85% of Parents Can’t Answer a Standard GCSE Maths Question

As GCSE results day approaches, a Save My Exams survey has revealed that a whopping 85% of parents couldn't correctly answer a standard GCSE Maths question. That's more than 8 out of every 10 parents struggling with a question that appears on both foundation and higher tier papers. 

The GCSE Maths Question That Stumped UK Parents 

Save My Exams decided to put UK parents to the test by asking 500 of them to tackle a past paper GCSE Maths question. 

• 55% got the answer wrong

• 30% couldn't even attempt an answer

• Only 15% managed to solve it correctly

They were asked to answer the below question on ratios: 

Breaking Down the Solution

Lucy Kirkham, Head of Content Creation at Save My Exams, explains that this type of question tests the ability to work with changing ratios systematically:

“This GCSE Maths question relates to changing ratios, and requires students and parents to correctly find the value of one part, in order to work out how much money Chris gave to Errol. 

“Before being able to calculate this, you first need to work out how much each part of the ratio is worth by dividing how much Debbie gets by her part of the ratio, then multiplying this by Chris and Errol’s ratios. One part is therefore worth £30, multiplying this by each of the other shares, Errol gets £60 and Chris £90, meaning they have shared £270 in total.  

“In the second ratio, there are 10 shares in total (2 + 5 + 3 = 10) so one part is equivalent to £27, as you divide the total amount the friends have by the total shares in the new ratio. Finally, you can work out how much Errol now gets by deducting the two values Errol had in each ratio, giving a final answer of £21. You can see the full workings below.” 

A Third of Parents Believe They Would Fail Maths

The survey also found that one in three parents believe they’d fail GCSE Maths if they had to take it today. And it’s not just maths that leaves them bewildered. 

According to Save My Exams’ research, the subjects parents think they'd struggle with most are:

• Science (34% think they'd fail)

• Maths (33% think they'd fail)

• Languages (29% think they'd fail)

• History (24% think they'd fail)

• Geography (24% think they'd fail)

93% of UK Parents Provide Revision Support to Children Yet Don’t Feel Confident in Themselves

Despite not feeling confident about the material themselves, 93% of parents are still trying to help their children with revision. The study found that 7 in 10 parents feel pressured to help their kids, and more than a quarter feel guilty when they can't offer support.

What This Means for Students

Don't panic if your parents can't help you with every maths problem –– you're actually in the majority. Instead:

Focus on understanding the method: Questions like the ratio problem above follow clear, logical steps. Once you understand the process, you can apply it to similar questions.

Use reliable revision resources: Make sure you're learning from sources designed specifically for GCSE students.

Practice regularly: The more you work through past paper questions, the more familiar you'll become with the types of problems that come up.

Ask your teachers: Your maths teachers are the real experts here. Don't hesitate to ask for help during lessons or after school.

The fact that a seemingly straightforward ratio question stumped so many adults just goes to show that GCSE Maths genuinely requires focus and practice. So cut yourself some slack and remember, you've got this.