A worksheet on evaluating powers of positive and negative integers. The exponents in these powers are positive integers or zero. Solutions are included.

Master evaluating indices and powers with positive and negative bases! This rigorous, no-prep 4-page worksheet booklet features 36 carefully structured problems designed to target tricky index laws, zero indices, and the critical difference between expressions with and without brackets. A complete, question-matched solutions key is included for effortless marking or student self-assessment!

Looking for a rigorous, no-prep resource to clear up common student misconceptions about indices, powers, and negative numbers?
This Evaluating Indices with Positive & Negative Bases Worksheet Booklet provides your secondary students with targeted, independent practice. It challenges students to carefully apply the order of operations (BIDMAS/BODMAS) and directed number rules when raising positive and negative numbers to various powers.
A major benefit of this booklet is that it explicitly tests the “brackets trap” that trips up so many students—ensuring they understand the crucial structural difference between calculations like ((-5)^2) and (-3^{2})!

What’s Included in This Download?
• 2 Full Pages of Student Practice: A total of 36 neatly formatted index problems (Questions 1–16 on Page 1 and Questions 17–36 on Page 2).
• Comprehensive Array of Rules: Includes positive bases, negative bases, odd/even powers, powers of 1, and zero indices ((n^{0})).
• Complete Solutions Key: A 2-page answer sheet (Pages 3 and 4) matched exactly to the student pages to save you valuable marking time or allow for student self-marking.

Key Skills Covered:
• Evaluating powers and indices with positive and negative integer bases.
• Identifying how even and odd powers affect the sign of the final answer.
• Recognizing the structural difference between expressions with brackets and without brackets.
• Applying rules for powers of 1 and zero indices ((n^0 = 1)).

Perfect For:
• Key Stage 3 (KS3) Maths Lessons (Years 7, 8, and 9)
• GCSE Foundation & Higher Tier Revision (Years 10 and 11)
• Homework Assignments, In-Class Assessments, or Independent Study
• Small-Group Maths Intervention, Tutoring, & Catch-up Classes
• Quick, No-Prep Cover Work/Substitute Teacher Packets

Curriculum Alignment:
• UK National Curriculum (KS3 / GCSE): Number – Use integer powers and associated roots (squares, cubes), recognise powers of 2, 3, 4, 5; distinguish between the square of a negative number and the negative of a square.