Learn the 4-Step Method
1Read twice, underline.
Numbers, percentages, and what's actually asked.
2Plan the steps in order.
Each percentage applies to the amount at that moment.
3Calculate with blocks.
Use 10%/5%/1% blocks; keep money to two decimal places.
4Check it's sensible.
Discounted twice → cheaper than one discount alone.
Worked Example
A school has 200 pupils. 45% are boys. 60% of the girls walk to school. How many girls walk?
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
Wrong! The second discount applies to the reduced price: £250 → £200 → £180, not £175.
Wrong! 60% applies to the girls (110), not the whole school: 66.
Careful! The question asked how many girls walk — not how many girls there are. Re-read before writing the answer.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Read twice; underline what's asked.
- Apply each percentage to the amount at that step.
- Successive changes never simply add.
- Sense-check the final answer.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Apply each percentage to the amount at that moment in the problem.
- Successive discounts don't add: −20% then −10% on £250 gives £180, not £175.
- Percentages of subgroups need the subgroup first: girls, then walking girls.
- Finish with a sense-check and re-read what was asked.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't 20% off then 10% off the same as 30% off?
Because the second discount is taken from the already-reduced price. On £250: 30% off gives £175, but 20% then 10% gives £180.
How should children set out multi-step percentage problems?
One line per step, writing the running amount each time: £250 → £200 → £180. It keeps each percentage attached to the right amount.
What percentage skills do 11+ papers test most?
Percentage of an amount, score-to-percentage, increase/decrease, and multi-step problems like successive discounts — all covered in this series.
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