GCSE Maths: Product Rule for Counting
Count the total number of possible combinations by multiplying choices. Practise it with adaptive questions for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas.
What you need to know
The concepts examiners test on product rule for counting, and what each one is really asking.
Where marks get lost
The exam technique that separates a correct method from a correct answer.
- Adding the choices instead of multiplying them
- Keeping the same number of choices at every stage when repeats are not allowed
- Missing a stage of the choice altogether
- Assuming order does not matter when the question is about a code, where it does
Product Rule for Counting questions students ask
Is Product Rule for Counting on the Foundation paper?
Yes. Product Rule for Counting appears at both Foundation and Higher tier, though Higher papers take it further.
What should I know before starting Product Rule for Counting?
It builds on Multiplication and Sample space diagrams and Basic probability. If those feel shaky, practise them first — Product Rule for Counting questions assume them.
What is the most common mistake in Product Rule for Counting?
Adding the choices instead of multiplying them.
Which exam boards cover Product Rule for Counting?
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.