DfE statement N11 · Number

Fractions in ratio problems

Both tiersNon-calculator

Fractions in ratio problems is content statement N11 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 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: "Identify and work with fractions in ratio problems." (statement N11). 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 N11

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

Reading the ratio 3:5 as '3/5 of the total'. Three parts out of eight is 3/8 of the total.
Treating 'for every 3 boys there are 5 girls' as a statement about the total rather than about each group.
Converting a fraction to a ratio by keeping the denominator: 2/7 of the class corresponds to the ratio 2:5, not 2:7.

Sample questions (10 of 30)

N11 · Fractions in ratio problemsQuestion 1 of 10 · 0 correct

Practice mode· no pressure · hints available

Number

N11

Intermediate

A shortbread recipe uses flour and butter in the ratio 5 : 2. Yuki changes the recipe by doubling the amount of butter but keeping the amount of flour the same. Work out the fraction of the new mixture that is butter.

💡 Hints:

Foundation worksheet Higher worksheet Foundation number practice Higher number practice

Nearby statements

N1Ordering numbers and inequality symbols N2The four operations and place value N3Inverse operations and priority of operations

Questions people ask

Is fractions in ratio problems on Foundation or Higher?

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

Can I use a calculator for fractions in ratio problems?

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?

Reading the ratio 3:5 as '3/5 of the total'. Three parts out of eight is 3/8 of the total.

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.