Arithmetic Sequences and Series Mastery
An interactive lesson on screen. Your child works through worked examples, practises on their own, then tests themselves with questions that get harder as they go.
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About this lesson
By the end of this lesson your child can find any term of an arithmetic sequence, work out the first term and common difference from two clues, add up a series with the sum formula, and work backwards from a sum to the number of terms. GCSE teaches the nth term of a sequence, but adding up an arithmetic series is only on the Edexcel IGCSE Higher paper, so a student who has learnt everything from GCSE can still meet a question they have never seen.
An extra IGCSE topic, not a full IGCSE course. This is one of 4 lessons covering the topics on the Edexcel IGCSE Higher specification that GCSE does not teach. It is for students who are already working through the GCSE Higher content. The topics IGCSE shares with GCSE, such as algebra, graphs and trigonometry, are in our GCSE Higher lessons.
Topics covered:
- The nth term, using uₙ = a + (n − 1)d to find a term, write the nth term and check whether a number is in the sequence
- Finding a and d from two terms, including terms written in k and terms written in algebra
- The sum of a series with Sₙ = n/2 [2a + (n − 1)d], starting from the terms, the last term or an nth term
- Working backwards from a sum to find the number of terms, the first term or the common difference, including polygon angle questions
- Parts of a series, such as the sum of the 10th to 20th terms, the multiples between two numbers and the middle term
- Show that and proof questions, including the sum of 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n
- Linking two sums, where one sum is a multiple of another, which is where the hardest IGCSE questions come from
Your child works through this lesson on a laptop or computer, which is the screen size it is built for. They click to reveal each line of a worked example, try the practice questions on paper, then click to check their own answer.
How it's structured:
- Each unit is split into 5 tabs, one per question type, with a worked example your child clicks through line by line, then practice questions colour coded easy, medium and hard
- 37 worked examples and 343 practice questions, each with a click-to-reveal answer, plus New Questions and New Examples buttons that deal fresh numbers every time
- A 20 question final mix pulling from every unit, then 6 exam style IGCSE Higher questions with the worked answer revealed one line at a time
Where the sum formula comes from. In the Add It Twice tool your child sets the first term, the difference and the number of terms, then adds the series to a copy of itself turned round. Every column comes out the same height, and that picture is the formula. A student who has seen it can rebuild the formula in the exam rather than rely on remembering it.
Use this if:
- Your child is sitting Edexcel IGCSE Maths Higher (4MA1) and has not been taught arithmetic series yet
- Your child is confident with GCSE Higher content and needs the extra IGCSE topics on top
- Your child can find the nth term but gets stuck when a question gives the sum and asks for the number of terms
- You want a resource your child can check their own work with, not one more thing on your to-do list
Built by an experienced maths teacher with over 3,000 hours of one-to-one tutoring experience and a Master's in Education.
Better value as a bundle. This lesson is one of 4 in the IGCSE Higher Maths: The Extra Topics Bundle, all 4 for £21.99 instead of £31.96 bought separately.
Format: Interactive digital lesson, link sent by email straight after purchase.
Suitable for: Year 10 and Year 11, IGCSE Higher (Edexcel 4MA1).
Refunds: this is a digital product delivered instantly, so it cannot be returned or refunded once the link has been opened. If you have any trouble getting in, email info@shlc-tutor.co.uk and we will sort it out.
Who this is for
Built for students who want to practise independently, at their own pace, with clear examples and instant feedback rather than a static worksheet.
What's included
Worked examples
See the method explained step by step before trying it yourself.
Guided practice
Work through questions with answers hidden until you're ready to check.
Exam-style questions
Split easy to hard, so your child is always working at the right level.
How it works
Buy the lesson
Complete checkout securely through Shopify.
Get your link by email
Your lesson link lands in your inbox straight after payment.
Work through it on screen
Open the link on a laptop or computer and start straight away.
What parents say
I have been really impressed with School House Online Tuition Centre’s digital maths lessons. Zakariyya, my 10-year-old son, had been struggling with algebra, and what stood out was how the lessons built his confidence by starting with the fundamentals before gradually increasing in difficulty. The progression was gradual and well paced, so by the time he reached the more challenging questions, he was able to think them through and answer most correctly.Saba · July 2026
Aadam, the tutor has a lovely mannerism and has made my daughter feel at ease. He explains the question in a way that she understands and is patient with her. She has already seen the results at school from his help and has gone up two GCSE grades in a short period of time.P. Flower · December 2024
Aadam is the best maths tutor I’ve ever had! His online maths lessons are easy to follow, and he always breaks down difficult topics into manageable parts. Thanks to Aadam’s tutoring, I’ve gone up two grades in maths and feel ready for my GCSE exams!L. Anggriani · December 2024
Verified 5-star Google reviews of SHLC's tutoring and lessons. Read all 62 reviews
FAQs
How do I access the lesson?
You'll get an email with your lesson link as soon as payment goes through. Click it to open the lesson in any browser, no login and no app to install.
How does the marking work?
There's no typing answers into a box. Your child works it out on paper, then clicks to reveal the correct answer and checks their own work. Full working is shown too, not just the final answer, so mistakes are easy to spot.
What do I need to open it on?
A laptop or a desktop computer. The lesson puts a worked example, a diagram and a question grid on the page at once, so it needs a full size screen with room for your child's own working beside it. It will open on a phone, but everything is too small to work from and we would not recommend it.
Can I use the lesson more than once?
Yes. There's no limit on how many times you open the link, so it's there for revision right up to the exam.
What if I lose the link or don't get the email?
Email info@shlc-tutor.co.uk and we'll resend it straight away.
Ready to start?
Link sent to your email, ready in seconds
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