IGCSE Maths: Mensuration

Overview

Mensuration covers the measurement of shapes — perimeters, areas, and volumes. Extended students work with more complex 3D shapes and compound figures requiring multi-step calculations.

Core Syllabus Topics

• Perimeter and area of rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, trapeziums
• Circumference and area of circles
• Volume and surface area of cuboids, prisms, cylinders

Extended Syllabus Topics

• Volume and surface area of cones, spheres, pyramids
• Arc length and sector area
• Compound shapes
• Volume and surface area of composite solids

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing radius and diameter in circle calculations
• Using wrong formula for curved vs total surface area
• Forgetting units or using wrong units (cm² vs cm³)
• Not converting between units properly