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GCSE Maths: Best Buy & Value for Money

Compare prices fairly by working out the cost of one unit, or how much you get for £1. Practise it with adaptive questions for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas.

RatioFoundation & HigherAQA · Edexcel · OCR · Eduqas

What you need to know

The concepts examiners test on best buy & value for money, and what each one is really asking.

Work out unit price by dividing cost by quantity
Work out quantity per pound by dividing quantity by cost
Compare two or more options and state which is better value
Justify the answer with the figures you calculated

Where marks get lost

The exam technique that separates a correct method from a correct answer.

  • Comparing cost per gram for one option and grams per pound for the other
  • Forgetting that for cost per unit, SMALLER is better value
  • Mixing units — one pack in grams, the other in kilograms
  • Giving the numbers but never actually saying which is the better buy

Best Buy & Value for Money questions students ask

Is Best Buy & Value for Money on the Foundation paper?

Yes. Best Buy & Value for Money appears at both Foundation and Higher tier, though Higher papers take it further.

What should I know before starting Best Buy & Value for Money?

It builds on Decimals and Ratio and Proportion. If those feel shaky, practise them first — Best Buy & Value for Money questions assume them.

What is the most common mistake in Best Buy & Value for Money?

Comparing cost per gram for one option and grams per pound for the other.

Which exam boards cover Best Buy & Value for Money?

All four we support — AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas. GCSE Maths subject content is set by the DfE, so the topic is common to every board; what changes is the paper structure and the grade boundaries.