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Exam Tips for Exponential Graphs

Part of Exponential Graphs · GCSE GCSE Mathematics revision

This exam tips covers Exam Tips for Exponential Graphs within Exponential Graphs for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Exponential Graphs in Graphs for GCSE Mathematics with 11 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 7 of 10 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.

Topic position

Section 7 of 10

Practice

11 questions

Recall

10 flashcards

💡 Exam Tips for Exponential Graphs

y-intercept is always (0, 1) for y = aˣ — mark this point first when sketching
Curve never crosses x-axis — draw it approaching but never touching the x-axis
Growth vs decay: growth curves rise to the right; decay curves fall to the right
For y = k × aˣ: the y-intercept is (0, k), not (0, 1)
Compound interest: use the formula A = P(1 + r/100)ⁿ — the multiplier is (1 + r/100) for growth, (1 − r/100) for decay
Check if exponential: calculate the ratio of consecutive terms — if constant, it is exponential

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Exponential Graphs. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Identifying Exponential vs Linear Relationships Worked Examples The Power of Doubling Exponential Graph Essentials

Practice Questions for Exponential Graphs

The graph of y = 3ˣ always passes through which point?

A. (0, 0)
B. (0, 1)
C. (1, 0)
D. (3, 0)

1 markfoundation

Explain why the graph of y = 3ˣ has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0, and state the domain of values that y can take.

2 markshigher

Quick Recall Flashcards

What is the asymptote of y = aˣ?

The x-axis (the line y = 0) is a horizontal asymptote. For growth (a > 1): as x → -∞, y → 0 but never reaches 0 For decay (0 < a < 1): as x → +∞, y → 0 but never reaches 0 The graph gets infinitely close to the x-axis but never crosses it. y is always positive — it never equals zero.

What is the y-intercept of any graph y = aˣ?

The y-intercept is always (0, 1). Reason: when x = 0, y = a⁰ = 1 for any base a. This is true for y = 2ˣ, y = 3ˣ, y = 5ˣ, and even y = (0.5)ˣ. All exponential graphs of the form y = aˣ pass through (0, 1).

11 questions on Exponential Graphs — practise free

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Identifying Exponential vs Linear Relationships

Worked Examples