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Level 3-4 Shapes - Shape Identification
This roadsign has the shape of a triangle.

Level 3-4 Shapes - Shape Identification

Know your shapes by sight and properties. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals and polygons using sides, angles and symmetry, then match names to features quickly for KS3 problems.

Fascinating Fact:

An equilateral triangle has three equal sides, while an isosceles has two equal sides, and a scalene has none.

In KS3 Maths, shape identification means recognising polygons by their features: side lengths, angle sizes, and lines of symmetry. You’ll classify triangles and quadrilaterals, use angle facts, and match names to properties.

  • Polygon: A flat shape made of straight sides, e.g., triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon.
  • Regular polygon: A polygon with all sides and all angles equal, e.g., an equilateral triangle or a square.
  • Line of symmetry: A line that divides a shape into two matching halves that reflect each other.
How do I tell triangle types apart?

Use sides and angles: equilateral (three equal sides, three 60° angles), isosceles (two equal sides, base angles equal), scalene (no equal sides), and right-angled (one 90° angle).

What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?

Both have four right angles. A rectangle has opposite sides equal; a square is a special rectangle with all four sides equal and four lines of symmetry.

How can I identify common quadrilaterals quickly?

Parallelogram: two pairs of parallel sides. Rhombus: all sides equal, opposite angles equal. Kite: two pairs of adjacent equal sides. Trapezium: at least one pair of parallel sides.

1 .
From the shapes below, can you recognise the octagon?
A
B
C
D
It is in fact a regular octagon as all eight sides are of equal length and all internal angles are of the same size
2 .
Which shape below is a circle?
A
B
C
D
Circles are round. Each point on their circumference is the same distance from their centre
3 .
Which of the shapes below is the parallelogram?
A
B
C
D
Parallelograms are quadrilaterals with two pairs of parallel sides
4 .
Which of the shapes below is a pentagon?
A
B
C
D
A pentagon is a 5-sided polygon
5 .
Which of the shapes below is a triangle?
A
B
C
D
'Tri' means 3, as in 'tricycle'
6 .
Which of the shapes below is a rectangle?
A
B
C
D
Rectangles have 4 straight sides and 4 right angles
7 .
Which of the shapes below is the trapezium?
A
B
C
D
A trapezium is a quadrilateral with only one pair of parallel sides
8 .
Which of the shapes below is NOT a polygon?
A
B
C
D
The circle does not have any straight sides or angles and is therefore not a polygon
9 .
Can you pick out the hexagon in the picture below?
A
B
C
D
HeXagons have siX sides
10 .
How many of the shapes below are polygons?
1
2
3
4
A polygon has at least 3 straight sides and angles
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Shapes

Author:  Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)

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