DfE statement G16 · Geometry and measures

Area of 2D shapes and volume of prisms

Both tiersEither paper

Area of 2D shapes and volume of prisms is content statement G16 of the DfE GCSE mathematics subject content, in the geometry area. It is on both tiers, and it appears on both the calculator and the non-calculator papers. Below is what the specification actually requires, the 3 mistakes that cost marks on this topic most often, and practice questions written to the statement — original questions, not past papers.

What the specification says

The DfE subject content for GCSE mathematics states, verbatim: "Know and apply formulae to calculate: area of triangles, parallelograms, trapezia; volume of cuboids and other right prisms (including cylinders)." (statement G16). Every awarding organisation — Pearson Edexcel, AQA and OCR — must cover it, so the wording is the same whichever specification your school follows.
— Department for Education, Mathematics: GCSE subject content and assessment objectives, statement G16

Tier

Both tiers. This statement is Foundation content, which means Higher students are examined on it too — Higher is Foundation plus more, never instead of it.

Calculator

This turns up on both the non-calculator and the calculator papers, so practise it both ways — the written method for Paper 1 and the efficient calculator route for Papers 2 and 3.

Common mistakes

Using a slanted side of a trapezium or parallelogram as the height. The height is the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides.
Forgetting the ½ in the area of a triangle.
Calculating the volume of a prism as perimeter × length instead of cross-sectional area × length.

Formulae for this statement

Area of a trapeziumA = ½ (a + b) hBe able to derive this Volume of a prismV = area of cross-section × lengthBe able to derive this

Sample questions (10 of 30)

G16 · Area of 2D shapes and volume of prismsQuestion 1 of 10 · 0 correct

Practice mode· no pressure · hints available

Geometry and measures

G16

Beginner

A trapezium has parallel sides of 5 cm and 11 cm, and a perpendicular height of 4 cm. Work out the area of the trapezium.

💡 Hints:

Foundation worksheet Higher worksheet Foundation geometry and measures practice Higher geometry and measures practice

Nearby statements

G1Geometric terms, notation and diagrams G2Ruler and compass constructions and loci G3Angle facts, parallel lines and polygons

Questions people ask

Is area of 2D shapes and volume of prisms on Foundation or Higher?

Both. It is Foundation content, so it can be asked on either tier.

Can I use a calculator for area of 2D shapes and volume of prisms?

It depends on the paper. Paper 1 is non-calculator; Papers 2 and 3 allow one, and this topic is asked on both kinds.

What is the single most common mistake here?

Using a slanted side of a trapezium or parallelogram as the height. The height is the perpendicular distance between the parallel sides.

Are these past paper questions?

No. Every question is original, written to this DfE content statement and checked before publication. We do not host past papers or mark schemes.

Back to Geometry and measures at Foundation or at Higher.