Steve Walker
LightNews LightNews
banner
stevemaths.bsky.social
Steve Walker
@stevemaths.bsky.social
240 followers 280 following 180 posts
Cambridge OCR Maths Subject Advisor, focusing on the A Level suite and the Level 3 FSMQ but also involved with Entry Level and GCSE. Co-author of the Friday #OCRMathsPuzzle.
Posts Replies Media Videos
stevemaths.bsky.social
Here's this weeks #OCRMathsPuzzle.

Place a different prime number in each of the green cells of the grid below, so that the sum of each row and the sum of each column equal the given prime results.

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday #RecreationalMath
#PrimeNumbers #MathsSky

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
3 by 3 Addition grid. Sum of top row is 359, sum of middle row is 331 and sum of bottom row is 379. Sum of left column is 353, sum of middle column is 349 and sum of right column is 367. Place a different prime number in each of the nine cells of the 3 by 3 addition grid, so that the sum of each row and the sum of each column equal the given prime results.
January 16, 2026 at 11:46 AM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Looking to take the next step in Assessment?

assessors.cambridge.org

Principal Examiner vacancy for #ALevelMaths Maths B(MEI) H640.

Closing date 18 January.

Other Examiner roles also available.

#UKMathsChat

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Decorative image
January 13, 2026 at 5:36 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Nice exercise for students on the #FSMQ course.

www.ocr.org.uk/blog/level-3...

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Decorative image
January 12, 2026 at 11:42 AM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Unlock the secrets of vectors in #ALevel #Maths

📖 Read now: ow.ly/M8pf50XVqAa

Ever wondered what examiners really look for? My latest blog dives into common pitfalls, top tips, and insights to help students with the topic of vectors.

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday #KeyStage5

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Decorative image
January 12, 2026 at 11:06 AM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Hope the term has started well.

Here is this week's #OCRMathsPuzzle

A shape is constructed from a regular hexagon with semi-circles on each edge.

The width of the hexagon, PQ in the image, is 12 cm.

Find the exact area of the full shape.

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Image as described in text.
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
A Level Maths Teacher Network
21 Jan 2026 4pm - 5pm
👉 teach.ocr.org.uk/teacher-netw...

For teachers of any specification, but the discussions will focus mainly on Maths A H240 and Maths B (MEI) H640.

Agenda to include discussions on end of year 12 assessments, command words and more.

#UKMathsChat
January 7, 2026 at 11:13 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Happy New Year 🍾

Our first #OCRMathspuzzle of 2026 is below👇

Using each of the digits 1 to 9 once, create a calculation with a total of 2026.

Use whichever operations you wish. How many unique solutions can you find?

Have an amazing 2026!

#MathsToday #UKMathsChat
@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
image as described in text
January 1, 2026 at 12:14 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Our final 2025 festive #OCRMathspuzzle for you. ❄️

Replace each snowflake in the boxes below with one of the square numbers from 1 to 81, so that each Christmas wreath contains the sum of the numbers in its four adjacent boxes.

#MathsToday #UKMathsChat #RecreationalMath
@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Labelling the snowflakes of the boxes in the top row A, B and C. Labelling the snowflakes of the boxes in the middle row D, E and F. Labelling the snowflakes of the boxes in the bottom row G, H and I. The boxes A + B + D + E = 105 for the top left Christmas wreath. The boxes B + C + E + F = 95 for the top right Christmas wreath. The boxes D + E + G + H = 106 for the bottom left Christmas wreath. The boxes E + F + H + I = 75 for the bottom right Christmas wreath.
December 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Here's our second festive #OCRMathspuzzle for 2025.🎄

Write each of the multiples of five from 5 to 60 into the baubles on the tree, so that the five baubles along each edge all sum to the same total.

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday #RecreationalMath
#Arithmetic

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
The image shows a Christmas tree with baubles arranged in a triangular pattern with one bauble at each corner and three baubles along each side. The challenge is to arrange the twelve baubles that have been numbered five to sixty in the five times table so that the sum of the five baubles on each edge add to the same total.
December 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
#FSMQ Teacher Network.
Register: ow.ly/avuT50XCQkG
Tue, Dec 09 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM GMT Online event FREE

Reviewing student performance in the summer 2025 exam and looking ahead to 2026.

Teachers of FSMQ
Teachers considering the FSMQ

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
#UKMathsChat #GCSE #Maths
December 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Here's our first festive #OCRMathspuzzle of the season. 🎄

Each festive symbol in the grid below represents a prime number.

The sum of each row and the sum of each column are given.
Work out the value of each festive symbol.

#UKMathsChat #RecreationalMath #Arithmetic

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
The festive symbols across each row and the totals. Row 1: bells, tree, wreath, holly 120. Row 2: wreath, bells, bells, tree 134. Row 3: holly, bells, holly, wreath 114. Row 4: wreath, tree, tree, holly 112. The festive symbols down each column. Column 1 bells, wreath, holly, wreath 122. Column 2: tree, bells, bells, tree 132. Column 3: wreath, bells, holly, tree 120. Column 4: holly, tree, wreath, holly 106.Each festive symbol in the grid represents a prime number. The sum of each row and the sum of each column are given. Work out the value of each festive symbol.
December 5, 2025 at 12:31 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Looking forward to the Cambridge OCR #FurtherMaths Teach Network tomorrow, Wed 3 Dec 4 - 5pm.

👉Register: ow.ly/RhMX50XAzOm

Focus on the #Groups topic:

#FurtherMathsA
#FurtherMathsB (MEI)

🤔Compare specifications content.
✒️Review exam questions.
📖Discuss resources.

#UKMathsChat #ALevel #Maths
December 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Here's the #OCRMathsPuzzle for this week

What fraction of the square’s area is covered by the two quarter-circles?

Have a fantastic weekend 😀

#Area #Circles #Fractions #Algebra #surds

#MathsToday #UKMathsChat #RecreationalMath
@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Two quarter circles are drawn on square ABCD. One quarter circle is drawn from point A, with an arc from side AB to side AC. The second quarter circle is drawn from point D, with arc from point B to point C. The two quarter circles touch at a single point E inside the square. What fraction of the square's area is covered by the two quarter circles?
November 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
In #MathsToday the 2025 questions for the Level 3 FSMQ exam are now available on Teach Cambridge.

Don't forget our Teacher Network on 9 December 4pm.

A single exam, enrichment course for your GCSE Maths students.

teach.ocr.org.uk/teacher-netw...
@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
The #OCRMathsPuzzle for this week is below!

A, B and C are points on the circumference of a circle, centre O.
Angle BAC = 70°
AC = 9 cm
AB = 7 cm

What is the circumference of the circle, correct to 3 significant figures?

#MathsToday #UKMathsChat #Geometry #ProblemSolving
@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
A, B and C are points on the circumference of a circle, centre O. Angle BAC = 70 degrees Length AC = 9 cm Length AB = 7 cm What is the circumference of the circle, correct to 3 significant figures?
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
In #MathsToday at the Oval for PiXL Maths conference.

Pop by our stand to talk all things #GCSE #FSMQ #ALevel #EntryLevel #CoreMaths
Cambridge OCR Maths Team at the Oval for the PiXL conference. Neil taking the picture.
November 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Here's this week's #OCRMathsPuzzle!

What fraction of the rectangle ABCD is covered by the triangles DPE and CQE?

Have a great weekend!

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday #RecreationalMath #Geometry #Area #Fractions

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
The image shows rectangle ABCD. Points P and Q are on the line AB such that AP = PQ = QB. The Length AD = AP. There are lines DQ and CP which intersect at point E. What fraction of the rectangle ABCD is covered by the triangles DPE and CQE?
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Are you teaching A Level Proof?

Check out my latest blog where I have taken a look at the feedback from examiners on this topic.

www.ocr.org.uk/blog/a-level...

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Cambridge OCR Logo. Check out our latest maths blog
November 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
KS5 Maths events this week.
Wed 12 Nov 4 - 6pm Starting to Teach #ALevel #Maths A
Fri 14 Nov 4 - 6pm Starting to Teach #CoreMaths A&B

Ideal if you are new to teaching these courses or looking for some fresh ideas.

Free Webinars
ow.ly/zweA50XpcKp

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
#UKMathsChat
Cambridge OCR Maths logo
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Today's #OCRMathsPuzzle 🤔

Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the orange cells below (one per cell), so that the sum of the numbers in Row 1, the sum of the numbers in Column 1 and the sum of the numbers in Column 2 are all equal.

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday #RecreationalMath

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
The diagram shows a single horizonal row of 5 cells with two vertical columns crossing the row through the second and fourth cells. Each vertical column has one cell above and one cell below. Place the numbers Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the orange cells below (one number per cell), so that the sum of the numbers in Row 1, the sum of the numbers in Column 1 and the sum of the numbers in Column 2 are all equal.
November 7, 2025 at 1:50 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Here's this year's #Halloween #OCRMathsPuzzle.

Each spooky symbol in the grid below represents a prime number.
The sum of each row and the sum of each column are given.
Work out the value of each spooky symbol.

#UKMathsChat #MathsToday #RecreationalMath #Arithmetic
@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Each spooky symbol in the grid represents a prime number. The sum of each row and the sum of each column are given. Work out the value of each spooky symbol. Row 1: House, Hat, Ghost, Pumpkin. Sum 60 Row 2: House, Hat, Ghost, House. Sum 58 Row 3: Pumpkin, House, Pumpkin, House. Sum 48 Row 4: Ghost, Hat, Pumpkin, Hat. Sum 66 Column 1: House, House, Pumpkin, Ghost. Sum 54 Column 2: Hat, Hat, House, Hat. Sum 62 Column 3: Ghost, Ghost, Pumpkin, Pumpkin. Sum 64 Column 4: Pumpkin, House, House, Hat. Sum 52
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
I always found it an interesting challenge for students to try and predict the year related question that almost always appears.

Here is the 2025 Junior Maths Challenge question.
What do you think will be in the 2026 paper?
Q3 from 2025 Junior Maths Challenge. How many of the following are factors of 2025? List 15, 25, 45, 75, 225. A: 1, B: 2, C: 3, D: 4, E: 5
October 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Better late than never, the #OCRMathsPuzzle for this week.

What is the value of a, b, c, d and e?

For some of you - I hope the half term break was relaxing. For the rest of you - have a good break next week.

#UKMathsChat #RecreationalMath #Algebra #Statistics
Five integers (a, b, c, d and e) have a mean of 0, a median of 1 and a range of 9. The squares of these five integers (a^2, b^2, c^2, d^2 and e^2) have a mean of 10, a median of 4 and a range of 24. What is the value of a, b, c, d and e.
October 24, 2025 at 8:35 PM
stevemaths.bsky.social
For #MathsToday, here is this week's #OCRMathsPuzzle!

Which diagram has the greater fraction of its area shaded?

Have a great weekend.

#UKMathsChat #RecreationalMath #Geometry #Area #Fractions #IrrationalNumbers
Diagram A has a white circle inside a shaded square. Diagram B is a white square inside a shaded circle. In both diagrams, the inner shape just touches the perimeter of the outer shape. Which diagram has the greater fraction of its area shaded?
October 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
stevemaths.bsky.social
Looking to take the next step in your #ALevel #Maths teaching career?

Register for examiner roles for AS/A Level Mathematics and AS/A Level Further Mathematics.

ow.ly/QHIF50XcqpU

#UKMathsChat

@cambridgeocr.bsky.social
Cambridge OCR Mathematics image
October 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM