- You can take GCSE or IGCSE Maths as the GCSE does not involve controlled assessment, no matter which board you choose.
- GCSE was the easier option in the past but isn't now - IGCSE covers more topics than the old GCSE.
- Maths GCSE from Summer 2017 is the reformed version, graded 1-9. These are significantly harder than the old GCSEs. There are currently a few sets of past papers available for the new 1-9 GCSE as well as several commercially produced sets and specimen sets produced by the exam boards.
- Edexcel IGCSE maths changed to 9-1 grading from summer 2018 exams. There was little change in the syllabus, however.
There is very little difference between the exam boards for maths GCSE, so choose whichever you can find a convenient exam centre for. The most popular (and perhaps the most straightforward to find exam centres and resources for) is Linear GCSE maths, but all options are discussed below.
Still have questions? Join the HE Exams community to get support from fellow home-educators. There is a Facebook group: Home Education UK Exams & Alternatives, and an email group, the HE Exams Yahoogroup.
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CIE maths (0980). It has two papers; for core, 1 hr and 2hr, and for extended, 1.5 hrs and 2.5hrs. It is the new version of 0580 and replaces 0626.
Edexcel IGCSE maths is 4MA1 and is now graded 9-1. However, the syllabus content has only changed slightly.
The last sitting of Edexcel IGCSE specification 4MA0 was January 2018.
Edexcel IGCSE is two 2 hour papers with a formula sheet for each paper. Calculator allowed for both papers.
How do the old and new GCSE maths compare for difficulty? - new research (2015) on how current and new specs compare to foreign exams and IGCSE .
Further and Additional Maths is a stepping-stone in between GCSE and AS-level; that now has its own page.
A-Level and AS-Level Maths has its own page.
We have a page full of maths resources - useful, mostly free, maths sites, YouTube channels, and some paid-for resources like online courses. Please see Maths Resources .
Maths Decisions
There are many options, but for those who just want to get a GCSE-level maths qualification with minimal hassle, the most popular choice is probably either GCSE Linear Maths, such as Edexcel 1MA1 or edexcel IGCSE (4MA1 from June 2018)
- Which qualification? GCSE or IGCSE? A-level?
- Which tier? Foundation or Higher?
- Which exam board? Edexcel or AQA?
- Which specification?
- A-level maths from home?
GCSE or IGCSE Maths?
GCSE maths changed to 9-1 grading from the summer 2017 exams.
GCSE Maths has, in the past, been considered the easiest way to get the qualification, but now GCSE and IGCSE are of similar difficulty.
In IGCSE maths, a calculator is allowed in both papers, but there are some topics which are not in GCSE maths. A formula sheet is supplied for Edexcel IGCSE but not for CIE.
GCSE maths (all boards) is three 1.5 hour papers. Paper 1 is a non calculator paper. However, the non-calculator questions are designed to be manageable without a calculator, so you don't need to expect terrifying questions. No formula sheet for any paper.
GCSE is available in the summer only (unless you are a resit candidate or are over 16).
IGCSE is available in the winter and summer sittings to external candidates, regardless of whether they've taken the exam before.
Edexcel Comparison of GCSE and IGCSE maths - useful document comparing the structure of Edexcel GCSE maths 1MA1 and IGCSE maths 4MA1. On the 'Teaching and learning materials' section of the Edexcel IGCSE maths page there is also a mapping document comparing the two specifications in more detail.
Foundation or Higher Tier?
When entering the exam you have to choose whether the candidate is taking Foundation Tier or Higher Tier papers. The papers have different codes. You choose one or the other - these courses are not intended for you to work through Foundation and then go on to Higher Tier. To do this would involve a lot of repetition and unnecessary work.
Quick Decision Helper:
Do you want the option of studying maths, computing or science at A-level? -> You need Higher tier.
Do you just want to get a pass in maths and then forget about it? -> Foundation involves less work, but the highest grade you can get is a 5.
A bit more complicated than that? Read on!
Foundation Tier is intended for students who struggle with maths or who just need a maths qualification, and do not want to study maths or sciences at higher level. The highest grade you can obtain at this tier is a 5. Although the mark necessary to pass this paper is higher than for the Higher Tier papers, the paper is designed to be accessible and to cover fewer topics, and so to be less offputting for students. This means it may well be easier to gain, say, 75% on the Foundation tier than to get 30% on the Higher tier (numbers pulled out of a hat!).
Higher Tier is for students who want the chance to get a grade 6 or higher, or who might wish to study maths or sciences later. It requires a lower mark to pass but the subject material is harder, so you cannot directly compare the marks. If the student wishes to have any chance of studying maths at a higher level in future, they must take the Higher tier. They may also need to obtain a Grade 6 or above if they wish to study sciences or Computing at most colleges.
Although you can retake the exam at Higher Tier after passing at Foundation level, in order to obtain a higher grade, generally students go straight for the most appropriate tier.
"There is nothing on certificates that details the tier of entry. So a grade 4 on foundation tier has the same value and is indistinguishable from a grade 4 gained on the higher tier.
Tiered exam papers have questions (usually around 20%) that are common to both foundation and higher tier. Exam boards use these to align standards between tiers, so it is no easier to get a grade on one tier than another.
There is a ‘safety net’ grade on the higher tier, for those who just miss a grade 4 (4-4 on combined science) but it is narrower than a normal grade (typically about half the number of marks). If a student misses that, they will be ungraded.
In general, a student whose target grade is a grade 4 or grade 5 should be entered for foundation tier. We know that some organisations recommend the opposite, but that puts students at risk of missing out on a grade."
Ofqual 2017 advice on choosing the right GCSE maths tier:
"There are two tiers: foundation and higher. Each tier is targeted at a range of the new numerical grades: 9 to 4 on the higher tier (with a ‘safety net’ grade 3 for students scoring a small number of marks below grade 4), and 5 to 1 on the foundation tier.
Students can achieve grades 5 to 3 on both tiers, and the exam papers will include some questions that are the same on both tiers. This will help exam boards ensure that it is no more or less difficult to achieve the same grade on different tiers."
Edexcel produce a document to help you decide which tier to enter?
Can you take both Foundation and Higher?
Some home-ed families take both tiers. However, you can't usually do this in the same exam season, because Foundation and Higher tier maths will be timetabled in the same slot, on the assumption that nobody would do both. There are ways round this, eg you could enter for Foundation IGCSE maths and Higher GCSE maths, or do IGCSE maths in the winter sitting and GCSE in the summer.
Which board? Edexcel, CIE, OCR, EDUQAS or AQA?
There is no consensus on which board is easiest or better in any way! There is very little to choose between them, so don't worry too much about this choice. If your choice of exam board is not determined by your exam centre, the best approach is to download some sample papers from each board and see which suits your child, and/or look at the materials available for each syllabus and see which your family prefers.
For GCSE maths, the syllabus is dictated by the government and so there is little difference in topics or difficulty between boards. The number of resources e.g. commercially produced practice books and papers and online resources varies between boards. Currently the board with most available resources is Edexcel.
For IGCSE maths, there are some style and content differences between Edexcel and CIE.
Which specification for GCSE Maths?
This relates to GCSE maths. For IGCSE maths specifications, see below.
GCSE sittings are controlled by the government and are only available to all in the summer. The November sitting is restricted to students who were aged 16+ on 31 August before the exams.
Edexcel GCSE Maths
Edexcel GCSE Maths (2015) main page - exams from summer 2017
Specification code 1MA1
Exams from June 2017
This exam is graded 9-1 and has Higher and Foundation tiers.
Foundation tier (grades 1 – 5) and a Higher tier (grades 4 – 9 but grade 3 allowed). Students must take three question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same exam season
3 papers, each 1 hour 30 minutes. Paper 1 is non-calculator, while papers 2 and 3 are calculator papers.
Resources for Edexcel GCSE Maths - in order of progression.
AQA GCSE Maths
AQA 9-1 GCSE Maths (2015) page - exams from Summer 2017.
- Exams from: June 2017
- Specification code: 8300
GCSE Mathematics has a Foundation tier (grades 1 – 5) and a Higher tier (grades 4 – 9). Students must take three question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same exam season
3 papers, each 1 hour 30 minutes. Paper 1 is non-calculator, while papers 2 and 3 are calculator papers.
Summary of the specification from AQA.
OCR GCSE Maths
OCR 1-9 GCSE Maths - exams from summer 2017
EDUQAS 1-9 GCSE Maths
EDUQAS 1-9 GCSE Maths - exams from summer 2017
IGCSE Maths Specifications
Edexcel International GCSE Maths
Edexcel offer IGCSE Maths A and B.
Specification A is the one most commonly taken in the UK. Specification B is the old O-level syllabus, is mainly taken overseas and far fewer good grades are awarded.
Edexcel IGCSE maths changed for exams from summer 2018, but the changes planned are minor and mainly it's a move to the 9-1 grading system. Edexcel have provided a mapping document showing the changes from the old syllabus 4MA0 to the new 4MA1.
Guide to Edexcel International GCSE Maths from 2016 - useful guide comparing the Maths A, Maths B, and Further Pure specifications and confirming when first and last exams will be held.
Edexcel IGCSE Maths Teaching and Learning Materials - free downloads of specimen papers for Edexcel IGCSE maths, mapping documents showing changes to the syllabus, and lots of practice materials.
Edexcel's Old specification IGCSE Maths A 4MA0. - past papers will still be useful for new spec 4MA1 to some extent as there was not much change to the syllabus. Edexcel's website offers the following overview:
"Mathematics A
- A move from the current A*–G to the new 9–1 grading structure
- Some minor additions to the content assessed at each tier to reflect this new 9–1 grading structure
- A small increase in the Number & Algebra assessment objective weighting at the expense of Statistics
- A few more questions on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning
- A revised formulae sheet at each tier.
Beyond the above, we are not changing how we assess the International GCSE Mathematics Specification A, which will continue to have two tiers of entry and two × two-hour calculator papers."
Edexcel Certificate IGCSE maths KMA0 -no longer available.
The Maths B IGCSE page states:
The International GCSE from 2009 Mathematics B (4MB0) specification is based on the legacy O level Mathematics Syllabus B (7361) specification
Resources for Edexcel IGCSE Maths
Edexcel provide lots of resources for teachers. They have a collection of Mapping Documents which compare the old specification IGCSE to the new specification, and comparing the new GCSE to the new IGCSE. You can find all these on <a href="//www.pastpapersz.com/">Edexcel Past Papers</a>
Edexcel GCSE Maths A Student Book A bit short on content compared to the usual standard.
IGCSE Mathematics for Edexcel by Alan Smith An independent textbook which many home educators consider more thorough than Edexcel's own book. Answers are on the included CD-Rom, but you can also access this backup copy of the Answers for Alan Smith IGCSE Mathematics for Edexcel
"We found the book much more thorough than Edexcel's own textbook, unusually, with clear explanations and lots of practice questions."
Another view:
"We have just bought the Alan Smith book as it was so highly recommended but I can't see anything that sets it above the Collins or Oxford editions. It does seem to have a lot of 'white paper' i.e. empty space on the page as though it is formatted for a different size paper. There are a lot of number problems and, compared to the other books, not many word problems. The explanations appear no more detailed than the other books. We'll be sending it back."
CIE IGCSE Maths
This is graded A*-G and there have been no announcements that it will change soon, so it is unlikely to change before 2019 at the earliest.
This syllabus is approved for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a Cambridge InternationalLevel 1/Level 2 Certificate (QN: 500/5655/4). In many centres, UK candidates are automatically entered for the Certificate version rather than the IGCSE. The only difference is the code for entries and the title which appears on the certificate.
Maths Resources
We have a page full of maths resources - useful, mostly free, maths sites, YouTube channels, and some paid-for resources like online courses. Please see Maths Resources .
Textbooks for GCSE / IGCSE Maths
Choose your textbook according to whether it is GCSE/IGCSE and the board eg search for 'edexcel gcse maths 2015 Student Book' or 'cie igcse maths Student Book' on Amazon. Note that a 'Student book' is a complete textbook offering full explanation and enough practice to be a complete course, whereas a 'Revision guide' is intended merely to supplement a course taught elsewhere. High street shops normally only stock Revision Guides, but you can order Student Books online. Check whether full answers are available for Student Books, as some publishers only make these available in their hugely expensive Teacher's Guides, while others make all answers freely available online or in a free CD-ROM. Edexcel will always provide answers to their own textbooks; experience on the HE Exams group has been that other publishers may also provide them if you explain your predicament.
Edexcel GCSE Maths A Student Book A bit short on content compared to the usual standard.
IGCSE Mathematics for Edexcel by Alan Smith An independent textbook which many home educators consider more thorough than Edexcel's own book. Answers are on the included CD-Rom, but you can also access this backup copy of the Answers for Alan Smith IGCSE Mathematics for Edexcel
"We found the book much more thorough than Edexcel's own textbook, unusually, with clear explanations and lots of practice questions."
Another view:
"We have just bought the Alan Smith book as it was so highly recommended but I can't see anything that sets it above the Collins or Oxford editions. It does seem to have a lot of 'white paper' i.e. empty space on the page as though it is formatted for a different size paper. There are a lot of number problems and, compared to the other books, not many word problems. The explanations appear no more detailed than the other books. We'll be sending it back."
Collins CIE IGCSE Maths Student Book Complete textbook for the course, but note that book only includes answers to practice questions; for the exam-style revision questions, the answers are in the teacher's guide which has to be bought separately at around £100! It may be possible to obtain them from the publisher but we have no information on whether they will provide it at present.
Collins CIE IGCSE Maths Revision Workbook
"The Revision book has 120 pages of very readable revision at the front of the book and then 200 pages of 'workbook' at the back, with space to work the answers etc. The answers to the problems are in the back of the book. This book presumes you have either finished the course or have the textbook. I doubt it could be used as a stand-alone book for teaching the course, although if you are also using Stuckonhomework or Conquer Maths it may be enough."
Collins Edexcel GCSE Maths A Revision Workbook Edexcel *workbook* for GCSE A (note GCSE, not IGCSE).
What next after GCSE maths?
Additional Maths / Further Maths / FSMQ - see separate page on Further and Additional Maths, and other ways to make use of the time between GCSE and A-level maths.
Other Maths Activities
UKMT Individual Challenges and mentoring materials. The UKMT material is good because it's fresh and a different approach from standard 'textbook' maths. See above for links.
The Problem Solver's Handbook, from UKMT
The Art of Problem Solving books, also from UKMT - these would probably be good for the proofs you're after, and it's an international approach so may work well with what your son has already used.
Project Euler - maths problems combined with programming problems - https://projecteuler.net/
"Project Euler is a series of challenging mathematical/computer programming problems that will require more than just mathematical insights to solve. Although mathematics will help you arrive at elegant and efficient methods, the use of a computer and programming skills will be required to solve most problems."
Vedic Maths - DS1 enjoyed learning lots of shortcuts with this approach. I wouldn't get too carried away with stories of its heritage because that part is probably made up - they are maths tricks, but useful ones and apparently very efficient. See http://blogannath.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/introduction-to-vedic-mathematics.html?m=1
The following books were recommended by a maths whizz on the HE-Exams list as being good material for mathsy teens, and the sort of thing which might be good to discuss at interviews:
- James Gleick's book on chaos
- Euclid's Elements
- Principia
- Ian Stewart's Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities
- C J Bradley's Introduction to Number Theory
- Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman
- The Man Who Loved Only Numbers
- The Man Who Knew Infinity (Ramanujan)