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GCSE Maths / Edexcel

Rounding to decimal places

Round decimals to a given number of decimal places by counting digits after the decimal point.

Number and Place ValueFoundation and HigherGrades 3 to 6Focused skill

Curriculum path: GCSE Maths > Edexcel > Number > Rounding to decimal places

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths number: round decimals to a required accuracy.

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Revision notes

Theory, examples, and quick checks.

Keep the method short, then practise straight away. This note is written for GCSE Maths Edexcel students who need clear working and reliable method marks.

Theory

Decimal places are the digits after the decimal point.

To round to 1 decimal place, keep 1 digit after the decimal point and look at the next digit.

To round to 2 decimal places, keep 2 digits after the decimal point and look at the next digit.

If the next digit is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, keep the final kept digit the same. If it is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, round the final kept digit up.

Zeros after the decimal point can matter. For example, 3.40 has 2 decimal places, but 3.4 has 1 decimal place.

Do not confuse decimal places with significant figures. Decimal places always count from the decimal point.

Key ruleDecimal places count after the decimal point.

Worked examples

One decimal place

Round 6.487 to 1 decimal place.

  1. Keep 1 digit after the decimal point: 6.4.
  2. The next digit is 8.
  3. 8 means round the 4 up to 5.

Answer: 6.5

Two decimal places

Round 6.487 to 2 decimal places.

  1. Keep 2 digits after the decimal point: 6.48.
  2. The next digit is 7.
  3. 7 means round the 8 up, so 6.48 becomes 6.49.

Answer: 6.49

Keep a zero

Round 3.396 to 2 decimal places.

  1. Keep 2 digits after the decimal point: 3.39.
  2. The next digit is 6, so round 3.39 up.
  3. 3.39 rounded up is 3.40, and the zero shows 2 decimal places.

Answer: 3.40

Common mistakes

  • Counting all digits instead of only digits after the decimal point.
  • Dropping a final zero when the answer needs a fixed number of decimal places.
  • Rounding to significant figures instead of decimal places.
  • Looking at the wrong next digit.

Quick exercise

Try these before moving to the exam-style questions.

  1. Round 4.83 to 1 decimal place.
  2. Round 4.86 to 1 decimal place.
  3. Round 7.246 to 2 decimal places.
  4. Round 0.398 to 2 decimal places.
  5. Round 12.999 to 2 decimal places.
Exam-style questions

Practise the same skill at three levels.

These are original GCSE-style questions with mark schemes, common wrong answers, and AI marking guidance so feedback stays close to exam expectations.

Basic GCSE styleFoundationNon-calculator2 marks

Round 8.764 to 1 decimal place.

decimal placesrounding decimalsfoundation number
Standard exam styleFoundation and HigherEither3 marks

A calculator gives 5.396842. Write the answer to 2 decimal places.

calculator answertwo decimal placestrailing zero
ChallengeHigherCalculator3 marks

The value of 17 / 6 is 2.833333... Write 17 / 6 to 3 decimal places and explain which digit decides the rounding.

three decimal placescalculator displayrounding explanation