Area and perimeter

Upper Primary 8 questions

What area and perimeter means

You learn how to find the space inside a shape and the distance around it. This helps you answer measurement questions on simple rectangles and triangles in class work and tests.

What you will practise

Find the area of rectangles using length × width.
Work out the perimeter of rectangles by adding all sides.
Find the area of triangles using base and height when needed.
Choose the correct unit for area and perimeter answers.
Solve short word problems with labelled measurements.

Before you start

You should already know how to multiply and add whole numbers. You also need to understand length, width, and centimetres.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

A rectangle is 8 cm long and 5 cm wide. What is its area in cm²?

Answer: 40

Working: Area = length × width = 8 × 5 = 40 cm².

Common mistakes to avoid

Mixing up area and perimeter. Area is inside space, while perimeter is the outside edge.
Forgetting to use the full formula for rectangles. Add both lengths and widths before doubling for perimeter.
Using the wrong units. Area needs square units, but perimeter uses normal length units.
Reading triangle questions too quickly. Check the base and height before calculating area.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES Basic 4 to 6 syllabusGroundwork for the BECE

This work normally appears in Upper Primary geometry lessons on measurement of plane shapes. It supports school-based assessment and builds the foundation needed for BECE-style problem solving.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.