GCSE & IGCSE maths practice

Ratio questions and answers

A ratio compares quantities, like 2 : 3. To share an amount in a ratio, add the parts, find one part, then multiply. Simplify ratios by dividing by a common factor. When you know one share or the difference between shares, find the value of one part first.

8 questions · Foundation tier · Every answer is checked as you type it, with a full worked solution. Updated 27 Oct 2026.

Start the questions Ratio and proportion: lesson Ratio calculator

Where ratio comes up

GCSE (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)	Foundation and Higher: use ratio notation, simplify ratios, divide a quantity in a given ratio, and express a ratio in the form 1 : n.
Cambridge IGCSE (0580)	Core and Extended: use ratio, divide a quantity in a given ratio, and simplify ratios.

The method

Total parts = add the numbers in the ratio.
One part = amount ÷ total parts.
Each share = its number of parts × one part.
Know one share or a difference? Divide by its number of parts to get one part.

Ratio questions

Try each one before looking at the hint. If you're stuck, the AI tutor can talk you through it step by step.

Warm-up

Question 1Warm-upFoundation

Simplify the ratio 12 : 18.

FirstSecond

Question 2Warm-upFoundation

Share £60 in the ratio 2 : 3.

First share (£)Second share (£)

Exam-style

Question 3Exam-styleFoundation

Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 5. The smaller is 21. What is the larger?

Question 4Exam-styleFoundation

A recipe for 4 people uses 300 g of flour. How much flour is needed for 6 people?

Question 5Exam-styleFoundation

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 4 : 5. There are 36 students. How many are girls?

Question 6Exam-styleFoundation

Write the ratio 4 : 10 in the form 1 : n. What is n?

Challenge

Question 7ChallengeFoundation

$a : b = 2 : 3$ and $b : c = 4 : 5$ . Find $a : b : c$ in its simplest form.

a =b =c =

Question 8ChallengeFoundation

Red and blue counters are in the ratio 3 : 7. There are 12 more blue than red. How many counters are there altogether?

Common mistakes

Dividing by one number of the ratio instead of the total parts.
Getting the order of the ratio wrong.
Not simplifying fully.

Stuck on one of these?

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Sources

The questions are our own. The “where it comes up” notes are from each board's published specification, checked on 26 October 2026:

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