5 Mistakes Students Make with GCSE Maths Word Problems — and How to Fix Them

GCSE Maths word problems can make even confident students freeze. It’s not that they can’t do the maths — it’s that they don’t know where to start. In this post, I’ll walk through five common mistakes students make when tackling word problems, and how to help them overcome each one calmly and clearly.

1. Not Reading the Whole Question

Many students skim the question and jump straight to the numbers. The problem? They often miss the key detail that changes everything — like whether it’s about percentages or ratios.

✅ Fix: Read the question twice. Ask yourself: What is the question really asking me to do?

2. Trying to Solve It All at Once

Word problems often have multiple steps. Students sometimes try to work it out in one go, which leads to confusion or panic.

✅ Fix: Break the problem into chunks. Work out what’s being asked first, then tackle each step one at a time.

3. Misunderstanding Key Terms

Terms like “in total,” “how many more,” or “left over” are common — but they trip up students who aren’t confident with wording.

✅ Fix: Build a “maths word” glossary with your child. Discuss what these phrases really mean, using examples they relate to.

4. Not Showing Working Clearly

Even if they get the answer right, messy working can cost marks — and make it harder to spot mistakes.

✅ Fix: Encourage your child to lay things out neatly, line by line. Use one line per step and underline final answers.

5. Panicking Over Unfamiliar Topics

Some students freeze if a word problem includes something they haven’t revised recently — like area or averages.

✅ Fix: Remind them to focus on the method, not the topic. They often do know how to solve it — they just need to stay calm and work it through.

🎯 Final Thought

Word problems are as much about confidence and language as they are about maths. If your child struggles with these kinds of questions, they’re not alone — and they can absolutely improve with the right support.

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