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Ratio & ProportionExam Tips

Exam Tips: Reverse Percentages

Part of Reverse Percentages — GCSE Mathematics

This exam tips covers Exam Tips: Reverse Percentages within Reverse Percentages for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Reverse Percentages in Ratio & Proportion for GCSE Mathematics with 12 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 5 of 5 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.

Topic position

Section 5 of 5

Practice

12 questions

Recall

22 flashcards

💡 Exam Tips: Reverse Percentages

  • Identify what the given amount represents - is it after an increase or decrease?
  • Calculate the percentage the final amount represents of the original
  • Use division - divide the final amount by the multiplier
  • Always check your answer by working forwards
  • Look for key phrases: "after", "including", "final amount", "reduced to"
  • Be careful with direction - decrease means final < 100%, increase means final > 100%
  • Show your working - state what percentage the final amount represents

Keep building this topic

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

Worked ExamplesThe Original Price MysteryKey Facts: Reverse Percentages

Practice Questions for Reverse Percentages

A price after a 20% increase is £120. Which calculation finds the ORIGINAL price?

  • A. £120 × 1.20
  • B. £120 ÷ 1.20
  • C. £120 × 0.80
  • D. £120 - 20
1 markfoundation

A TV costs £360 after a 10% increase. A student says: 'The original price was £360 - 10% = £360 - £36 = £324.' Explain the error in the student's method. What is the correct original price?

2 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

Give three examples of when you'd use reverse percentages
Finding original prices before sales, pre-tax amounts, original values before depreciation
What is a reverse percentage?
Finding the original amount before a percentage change was applied

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Reverse Percentages