Features and benefits: of our specification
Maths is for everyone. We design qualifications and support to enable students to engage with, explore, enjoy and succeed in maths. By putting students at the heart of everything we do, our aim is to support teachers to shape what success in maths looks like for every student.
We understand that some students feel that maths is ‘not for them’ but it’s diverse, engaging and essential in equipping students with the right skills to reach their future destination, whatever that may be. Our specification and resources encourage students of all abilities to access and demonstrate their ability in maths.
All exam boards have the same subject content, but we have the expertise in assessment design to write clear, accessible assessments that allow all students to realise their potential.
Exam structure
We have three papers for our GCSE course:
- Paper 1: non-calculator
- Paper 2: calculator
- Paper 3: calculator
The table below shows how we structure our assessments, which is the same across all papers and for both Higher and Foundation tiers.
What's assessed | Assessment | Questions |
|---|---|---|
Content from any part of the specification may be assessed. |
| A mix of question styles, from short, single-mark questions to multi-step problems. The mathematical demand increases as a student progresses through the paper. |
Our testing of assessment objectives is aligned with the way you teach. Students learn the basics first, then gradually advance to apply this in different contexts. The papers are designed and structured in the same way, beginning with easier content in simple contexts and gradually progressing to more difficult content in more abstract contexts.
The papers will then progress as detailed in the table.
Tier | Earlier questions | Early/middle questions | Late middle/later questions |
|---|---|---|---|
Foundation | Most questions will assess the DfE’s ‘standard type’ content, using an AO1 approach. Accessible questions with few words or contexts. | A continued emphasis on AO1 style questions, with few words or contexts. Some questions will test the DfE's underlined type, which explores additional Foundation tier content. | Questions will focus on AO2 and AO3 approaches (interpretation, communication and problem solving), mainly assessing the standard type content. Increasingly, towards the end of the paper, questions addressing the underlined content will appear. |
Higher | Questions of a similar standard to those asked in the middle of the Foundation tier. The demand will be in line with the lowest requirements of Higher tier, and the emphasis will be on AO1. | Questions will focus on AO2 and AO3 approaches (interpretation, communication and problem solving), mainly assessing the DfE's standard and underlined content. | Questions will focus on content that the DfE classify in bold type. This challenging content will usually be tested using an AO1 approach, straightforward and with little or no context. In the most demanding questions, this content may be assessed with the AO2/AO3 approach. |
Resources to support your teaching
We have a wide ranging and in-depth portfolio of resources for planning, teaching and assessing the specification. These include practice papers, teaching guidance and topic tests, which can be found on All About Maths.
For a full list of all our GCSE Maths resources, download our handy links resource guide. We’ve also highlighted some of our favourite tools below.
Teaching guidance
Written by our expert examiners, our teaching guidance offers comprehensive step-by-step advice on what your students should be able to do, including example exam questions. We recommend using it as a reference for revision to help make sure students have covered all aspects of the specification. It’s also a useful resource for planning and teaching classroom and homework activities.
Route maps
Plan your teaching with our interactive route maps. Available on All About Maths, they are fully customisable and link to a range of teaching resources for Foundation tier and Higher tier, such as lesson plans, activities, worksheets and homework sheets.
We have route maps available for teaching both tiers over two or three years, as well as a one-year route map specifically for resit students.
We also have powerpoint versions for use offline.
Mock exam analysers
If you are using past papers as mocks, then you can use our mock exam analysers to analyse the results, saving you time and supporting your teaching.
We have two types of mock exam analyser for each paper: a student friendly version and a class comparison version.
The student friendly analyser allows your students to:
- analyse their grade and compare this with their target
- compare their performance on each question with students who took the live exam, using real data from the exam
- review their performance to identify strengths and weaknesses in different topic areas
- see the mark scheme and a model answer for each question.
The class comparison version allows you to:
- review how your class performed and compare this with their targets
- compare your class’s performance on each question with those who took the live exam, using real data from the exam
- highlight common strengths and weaknesses with clear RAG (red, amber, green) coding
- identify students who may need additional support.
Maths round up
Maths round up is a free, termly webinar hosted by Andrew Taylor, our Head of Curriculum for Maths. In these webinars, Andrew talks through new resources, upcoming CPD events, assessment design and key assessment dates, helping you prepare for the term ahead. There is also an opportunity to ask him questions in the live Q&A.
Register your details to find out about upcoming dates for maths round up, as well as other important news and information. Please remember to use your school email address as we can’t contact you on a personal one.
Get in touch
We have a team of subject experts who are here to help you deliver our maths specifications.
We want you to feel confident about guiding your students to fulfil their potential, so please get in touch if you need advice or have any questions.
Email: maths@aqa.org.uk
Tel: 0161 957 3852
8am–5pm Monday to Friday