Area questions are where Level 2 papers put their biggest multi-step problems: find the area of a compound floor plan, subtract a doorway, work out how many packs of flooring, then the cost. This free worksheet builds from the formulas through compound shapes to those full exam-style problems.
Free to download, print and share for personal or classroom use. Answers included.
What’s in this worksheet
- Section A – Formulas (9 marks)
- Section B – Compound shapes (12 marks)
- Section C – In context (11 marks)
- Revise box with the rules and methods for the topic
- Worked answers for every question
Common mistakes on this topic
From our tutors’ marking and the most recent examiner reports – check your work against these:
- Using a sloping side as the triangle’s height. Height is the perpendicular distance from the base.
- Splitting a compound shape and then using the whole width for one of the parts.
- Forgetting the second coat, the 10% extra, or to round up to whole packs – the last step is where the final mark sits.
How to use it
- Print the worksheet (or work on screen) and attempt every question without looking at the answers. Give yourself a rough time limit – Level 2 exams are tight.
- Mark your work against the answer page. For maths, check the method as well as the final number; method marks are where most of the marks are.
- Read the ‘common mistakes’ notes below and check whether any of them happened to you. Then redo the questions you got wrong a day later.
Related free resources
- Perimeter Worksheet – Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- Circles Worksheet – Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- Level 2 Maths Mini Practice Paper 1 – Functional Skills Maths Level 2
- All free Functional Skills Maths Level 2 resources
Frequently asked questions
How do you find the area of a compound shape?
Split it into rectangles (and triangles if needed), work out the missing dimensions, find each area and add them. Or find the area of the surrounding rectangle and subtract the cut-out. Both are accepted.
What is the formula for the area of a trapezium?
Half the sum of the parallel sides multiplied by the distance between them: ½ × (a + b) × h. It appears on the formula sheet for some boards, but it is worth knowing.
How many cm² are in a m²?
10,000, because 100 cm × 100 cm = 10,000 cm². This matters when a floor is measured in metres and tiles in centimetres – convert before you divide.
Want a tutor to mark your work? Not sure where you stand? Take the free 15-minute mini mock test. Ready to get qualified? Our live 10-week Functional Skills Level 2 Maths course runs in small groups with a mock exam included, and the 5-day revision course is there if your exam is close.