If there is one area of Functional Skills Level 2 Maths worth drilling until it is automatic, it is percentages and ratios. Together they make up a significant chunk of the exam, they appear in every session, and they reward careful working more than any other topic. Get these right and your pass is almost guaranteed. This guide walks you through exactly what examiners want.
Percentages – the exam essentials
Six types of percentage question appear on Level 2 Maths. Master all six:
1. Percentage of an amount
“Find 15% of £240”
Method: convert 15% to 0.15, multiply. 0.15 × 240 = £36.
No calculator? 10% of 240 = 24. Half of 24 = 12 (that is 5%). 24 + 12 = 36. Done.
2. Percentage increase
“The price rises by 8%. Original price £125. What is the new price?”
Method: multiply by 1.08. 125 × 1.08 = £135.
3. Percentage decrease
“The jacket is reduced by 20%. Original £80. Sale price?”
Method: multiply by 0.80. 80 × 0.80 = £64.
4. Finding the percentage one number is of another
“25 out of 40 students passed. What percentage?”
Method: (25 ÷ 40) × 100 = 62.5%.
5. Percentage change
“Last year: 80 students. This year: 92 students. What is the percentage increase?”
Method: (difference ÷ original) × 100. (12 ÷ 80) × 100 = 15%.
6. Reverse percentages – the tricky one
“A laptop is £510 after a 15% discount. What was the original price?”
Method: 510 represents 85% of the original. So original = 510 ÷ 0.85 = £600.
Why this is hard: people instinctively add 15% back to £510, which gives £586.50 – wrong. The 15% was taken off the original, not off the sale price. Divide, do not multiply.
Ratios – the exam essentials
Three main types of ratio question:
1. Share an amount in a given ratio
“Share £240 between A and B in the ratio 3:5.”
Method: 3 + 5 = 8 parts total. 240 ÷ 8 = £30 per part. A gets 3 × 30 = £90. B gets 5 × 30 = £150. Check: 90 + 150 = 240. ✓
2. Simplify a ratio
“Simplify 24:36.”
Method: find the largest number that divides both. 12 divides both. 24÷12 = 2. 36÷12 = 3. Simplified ratio: 2:3.
3. Scale up or down using a ratio
“A recipe for 4 people uses 200g flour. How much flour for 6 people?”
Method: find the ratio. 4:6 simplifies to 2:3. So you need 1.5 × 200 = 300g flour. Alternatively: 200 ÷ 4 = 50g per person × 6 = 300g.
Master percentages and ratios on the 5-Day Maths Course
We spend a full day on each – with worked examples from real Highfield past papers. £19.99.
Enrol for £19.99The three biggest percentage and ratio mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating reverse percentages as forward ones. If an item is £60 after a 25% reduction, the original is NOT £60 × 1.25. It is £60 ÷ 0.75. Learn to spot reverse percentages – look for words like “after”, “following”, “now” combined with a percentage.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to add up ratio parts. Sharing £280 in ratio 3:4 – some learners divide 280 by 3 or by 4. You divide by 3+4 = 7. This is the single most common ratio error.
Mistake 3: Percentage change – wrong denominator. Percentage change is calculated on the original value, not the new value. If a price goes from £40 to £50, the change is 10/40 × 100 = 25%, not 10/50 × 100 = 20%.
How examiners ask these questions
Functional Skills is applied, so percentages and ratios are always wrapped in real-world scenarios:
- Shopping: sale prices, discounts, VAT (usually 20%)
- Budgeting: monthly utility bills, how much is left after spending
- Recipes: scaling up or down for more or fewer people
- Wages: calculating overtime, bonuses, tax deductions
- Discounts and offers: “buy three get one free”, “20% off the second item”
- Sharing: splitting bills, sharing tips, dividing costs
- Comparing: “which is better value – 200g for £1.80 or 300g for £2.40?”
- Interest: simple interest on savings or loans
The maths is the same as above. The challenge is extracting the right numbers from the word problem. Read the question twice. Underline the numbers. Write down what you are calculating before you calculate it.
Practice problems – try these before your exam
- A coat is £85. The sale reduces it by 30%. What is the sale price?
- Share £360 between three people in the ratio 2:3:4.
- A recipe for 8 people uses 500g of rice. How much rice for 12 people?
- Last year 240 students enrolled. This year 276 enrolled. What is the percentage increase?
- After a 12% pay rise, Sarah earns £26,880. What was her previous salary?
Answers: 1) £59.50 2) £80, £120, £160 3) 750g 4) 15% increase 5) £24,000
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my calculator for percentage questions?
In Section B (75% of marks), yes. In Section A (25% of marks, non-calculator), no. Practice both ways – even ‘simple’ percentages like 10% or 25% should feel instinctive without a calculator.
How do I know when a question is a reverse percentage?
Look for words like ‘after’, ‘following’, ‘now’, combined with a percentage change. ‘The price is £60 after a 25% discount’ is reverse. ‘The price is £60 and is discounted by 25%’ is forward.
What if I get the method right but the arithmetic wrong?
You may still get ‘method marks’ even if the final answer is wrong – but only if you show your working. Always write down your steps.
How much of the exam is percentages and ratios?
Not officially counted but these topics usually account for a significant share of the marks. Being strong on both is the fastest route to a pass.
Is Klarna available on the Maths courses?
Yes. Every Functify course is available with Klarna at checkout – 5-Day Course £19.99, 10-Week Course £197, Complete Package £450.
The bottom line
Percentages and ratios are where most Level 2 Maths marks are won or lost. Master the six types of percentage question and the three types of ratio question above, practice with real past papers, and sit a mock test before the real exam. Our 92% first-time pass rate is built on this kind of focused preparation.
For more, visit our Functional Skills Level 2 Maths page or the complete Level 2 guide.
Start the 5-Day Maths Course today
Deep focus on percentages, ratios and the other Big 5 topics. £19.99 with Klarna.
Enrol for £19.99For full course and exam details, visit the Functional Skills Maths Level 2 Course page.
Ready to find out where you stand? Take the free readiness quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk.
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