IGCSE Math RevisionChristmas maths escape room for IGCSE and GCSE
The elves have locked the workshop, and the presents are stuck inside. Teams solve six locks in order; each code is needed for the next. Printable clue cards, a teacher answer key and a bonus lock for the fastest team.
- Level
- IGCSE and GCSE (Higher and Extended)
- Time
- 41 minutes, plus a 10-minute extension
- Topics
- Number: speed, percentages and division; Algebra: sequences and equations; Shape and probability: volume and expected frequency
- Equipment
- No calculator needed.
Suggested timings
| Part | Time | What |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5 min | Quick questions on the board |
| Main: lock 1 | 6 min | The wrapping room |
| Main: lock 2 | 6 min | The list |
| Main: lock 3 | 6 min | The sleigh test |
| Main: lock 4 | 6 min | The gift box |
| Main: lock 5 | 6 min | The crackers |
| Main: lock 6 | 6 min | The workshop door |
| Extension | 10 min | Fast finishers or homework |
Starter (5 minutes)
Warm-up before the locks: quick questions on the board.
- Work out 7 × 8.
- Find 25% of 60.
- Find the next term: 2, 6, 18, …
Main activity (36 minutes)
Lock 1: The wrapping room (6 min)
Presents are packed in boxes of 12.
- There are 180 presents. How many boxes are needed? This is code 1.
Lock 2: The list (6 min)
The elves number their list with a sequence.
- Find the nth term of 4, 7, 10, 13, … when n is code 1. This is code 2.
Lock 3: The sleigh test (6 min)
The sleigh does a test run.
- It travels code 2 kilometres in 20 minutes. Find its speed in km/h. This is code 3.
Lock 4: The gift box (6 min)
A cuboid gift box measures 3 cm by 2 cm by h cm.
- h = code 3 ÷ 23. Find the volume of the box in cm3. This is code 4.
Lock 5: The crackers (6 min)
The probability that a cracker contains a paper hat is 5/6.
- Out of code 4 crackers, how many would you expect to contain a hat? This is code 5.
Lock 6: The workshop door (6 min)
The last lock.
- Solve 2x − 4 = code 5. The value of x opens the door.
Extension (10 minutes)
Bonus lock for the fastest team.
- Find the mean of all six codes.
For teachers
Teacher notes and full worked answers
- How to run it: print the student sheet and cut out the six lock cards. Give each team lock 1. When a team brings you the right code, give them the next card (the answer key is in the answers PDF). The first team to open lock 6 escapes. Teams can also have every card at once and race through them in order.
- Each code is used in the next lock, so check every code before the team moves on: one slip early on breaks the chain.
Starter
- 56
- 7 × 8 = 56
- 15
- 60 ÷ 4 = 15
- 54
- Each term is 3 times the last.
Lock 1: The wrapping room
- 15
- 180 ÷ 12 = 15
Lock 2: The list
- 46
- nth term = 3n + 1
- 3 × 15 + 1 = 46
Lock 3: The sleigh test
- 138
- 20 minutes is 1/3 of an hour.
- 46 × 3 = 138 km/h
Lock 4: The gift box
- 36
- h = 138 ÷ 23 = 6
- 3 × 2 × 6 = 36
Lock 5: The crackers
- 30
- 5/6 × 36 = 30
Lock 6: The workshop door
- 17
- 2x = 34
- x = 17
Extension
- 47
- 15 + 46 + 138 + 36 + 30 + 17 = 282
- 282 ÷ 6 = 47
The same answers are in the answers PDF. Every answer was recomputed by computer before publishing.
Practise the topics
Numbers round and word scramble maths · End-of-year quiz maths · Spot the mistake relay and maths taboo maths · All themed maths
More for lessons: Weekly starters · Skill Builders · Worksheet builder · Competition maths