GCSE math word problems are one of the scariest parts of the exam for many students. They look long, confusing, and full of tricky wording. But here’s the truth: once you know how to approach them, word problems can actually become some of the easiest marks to grab in your GCSE and IGCSE maths papers.

Why Do Students Struggle with Word Problems?

Word problems combine maths with English, which makes them feel different from normal questions. Here are the main reasons students find them tough:

• Too much text → It feels like you’re reading a story instead of a maths problem.
• Unclear starting point → Students often freeze because they can’t tell which maths topic it belongs to.
• Sneaky wording → Phrases like “at least,” “twice as much,” or “share equally” can confuse.
• Time pressure → Spending too long on one problem can eat up your exam time.

If any of these sound familiar, don’t worry — there’s a step-by-step method to handle them.

A Step-by-Step Method for Solving Word Problems

Think of it like translating from English → Maths → Answer.

1. Read the question once for the story – What is it about? Shops? People? Shapes?
2. Read again for numbers and keywords – Underline or circle important values.
3. Identify the maths topic – Is it algebra, ratio, percentages, or probability?
4. Translate the words into equations – e.g. “twice as many” = ×2, “difference” = subtraction.
5. Write down equations or diagrams – Set it up clearly.
6. Solve step by step – Show your working; examiners give marks for method.
7. Check your answer – Does it make sense in the original story?

Example: GCSE Word Problem with Solution

Question:
A shop sells pens for £2 each and pencils for £1 each. A student buys 5 items and spends £7. How many pens did they buy?

Solution:

• Let pens = x, pencils = y
• Equation 1: x + y = 5
• Equation 2: 2x + y = 7
• Subtract (Eqn 2 – Eqn 1): x = 2
• So the student bought 2 pens and 3 pencils

This is a classic style of GCSE and IGCSE maths word problem — once you set up the equations, the solution is straightforward.

Common Topics for Word Problems

If you’re revising, here are the topics where word problems appear most often:

• Ratios and proportions
• Percentages and interest
• Speed, distance, and time
• Probability in real-life contexts
• Algebra equations (like the shop example above)
• Geometry in word form (perimeters, areas, and volumes)

Tips to Get Better at GCSE & IGCSE Word Problems

• Practice past papers – AQA, Edexcel, Cambridge, OCR all use similar styles.
• Build a keyword list – “Total,” “difference,” “at least,” “share equally,” etc.
• Use diagrams/tables – Visuals make problems easier.
• Manage exam time – If you’re stuck, move on and come back later.

Final Thoughts

Word problems don’t have to be scary. With the right method, they’re just little stories hiding simple maths. The more you practice GCSE and IGCSE word problems, the more confident you’ll feel walking into the exam.

👉 And here’s some good news: for the next 6 weeks, Mathzem courses are completely free — no bank card required. Sign up today and start practicing with guided examples and past-paper style questions.