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Lesson 3 of 5
New
New
- Year 9
Elections
I can understand how members of parliament are elected.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- First Past the Post (FPTP) is the name for the electoral system used to elect MPs to Westminster.
- The number of MPs a party has in parliament rarely matches their popularity.
- Fewer people can vote for a party but they can win more seats.
Keywords
First Past the Post - First Past the Post (FPTP) is the name for the electoral system used to elect MPs to Westminster.
Common misconception
Winning an election means receiving over half the vote.
Under the First Past the Post system, a winning candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate. This may not mean receiving over half of the total vote.
You may wish to look at the citizenship lessons that consider elections or collaborate with the citizenship department in your school if you want pupils to explore this further.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Calculate 30% of 600
Calculate 30% of 600
Q2.Calculate 45% of 720
Calculate 45% of 720
Q3.Calculate 121% of 923
Calculate 121% of 923
Q4.What percentage of 356 is 89?
What percentage of 356 is 89?
Q5.What percentage of 136.25 is 32.7?
What percentage of 136.25 is 32.7?
Q6.Sofia says 'If I start with a number and reduce it by 100% and then increase the answer by 100% then I will get back to the number I started with.' Is she correct?
Sofia says 'If I start with a number and reduce it by 100% and then increase the answer by 100% then I will get back to the number I started with.' Is she correct?
Yes - the percentages are the same so the overall value does not change.
Yes - the percentages are the same so the operations cancel each other out.
False - you will end up with 10% of the original amount.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1. (FPTP) is the name for the electoral system used to elect MPs to Westminster.
(FPTP) is the name for the electoral system used to elect MPs to Westminster.
Q2.The UK is divided into constituencies.
The UK is divided into constituencies.
250
350
450
550
Q3.There are 400 people voting in an election. There are three candidates and voters can only vote for one of them. What is the smallest number of votes that a candidate could receive and still win?
There are 400 people voting in an election. There are three candidates and voters can only vote for one of them. What is the smallest number of votes that a candidate could receive and still win?
133
200
400
Q4.In the FPTP system, it is possible for a candidate to be elected even though more people have voted against them, rather than for them.
In the FPTP system, it is possible for a candidate to be elected even though more people have voted against them, rather than for them.
False - a candidate must have the majority of the votes.
Q5.Which party won the election?
Which party won the election?
Party A
Party B
Party C
Q6.What percentage (to 1 d.p.) of the total vote did Party D receive?
What percentage (to 1 d.p.) of the total vote did Party D receive?
