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GCSE Maths and GCSE Sciences formulae and equation sheets for 2027 and 2028 onwards 

Arrangements for formulae and equation sheets for 2027 exams, and Ofqual consultation outcome for exams from 2028 for current specifications

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Published

Tuesday 1 Sep 2026

A teacher stood in a classroom in front of a chalk board with equations written on it

In November 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual confirmed  that students taking exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027 will not need to memorise the usual formulae for GCSE Maths, and the physics equations for GCSE Physics, GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy and GCSE Combined Science: Synergy.

This means that the full equations and formulae sheets will be provided for these subjects for exams in 2027 and will be included as an insert with every question paper.

We can also confirm that we’ll provide formulae sheets for our Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics (8365) exams in 2027 as well.

Exams in 2027

The full formulae and equations sheets for 2027 are available on our website.

Maths

Sciences

The content of the equations and formulae sheets for 2027 hasn’t changed, and they are the same ones which were used in 2026. Learners can still use these versions for revision and exam practice.

The 2027 Physics Equations Sheet will continue to be provided as an insert with the Physics (8463) papers 1 and 2, Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) physics papers 1 and 2 and all four Combined Science: Synergy (8465) question papers.

Questions that assess the recall and application of physics equations will use the same instructions, as in 2026 that direct learners to use the Physics Equations Sheet.

Exams in 2028 and onwards

Ofqual has published its  decisions on the proposed changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science GCSEs for exams being taken from 2028 onwards. The changes will apply for the lifetime of the current qualifications, including any resit opportunities.

Ofqual’s updated conditions will require exam boards to do the following for GCSE Maths and GCSE Sciences:

  1. publish the formulae and equations sheets for exams by 1 September the year before each exam series - and for the sheets to remain consistent with those in previous years and between specifications
  2. provide clean copies of the formulae and equations sheets with every exam paper
  3. not set questions that can be answered solely by transferring information from the formulae or equations sheets.

 
For point 3 above, these changes apply only to standard demand questions in our GCSE Science papers where learners are currently asked to ‘write down the equation that links’. We’ll share more information with schools and colleges later in the 2026/27 academic year about how these questions will be asked in the 2028 science exams. GCSE Maths (8300) papers are not affected by this change.

This is an interim measure until the reformed qualifications as part of the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review are ready for first exams. The DfE plans that reformed qualifications will be first taught in 2029 or 2030. Based on this timing, Ofqual expects the proposals will apply to current GCSE exams taken by students up to and including 2030 or 2031, and any resit series after that.

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