% increase and decrease tutor notes

The '% increase and decrease' module is aimed at level 1 of the Basic Skills Curriculum.
This module covers material in N2/L1.10 by looking at 'find simple percentage increase and decrease: Understanding that a percentage increase can be found by finding the percentage part and adding on and understanding that a percentage decrease can be found by finding the percentage part and subtracting'.

We'd love to hear your comments on the module; do you like the factsheets, what do you think of the worksheets? Send in your and your students' feedback.

How does this tie in with the new curriculums?

• England
  N2/L1.10 - Understand that a percentage increase can be found by finding the percentage part and adding on.
  Understand that a percentage decrease can be found by finding the percentage part and subtracting.
• Wales
  As England.
• Northern Ireland
  As England.
• Scotland
  See www.aloscotland.com for details of the Scottish curriculum.

In the Skillswise module you'll find:

% increase and decrease factsheets
You'll find curriculum references in the top right hand corner of the factsheets.
There are five factsheets for this module, each on 'print-out-and-keep' sheets:

• Factsheet 1 - Pecentage increase
• Factsheet 2 - Percentage decrease
• Factsheet 3 - Using a calculator - method one
• Factsheet 4 - Using a calculator - method two, e.g. 15% decrease of 40 is
  85% of 40 = 85 ÷ 100 x 40
• Factsheet 5 - Shortcut using decimals, e.g. 85% of 40 = 0.85 x 40

% increase and decrease worksheets
There are four worksheets. You'll find curriculum references in the top right hand corner of the worksheets. They are printable resources to carry on the work learners have done online.

• Worksheet 1 - Questions based on % increase in menu prices
• Worksheet 2 - Questions based on shopping sale adverts
• Worksheet 3 - Calculator methods worksheet
• Worksheet 4 - More calculator method questions

% increase and decrease quiz
The quiz has questions on finding a percentage increase or decrease.

The learner can choose their level. Level A is the easiest, level C the hardest.
Students can print out a certificate if they score 50% or more in the quiz. This will appear as a link on the results page - click on the link and the certificate will appear in a new window. Students can write their name on the certificate once it's printed.

Technical help:

If you are new to the web, why not try the BBC WebWise online course, Becoming WebWise? It's free, you can do it in your own time from any computer and it will take you through everything you need to know to use the web successfully in your teaching.
Find out more about WebWise.

You can find out more about the technical requirements for Skillswise in our Help - Technical Information section.

Taking it further:

With Skillswise

Don't forget to visit Lesson plans and Teaching inspirations for more ideas for teaching finding fraction parts.

With the web
Here are some suggestions of other places on the web you might find useful for teaching % increase/decrease:

• http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/sets/select/dm_percent_increase.html
  An American site providing examples and explanations of % increase/decrease
• BBC News Business
  You can bring % increases to live for learners by using real news examples. For up to date stories on interest rate and tax rises, visit the BBC News Business pages.
• KS2 Bitesize
  Bitesize is a site linked to the Key Stage 2 National Tests. In the Fractions and Percentages sections there are activities, printable factsheets, worksheets and tests.

Please note that the BBC is not responsible for the content of other websites.

Do you know of any great online resources for percentage increase/decrease? Tell us about them!