Understanding and working with proportion and ratio are core maths skills that your child will be taught in KS2, and probably at some stage they'll come home with homework to help reinforce learning in this area.
Explore proportion and ratio worksheets and activities
Proportion tells us about a portion or part in relation to a whole whilst a ratio compares values, telling us how much of one thing there is compared to another thing. These are topics that children only start learning about in Year 6 and you might well be asked to help your child solve problems involving proportion, scale a recipe up or down, or present a ratio problem using different methods.
Once you've read our guides and are confident in your own understanding of the concepts, try printing out some teacher-created worksheets to help your child solve proportion problems and solve ratio problems. Make learning fun by solving proportion puzzles, play a game of Proportion dominoes or mix some evil potions (but make sure you get the ratio of ingredients right).
Ratio and proportion questions may well pop up in KS2 SATs, so make sure your child has mastered these tricky skills and watch their confidence grow.
Articles
What is ratio?
We explain what ratio is and how children in KS2 are taught to solve problems involving ratio.
What is proportion in maths?
We explain what proportion is and how children are taught about proportion from Year 4, giving examples of the kinds of problems involving proportion they might be asked to solve.
How to use a SATs past paper: KS2 maths
Help your child get to grips with their KS2 maths SATs test format by completing past papers at home. Our parent's guide offers guidance on how to administer the test, from the equipment your child needs to what examiners are looking for to award top marks.
Tutorials
Solving ratio problems tutorial
Let our digital teacher show you two different methods to work out ratios – then have a go yourself with our on-screen exercises!
Worksheets
Proportion problems
One in every three of these cupcakes is made with vanilla. Two in every three are made with chocolate. Can you solve these proportion problems? Use coloured counters if you get stuck with these
problems.
Proportion puzzle
Last year, Mrs Powell played some board games with her class. She had five groups of 4 in her class. Each group of four children needed different objects to play the game. This year Mrs Powell has five groups of 6 in her class. Work out how many of each object each group will need to play the game. How many of each object will be needed for the entire class?
Reducing ratios to their lowest terms
To reduce a ratio to its simplest form, you need to find a factor that you could divide both numbers by. Simplify these ratios by dividing both numbers by the same factor.
Also see:
Created by author, deputy headteacher and parent Matt Revill, Maths Homework Helper brings together everything you need to get to grips with this vital subject and life skill. With this eBook, you can support your child's maths learning effectively at home – from Reception Year, right through to the end of Year 6.
With Matt's help, you’ll discover how to tackle all the different topics your child will encounter – from addition and subtraction, to ratios and percentages – and get familiar with all the latest methods used in schools, including:
- Chunking
- The grid method
- Number bonds
- Carroll diagrams
- Number lines
- And more!
Whatever age or stage your child is at, it's reassuring to know that you have all the essential areas of maths under your belt, so you're ready to go if, and when, they call on you for help.
