A percentage is a fraction out of 100. The multiplier method is the most reliable approach: convert the percentage to a decimal and multiply. To find 35% of 240, multiply by 0.35 to get 84. On non-calculator papers, build up from 10% (divide by 10), then combine pieces to reach the target percentage.
Basic percentages
Tier: #Foundation #Higher
How to
Common topics that go alongside
Questions to practise
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Past paper questions
2024 Jun 1H GCSE Q7 (1 mark)
2024 Jun 2H GCSE Q6 (2 marks)
2024 Jun 3H GCSE Q14 (2 marks)
2023 Jun 2H GCSE Q6 (1 mark)
2023 Jun 3H GCSE Q2 (1 mark)
2022 Jun 1H GCSE Q3 (1 mark)
2022 Nov 1H GCSE Q10 (1 mark)
2022 Jun 3H GCSE Q4 (1 mark)
2022 Nov 3H GCSE Q25 (1 mark)
2019 Jun 1H GCSE Q12 (2 marks)
2019 Jun 2H GCSE Q11 (1 mark)
2019 Jun 3H GCSE Q10 (3 marks)
2018 Nov 1H GCSE Q3 (3 marks)
2018 Jun 2H GCSE Q4 (2 marks)
2018 Nov 2H GCSE Q4 (1 mark)
2018 Nov 3H GCSE Q4 (2 marks)
2017 Jun 2H GCSE Q6 (1 mark)
2017 Jun 2H GCSE Q17 (1 mark)
2017 Jun 3H GCSE Q4 (1 mark)
What the examiners say
- "When showing your calculation of a percentage, show a full method, for example instead of writing 12% of £70 = £8.40, write 12/100 × 70 = 8.40 or 0.12 × 70 = 8.40. This is so that in the event of an incorrect answer, marks for a correct method can be awarded."
- "This is a question where working was required to gain credit and was asked for in the demand. Anyone giving a correct answer without supportive working would score zero."
How you can quickly improve
- Re-read the question after finding a percentage — check whether it's asking for the percentage itself or the final value after the change.
- For reverse percentages, work out the multiplier used going forward, then divide by it: if 10% was removed, the multiplier was 0.9, so divide the result by 0.9.
- Convert the percentage to a decimal first (2.62% → 0.0262), then add 1 for growth or subtract from 1 for a decrease before using it as a multiplier.