GCSE & IGCSE maths practice

Standard form questions and answers

Standard form writes a number as $A \times 10^n$ , where $1 \le A < 10$ and $n$ is a whole number. It's how scientists and calculators handle very large and very small numbers. The questions go from converting numbers, to multiplying and dividing without a calculator, to adding and word problems. Type answers like 3.4 x 10^5.

10 questions · Foundation tier · Every answer is checked as you type it, with a full worked solution. Updated 26 Oct 2026.

Start the questions Standard form: the full guide Standard form calculator

Where standard form comes up

GCSE (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)	Calculating with and interpreting standard form: Foundation and Higher, with and without a calculator.
Cambridge IGCSE (0580)	Core and Extended: converting numbers into and out of standard form and calculating with it (Core calculations are on Paper 3).
Edexcel International GCSE (4MA1)	Foundation and Higher: calculating with and interpreting numbers in the form a × 10ⁿ.

The method

Large numbers: move the decimal point until the number is between 1 and 10; the power of 10 is how many places it moved.
Small numbers (less than 1): the power is negative: 0.00056 = 5.6 × 10⁻⁴.
Multiplying: multiply the numbers and add the powers. Dividing: divide the numbers and subtract the powers.
If the first number ends up outside 1 to 10, adjust it: 24 × 10⁸ = 2.4 × 10⁹.
Adding and subtracting: write both as ordinary numbers (or with the same power of 10) first.

Standard form 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

Write $34\,000$ in standard form.

Question 2Warm-upFoundation

Write $0.00056$ in standard form.

Question 3Warm-upFoundation

Write $7.2 \times 10^5$ as an ordinary number.

Exam-style

Question 4Exam-styleFoundation

Work out $(3 \times 10^4) \times (2 \times 10^5)$ . Give your answer in standard form.

Question 5Exam-styleFoundation

Work out $(8 \times 10^7) \div (4 \times 10^3)$ . Give your answer in standard form.

Question 6Exam-styleFoundation

Work out $(6 \times 10^5) \times (4 \times 10^3)$ . Give your answer in standard form.

Question 7Exam-styleFoundation

Work out $(9 \times 10^{-3}) \div (3 \times 10^2)$ . Give your answer in standard form.

Question 8Exam-styleFoundation

Work out $4.5 \times 10^6 + 3.2 \times 10^5$ . Give your answer in standard form.

Challenge

Question 9ChallengeFoundation

A grain of sand has a mass of $6.4 \times 10^{-5}$ kg. Find the mass of $2.5 \times 10^8$ grains of sand, in kg, in standard form.

Question 10ChallengeFoundation

Light travels at about $3 \times 10^8$ metres per second. How far does it travel in 1 minute? Give your answer in standard form.

Common mistakes

Leaving the first number outside 1 to 10, like 24 × 10⁸ or 0.6 × 10⁵.
Getting the sign of the power wrong for small numbers.
Adding the powers when adding numbers: 4.5 × 10⁶ + 3.2 × 10⁵ is not 7.7 × 10¹¹.

Stuck on one of these?

The TutorAura AI tutor works through it with you step by step, with the reason for each step, then gives you one like it to try. It checks your working too.

Try the AI tutor free

Sources

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

Practise maths with your own AI tutor

Questions at your level, help when you're stuck, and a plan for your exams. Free for 3 days, no card needed.

Start free trial