By paper, not by textbook
A Level Maths topics
Revise the sections of the paper on your entry. A textbook written for a different board will include topics you will not be asked, and it will miss ones you will.
9709 Paper 1, in syllabus order
The syllabus says Paper 1 is the foundation for every other component. The section order below is the syllabus order. It is a workable study order. It is not a promise about which question comes first.
- 1.1 Quadratics. Completing the square, the discriminant, equations and inequalities, a linear equation paired with a quadratic, equations that are quadratic in some other function.
- 1.2 Functions. Domain, range, inverse, composition.
- 1.3 Coordinate geometry. Lines, the circle (x − a)² + (y − b)² = r², tangents, and intersection used as the solutions of an equation.
- 1.4 Circular measure. Radians, arc length, sector area.
- 1.5 Trigonometry. Graphs, identities, equations.
- 1.6 Series. Binomial expansion for positive integer n, arithmetic and geometric progressions, the nth term, the sum, convergence, the sum to infinity.
- 1.7 Differentiation.
- 1.8 Integration.
About 10 to 12 structured questions, 1 hour 50, 75 marks. The A Level decision is Paper 1, Paper 3, Mechanics, Statistics 1 and Statistics 2. Paper 2 is an AS-only pure paper. It is not on this map if you are going on to the A Level.
The other 9709 papers this site teaches
Paper 3
Pure Mathematics 3
Builds on Paper 1. Sections include algebra, logarithms and exponentials, trigonometry, differentiation, integration, vectors and complex numbers. 1 hour 50, 75 marks, 30% of the A Level. Hub: Paper 3.
Paper 4
Mechanics
Forces and equilibrium, kinematics in a straight line, momentum, energy, work and power. Calculus is limited to Paper 1 techniques. 1 hour 15, 50 marks. Assumes Paper 1.
Paper 5
Statistics 1
Representation of data, permutations and combinations, probability including simple conditional probability, discrete random variables. 1 hour 15, 50 marks. The normal distribution sits in this paper, and it is a high-scoring block.
Paper 6
Statistics 2
The Poisson distribution, linear combinations of random variables, sampling and estimation. Only on the route that already has Paper 5. 1 hour 15, 50 marks, 20% of the A Level.
Edexcel IAL units on this site
Each unit is 1 hour 30 minutes and 75 marks. The International A Level in Mathematics is P1, P2, P3 and P4, plus one pair: M1 with S1, M1 with D1, M1 with M2, S1 with D1, or S1 with S2. This site’s hubs cover the units below. D1 and the further-pure units are in the specification and are not separate hubs here.
- WMA11 Pure Mathematics 1. Algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, differentiation, integration. A January 2025 paper mixes, in order: integration, coordinate geometry, modelling, algebra, differentiation, reciprocal functions, circular measure, inequalities. Study the topics, then sit a mixed paper.
- WMA12 Pure Mathematics 2. Proof, algebra, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, exponentials and logarithms, trigonometry, differentiation, integration.
- WMA13 Pure Mathematics 3. Algebra, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, numerical methods.
- WMA14 Pure Mathematics 4. Proof, algebra, coordinate geometry, binomial expansion, differentiation, integration, vectors.
- WME01 Mechanics 1. Models, vectors, straight-line kinematics, dynamics in a line or a plane, statics, moments.
- WST01 Statistics 1. Models, representation and summary, probability, correlation and regression, discrete random variables, discrete distributions, the normal distribution.
P1 to P4, M1, M2, S1 and S2 are listed for January, June and October. M3, S3 and D1 are listed for January and June. Use Pearson’s timetable for the series you are entered for. Do not copy a 9709 topic checklist onto a WMA unit.