Calculating the perimeter of rectangles by adding all four sides or using the formula 2 × (length + width).
Where your child meets this in real life: Calculating fencing needed for a garden or border trim for a picture frame
Each SEAG paper has 28 maths questions. Questions 29 to 50 are multiple choice with five possible answers, and questions 51 to 56 need a short written answer. With 56 questions in 60 minutes across English and maths, that is about a minute per question.
SEAGReady breaks perimeter of rectangles into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Calculate the perimeter of a rectangle when all four sides are labelled on the diagram
Calculate the perimeter when only length and width are given, using the rectangle property that opposite sides are equal
Try three free questions from our perimeter of rectangles course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Reece is putting tape around the edge of a rectangular poster. Its four sides measure 10 cm, 6 cm, 10 cm and 6 cm. How much tape does Reece need?
The visitor centre has a rectangular exhibition hall that is 45 metres long and 30 metres wide. What is the perimeter of the hall?
Jacob is putting a light strip around the edge of a rectangular stage. The four sides measure 8 m, 5 m, 8 m and 5 m. The strip comes in 2-metre sections. How many sections does Jacob need?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Freya is putting ribbon around the edge of a rectangular birthday card. The card measures 12 cm, 8 cm, 12 cm, and 8 cm on each side.
How much ribbon does Freya need?
12 + 8 + 12 + 8
Perimeter is the total distance around a shape
Step 1 of 4
Freya is putting ribbon around the edge of a rectangular birthday card. The card measures 12 cm, 8 cm, 12 cm, and 8 cm on each side.
How much ribbon does Freya need?
Freya needs 40 cm of ribbon.
The key insight: Perimeter means going all the way around - don't miss any sides!
Common mix-up: 12 + 8 = 20 cm. Only adding two sides gives half the perimeter. A rectangle has four sides!
These are the misconceptions we see most often in perimeter of rectangles, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with perimeter of rectangles? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed