you’d like some help preparing speaking notes for these slides please tweet me (@mathsjem).

A set of 25 posters for a maths classroom highlighting key words that are commonly misspelt. Two different versions are available.

These resources are for mixed-topic calculator GCSE revision. This is my third set of calculator revision mats, the first set is here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-calculator-revision-mats-higher-and-foundation-12119735 and the second set is here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gcse-calculator-revision-mats-set-2-higher-and-foundation-12128297. There are four levels: Foundation is aimed at students working at Grades 1 - 3 Foundation Plus is aimed students working at Grades 3 - 5 Higher is aimed at students working at Grades 4 - 6 Higher Plus is aimed at students working at Grades 6 - 9. I printed onto two sheets of A3 (stapled) but they would work on A4 too. Answers are provided. Editable versions are provided in case you want to change some questions to suit the level of your students. Most of the questions were taken from the excellent CIMT resources. Hope these are helpful. If you spot an error please let me know (@mathsjem).

A quick quiz of key C2 facts, useful for a warm-up in a revision lesson. Aligned to the Edexcel specification. If you want an editable version, please see the Core AS library on my blog.

A collection of questions on the area under a graph taken from Edexcel Linked Pair GCSE papers. Mark schemes are included. Note that some question parts also include other topics.

Higher and Foundation Calculator GCSE Revision Mats. Questions come from old AQA Linked Pair Papers. Both Word and PDF versions are provided so you can edit if needed.

Each student is given 12 questions (on A4) and a clock face (on A3). Students write their workings and answers in each section of the clock. Every 5 minutes or so students should be moving on to the next question/section. If all goes to plan they complete all 12 questions in a one hour lesson. When I do this lesson I set a timer to sound every five minutes - every time the buzzer sounds I write an answer on the board. This revision activity allows students to practise working under timed conditions and keeps them on task and engaged throughout the revision lesson. The questions here are taken from IYGB papers. A bonus question is provided for early finishers. Answers are also provided.

Skills practice for GCSE 9 - 1. Students find the area under six graphs - the first four graphs involve straightforward shapes, the final two graphs require splitting the area into strips and estimating total area using trapeziums. Students are asked to include units to make them think about the outcome of finding areas (ie vertical axis units x horizontal axis units). Answers are included, plus an editable version of this resource.