DfE statement N2 · Number
The four operations and place value
The four operations and place value is content statement N2 of the DfE GCSE mathematics subject content, in the number area. It is on both tiers, 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: "Apply the four operations, including formal written methods, to integers, decimals and simple fractions (proper and improper), and mixed numbers — all both positive and negative; understand and use place value (e.g. when working with very large or very small numbers, and when calculating with decimals)." (statement N2). Every awarding organisation — Pearson Edexcel, AQA and OCR — must cover it, so the wording is the same whichever specification your school follows.
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 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
- Misaligning the decimal points in column addition or subtraction, so tenths are added to units.
- Losing the decimal point in a multiplication: 0.4 × 0.3 answered as 1.2 rather than 0.12. Count the decimal places in both numbers.
- Treating subtracting a negative as subtracting: 5 − (−3) answered as 2 instead of 8.
- Dropping a zero in the quotient during short or long division, so 3060 ÷ 6 comes out as 51 rather than 510.
Sample questions (10 of 30)
Nearby statements
Questions people ask
Is the four operations and place value on Foundation or Higher?
Both. It is Foundation content, so it can be asked on either tier.
Can I use a calculator for the four operations and place value?
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?
Misaligning the decimal points in column addition or subtraction, so tenths are added to units.
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 Number at Foundation or at Higher.