Key Stage 3 · ages 11 to 14
Key Stage 3 maths: what your child learns
In Years 7 to 9, maths moves from arithmetic towards algebra, ratio, geometric reasoning, Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometry. Your child works with fractions, percentages and standard form, solves equations, plots linear and quadratic graphs, calculates with circles and prisms, and uses Venn diagrams, averages and scatter graphs. Asking your child to talk you through a method is a good way to see how secure it is.
Guides for parents
Key Stage 3 maths
Solving linear equations
How Years 7 to 9 turn real situations into equations, solve linear equations with brackets, fractions and unknowns on both sides, and link answers to graphs.
Key Stage 3 maths
Graphs of linear and quadratic functions
How Years 7 to 9 plot coordinates in four quadrants, draw y = mx + c lines and quadratic curves, find gradients and read values and solutions from graphs.
Key Stage 3 maths
Sequences and the nth term
How Years 7 to 9 generate sequences from term-to-term and position-to-term rules, find the nth term of arithmetic sequences and spot geometric sequences.
Key Stage 3 maths
Algebraic notation and formulae
How Years 7 to 9 learn algebraic notation, substitution, simplifying and expanding brackets, factorising and rearranging formulae, with common mistakes and home ideas.
Key Stage 3 maths
Constructions and scale drawings
What Key Stage 3 pupils learn about ruler and compass constructions, scale drawings, geometric notation and congruent triangles, with a worked example.
Key Stage 3 maths
Transformations and enlargement
How Key Stage 3 pupils study properties of shapes, reflections, rotations, translations, congruent triangles and enlargement, with a worked example and home ideas.
Key Stage 3 maths
Angles, parallel lines and polygons
How Key Stage 3 pupils use angle facts, parallel line rules and the angle sum of polygons to find missing angles, with a worked example, common mistakes and home ideas.
Key Stage 3 maths
Pythagoras and trigonometry
How Key Stage 3 pupils use Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometric ratios in right-angled triangles, build simple geometric proofs and connect algebra with geometry.
Key Stage 3 maths
Perimeter, area and volume
How Key Stage 3 pupils work out perimeter, area and volume, from triangles and trapezia to circles, prisms and cylinders, with a worked example and home ideas.
Key Stage 3 maths
Powers, roots and standard form
KS3 maths: the four operations with negatives and fractions, order of operations, powers, roots and standard form, with a worked example, mistakes and ideas for home.
Key Stage 3 maths
Fractions, decimals and percentages
KS3 maths: moving between fractions and decimals, percentages, percentage change and percentages over 100%, with a worked example, common mistakes and ideas for home.
Key Stage 3 maths
Rounding, estimation and error
How Years 7 to 9 round to decimal places and significant figures, estimate answers, write error intervals with inequalities and use a calculator sensibly.
Key Stage 3 maths
Place value, ordering and number properties
KS3 maths: place value, ordering negatives, decimals and fractions, and primes, factors, HCF and LCM, with a worked example, common mistakes and ideas for home.
Key Stage 3 maths
Probability and Venn diagrams
How Key Stage 3 pupils study probability: experiments, the 0 to 1 scale, sample spaces for combined events and Venn diagrams, with a worked dice example and home ideas.
Key Stage 3 maths
Ratio and sharing in a ratio
How Years 7 to 9 write ratios, simplify them, share a quantity in a given ratio and link ratio to fractions and linear graphs, with a worked example for parents.
Key Stage 3 maths
Percentage change, proportion, compound units
How Years 7 to 9 tackle percentage increase and decrease, original value problems, simple interest, direct and inverse proportion, speed, density and unit pricing.
Key Stage 3 maths
Units, scale and fractions of quantities
How Years 7 to 9 convert between metric units including area and volume, use scale factors and map scales, and write one quantity as a fraction of another.
Key Stage 3 maths
Averages, charts and scatter graphs
How Key Stage 3 pupils summarise data with mean, median, mode and range, draw and read charts and tables, and use scatter graphs to describe links between two variables.
Key Stage 3 maths
Reasoning mathematically
How Key Stage 3 pupils learn to reason in maths: conjectures, proof and counter-examples, proportion and statistics, with a worked example and ideas for home.
Key Stage 3 maths
Solving problems
How KS3 pupils tackle multi-step and unfamiliar maths problems, including financial maths and modelling, with a worked example, common mistakes and ideas for home.
Key Stage 3 maths
Developing fluency
What fluency means in KS3 maths: number, algebra and graphs used accurately and flexibly, with a worked example on y = 2x + 1, common mistakes and ideas for home.
Everything in the Key Stage 3 maths curriculum
The National Curriculum topics for Key Stage 3, in the order the National Curriculum lists them.