What is it
GCSE percentages cover calculating percentage increases and decreases, reverse percentage problems (finding the original value), and percentage change, both with and without a calculator.
Why it matters
Percentages are one of the most frequently used real-world maths skills for the rest of a student's life — discounts, tax, interest rates, exam grade boundaries — making this a topic worth mastering beyond just the exam.
Exam tip
For reverse percentage questions ('the price after a 20% increase is £60, find the original price'), always divide by the new percentage (120%), never by the original 100% — dividing by the wrong percentage is the most common error here.
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