A Level Maths past papers, with every mark explained.

A Level papers and components

Paper 1 · Pure Mathematics 1

Quadratics, functions, coordinate geometry, circular measure, trigonometry, series, differentiation and integration.

Paper 3 · Pure Mathematics 3

Algebra, logarithmic and exponential functions, trigonometry, differentiation, integration, numerical solution of equations, vectors, differential equations and complex numbers.

Paper 4 · Mechanics

Forces and equilibrium, kinematics in a straight line, momentum, Newton's laws of motion, and energy, work and power.

Paper 5 · Probability & Statistics 1

Representation of data, permutations and combinations, probability, discrete random variables and the normal distribution.

Paper 6 · Probability & Statistics 2

The Poisson distribution, linear combinations of random variables, continuous random variables, sampling and estimation, and hypothesis tests.

Pure Mathematics 3 topics

Every question is tagged to a syllabus topic, so your marks log shows which topics are costing you marks, not just your overall score.

• Algebra
• Logarithmic and exponential functions
• Trigonometry
• Differentiation
• Integration
• Numerical solution of equations
• Vectors
• Differential equations
• Complex numbers

How A Level marks are awarded

At A Level, long questions chain marks together: an M mark for the method, A marks for each correct stage, and follow-through (ft) marks that let you recover after an early slip. When the answer is printed in the question (AG), every step has to be shown to earn full credit.

Method follows the chain the same way, so a mistake in part (a) doesn't wipe out part (b), and across every paper you do you can see whether you're losing marks to method or to accuracy.

New to the shorthand? Read what M1, A1, B1, ft and cao mean.

Reading a paper code

9709/32 means syllabus 9709, Paper 3 (Pure Mathematics 3), variant 2. Cambridge sets different variants of the same paper for different time zones, so check the variant as well as the paper number when you look for a mark scheme. In Method you can type the code straight into the search.

How to practise A Level Maths with Method

1. 01Pick a paper. Browse A Level papers by year, session, paper and variant, or type a code like 9709/32. Questions on topics your syllabus no longer examines are hidden.
2. 02Answer it your way. Write directly on the paper on iPad with Apple Pencil, or answer on real paper and scan it with your iPhone or Android phone.
3. 03See every mark. Each step comes back with its M, A or B mark and a short note on anything you lost. Disagree with a mark? Dispute it and Method checks it again.

Method is in development and opens for the 2027 exam series. It is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, AQA or OCR.