DfE statement G7 · Geometry and measures

Transformations: rotation, reflection, translation, enlargement

part HigherNon-calculator

Transformations: rotation, reflection, translation, enlargement is content statement G7 of the DfE GCSE mathematics subject content, in the geometry area. It is on both tiers, with a Higher-only part, and it is examined without a calculator. Below is what the specification actually requires, the 4 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: "Identify, describe and construct congruent and similar shapes, including on coordinate axes, by considering rotation, reflection, translation and enlargement (including fractional and negative scale factors)." (statement G7). 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 G7

Tier

Both tiers, but part of it is Higher only. Foundation covers the statement except for the following, which the DfE prints in bold and reserves for Higher: "and negative". Everything else in the statement is Foundation content.

Calculator

This is non-calculator territory. Questions on it belong naturally on Paper 1, where written method is all you have — so practise it that way rather than with a calculator to hand.

Common mistakes

Describing an enlargement without giving the centre, or a rotation without the centre and the direction.
Giving two transformations when the question asks for a single one.
Drawing a negative scale factor enlargement on the same side of the centre as the original — it lands on the opposite side, inverted.
Swapping the components of a translation vector, or getting the sign of the downward one wrong.

Sample questions (10 of 32)

G7 · Transformations: rotation, reflection, translation, enlargementQuestion 1 of 10 · 0 correct

Practice mode· no pressure · hints available

Geometry and measures

Expert

Point A(1, 2) is enlarged to give image point A′(7, −4). The centre of enlargement lies on the x-axis. Work out the scale factor of the enlargement.

💡 Hints:

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

Nearby statements

G5Congruence criteria for triangles G6Geometric reasoning and simple proofs G8Combinations of transformations and invarianceHigher only G9Circle definitions and parts of a circle

Questions people ask

Is transformations: rotation, reflection, translation, enlargement on Foundation or Higher?

Both, but not all of it. The parts the DfE prints in bold — "and negative" — are Higher only; the rest is Foundation content.

Can I use a calculator for transformations: rotation, reflection, translation, enlargement?

Not on Paper 1, which is where this normally appears. Paper 1 is non-calculator for both tiers and carries the same 80 marks as each of the other two papers.

What is the single most common mistake here?

Describing an enlargement without giving the centre, or a rotation without the centre and the direction.

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.