Surds (8300 - Higher - Number)

Topic:Surds

Specification references (in recommended teaching order)

Specification content Specification notes
N8
  • Calculate exactly with surds
  • Simplify surd expressions involving squares (eg `sqrt 12 = sqrt(4 xx 3) = sqrt 4 xx sqrt 3 = 2 sqrt 3`) and rationalise denominators


    A24
    • Recognise and use simple geometric progressions (rⁿ where n is an integer and r is a surd)



      The subject content (above) matches that set out in the Department for Education’s Mathematics GCSE subject content and assessment objectives document.

      The expectation is that:

      • All students will develop confidence and competence with the content identified by standard type
      • All students will be assessed on the content identified by the standard and the underlined type; more highly attaining students will develop confidence and competence with all of this content
      • Only the more highly attaining students will be assessed on the content identified by bold type. The highest attaining students will develop confidence and competence with the bold content.

      Teaching resources

      Surds - all resources for 3 year route map - zip folder
      Downloadable resource in zip format. 23/12/2015
      Topic overview and lesson plans
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015

      Lesson 1 Activity 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 1 Activity 2a
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 1 Activity 2b
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 2 Activity 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 3 Activity 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Activity 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Activity 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Activity 3
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 5 Activity 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 5 Activity 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 6 Activity 1
      Downloadable resource in ppt format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 6 Activity 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015

      Lesson 1 Worksheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 2 Worksheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 2 Worksheet 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 3 Worksheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 3 Worksheet 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Worksheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Worksheet 1 (Answers)
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Worksheet 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 5 Worksheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 5 Worksheet 1 (Answers)
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 5 Worksheet 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 6 Worksheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 6 Worksheet 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015

      Lesson 1 Homework sheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 2 Homework sheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 3 Homework sheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 4 Homework sheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 5 Homework sheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015
      Lesson 6 Homework sheet 1
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 23/12/2015

      Diagnostic Questions - surds 1
      AQA have teamed up with Craig Barton's Diagnostic Questions website to share free diagnostic questions assessment for our new 2017 GCSE Maths specification.25/07/2017
      Diagnostic Questions - surds 2
      AQA have teamed up with Craig Barton's Diagnostic Questions Website to share free diagnostic questions assessment for our new 2017 GCSE Maths specification.25/07/2017
      Diagnostic Questions - surds 3
      AQA have teamed up with Craig Barton's Diagnostic Questions website to share free diagnostic questions assessment for our new 2017 GCSE Maths specification. 25/07/2017

      DfE Standards Unit: N11 Manipulating Surds
      A range of activities relating to manipulation of surds including a 'true or false' activity and expansion and simplification of surd expressions. You will need to register for an account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 24/07/2015

      Angry Surds
      A fantastic, fun game based on the app 'Angry Birds' in which the trajectory of an object is chosen to produce a given surd value.24/07/2015
      DfE Standards Unit: N11 Manipulating Surds
      A range of activities relating to manipulation of surds including a 'true or false' activity and expansion and simplification of surd expressions. You will need to register for an account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 24/07/2015
      Fit for photocopying
      An investigation in which students consider the scale factor of enlargements from one standard paper size to another eg A4 to A3. 24/07/2015
      Matching surds game
      A set of surd cards in which two possible games facilitate the matching of equivalent surd values - the questions involve simplification, expansion of brackets and rationalising the denominator with surds.24/07/2015
      Maths is Fun: Surds
      A simple introduction to surds and how to determine whether a number is a surd or not, followed by ten online questions.24/07/2015
      Simplfying surds tarsia jigsaw
      A tarsia activity forming a hexagon, which involves simplfying surd expressions. (A range of other similar tarsia activities can be accessed from TES Resources.) You will need to register for a TES account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 24/07/2015
      Surd Treasure Hunt
      A treasure hunt activity involving various skills of manipulating surds. You will need to register for a TES account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 24/07/2015
      Transum: Surds
      Seven levels of online questions covering all aspects of the simplification of surds, including rationalising the denominator.24/07/2015

      Geometric series, some with surds
      An introduction to geometric series, with several worksheets of practise questions, some of which involve common ratios which are surds.03/08/2015
      Surds Worksheets
      A range of six Excel files which offer practise at simplifying surds, expanding expressions involving surds and rationalising the denominator. You will need to register for a TES account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 24/07/2015

      Surds - Dominoes Worksheet and Solution
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 20/05/2010
      Surds - Homework Sheets and Mark Scheme
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 08/04/2010
      Surds - Lesson Plan
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 13/06/2010
      Surds - Rationalising - Lesson Plan 2
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 13/06/2010
      Surds - Rationalising - Powerpoint
      Downloadable resource in ppt format. 20/05/2010
      Surds - Worksheet 2 and Answers
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 20/05/2010
      Surds Powerpoint
      Downloadable resource in ppt format. 13/05/2010
      Surds Worksheet and Answers
      Downloadable resource in doc format. 13/05/2010

      Topic Tests

      8300 GCSE Higher Surds Mark Scheme
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 03/10/2022
      8300 GCSE Higher Surds Topic Test
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 03/10/2022

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