GCSE Maths: Product of Prime Factors
Express numbers as products of their prime factors. Practise it with adaptive questions for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas.
What you need to know
The concepts examiners test on product of prime factors, and what each one is really asking.
Where marks get lost
The exam technique that separates a correct method from a correct answer.
- Not breaking down far enough (stopping at 4 or 6 instead of going to primes)
- Forgetting to use index notation
- Including 1 as a prime factor
- Different trees give the same answer — the order doesn't matter
Product of Prime Factors questions students ask
Is Product of Prime Factors on the Foundation paper?
Yes. Product of Prime Factors appears at both Foundation and Higher tier, though Higher papers take it further.
What should I know before starting Product of Prime Factors?
It builds on Factors and multiples and Prime numbers and Index notation. If those feel shaky, practise them first — Product of Prime Factors questions assume them.
What is the most common mistake in Product of Prime Factors?
Not breaking down far enough (stopping at 4 or 6 instead of going to primes).
Which exam boards cover Product of Prime Factors?
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.