In the United Kingdom, students preparing for their A-Level and AS-Level Mathematics examinations often seek reliable, no-cost resources to support their revision and practice. Official examination boards, such as Pearson Edexcel, provide a range of free materials, including past papers, mark schemes, and specification documents. These resources are invaluable for familiarising oneself with exam formats, understanding question styles, and practicing under timed conditions. The availability of these materials can significantly aid in exam readiness without requiring financial investment.
Pearson Edexcel offers comprehensive free support for A-Level and AS-Level Mathematics. This includes specifications, sample materials, and model answers for both AS and A Level Maths. Additionally, the board provides content guidance, exemplification documents, and a qualifications guide. For educators and students alike, there are schemes of work, course planners, and interactive schemes for standalone or combined AS/A Level Maths and Further Maths courses. Teacher guides, technology resources such as GeoGebra, and calculator tutorial videos are also available. Specific worksheets cover new content, the large data set, modelling questions, and transition resources from GCSE to AS Level Maths.
Edexcel A-Level Mathematics Past Papers
A key component of free revision resources is access to past exam papers. Pearson Edexcel provides past exam papers for A-Level Mathematics (9MA0) and AS Mathematics (8MA0). These papers cover Pure Mathematics and Mechanics & Statistics. Students can download the past papers and corresponding mark schemes by following the provided links on the relevant websites.
The available past papers span several years, allowing for extensive practice. For the A-Level Mathematics (9MA0) specification, past papers are available for the following periods: * June 2024 * June 2023 * June 2022 * November 2021 * November 2020 * June 2019 * June 2018
For AS Mathematics (8MA0), past papers are available for: * June 2024 * June 2023 * November 2021 * November 2020 * June 2019
It is noted that the 2024 papers may still be unavailable from Edexcel as they might be used for mock exams. Furthermore, some papers are labelled as May and some as October. The May exams were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and were subsequently reused later in the year.
Edexcel AS-Level Mathematics Practice Papers
In addition to past papers, practice papers are available for AS Mathematics. These resources are designed to help students familiarise themselves with the exam format and identify areas for improvement. The practice papers are organised by year and include Pure Maths, Statistics, and Mechanics papers, each accompanied by a mark scheme.
Practice papers for AS Maths are available for the following years: * 2023: Pure Maths Paper 1, Statistics Paper 2, Mechanics Paper 3. * 2022: Pure Maths Paper 1, Statistics Paper 2, Mechanics Paper 3. * 2021: Pure Maths Paper 1, Statistics Paper 2, Mechanics Paper 3. * 2020: Pure Maths Paper 1, Statistics Paper 2, Mechanics Paper 3. * 2019: Pure Maths Paper 1, Statistics Paper 2, Mechanics Paper 3. * 2018: Pure Maths Paper 1, Applied Maths Paper 2.
Specimen papers are also available for AS Maths, including Pure Maths Paper 1 Specimen and Applied Maths Paper 2 Specimen, each with a corresponding mark scheme.
Structure of the Edexcel A-Level Mathematics Qualification
Understanding the structure of the qualification is crucial for effective preparation. The Edexcel A-Level Mathematics qualification (9MA0) consists of three papers, each contributing one-third to the final grade. All exams are two hours long and are taken in the afternoon. There is no coursework component for A-Level Edexcel Mathematics.
The three papers are: * Paper 1 (9MA0/01): Pure Mathematics 1 * Paper 2 (9MA0/02): Pure Mathematics 2 * Paper 3 (9MA0/03): Statistics and Mechanics
Students are permitted to use a formula booklet during the exams. The relevant formula booklet can be found on the official Edexcel website. Students are also allowed to use a graphical calculator. A commonly used model is the fx-CG50.
Sample Assessment Material and Example Questions
To further aid preparation, Pearson Edexcel provides Sample Assessment Materials. These materials include example questions and mark schemes that reflect the style and content of the actual examinations. The sample material for the first teaching in September 2017 includes questions across the three papers.
For instance, a sample question from the Pure Mathematics paper involves a curve with the equation ( y = 3x^4 – 8x^3 – 3 ). The question asks for: * (a) (i) ( dx/dy ) and (ii) ( d^2x/dy^2 ) * (b) Verification that the curve has a stationary point when ( x = 2 ) * (c) Determination of the nature of this stationary point with a reason.
Another sample question involves a shape consisting of two sectors of circles with a common centre O. Given the arc length CD = 3 cm, ∠COD = 0.4 radians, and AOD is a straight line of length 12 cm, students are asked to find the length of OD and the area of the shaded sector AOB.
A further question provides the circle equation ( x^2 + y^2 – 4x + 10y = k ) and asks for: * (a) The coordinates of the centre of C. * (b) The range of possible values for k.
An integration question involves finding the exact area of a finite region S bounded by the curve ( y = (x^2 \ln x)/3 – 2x + 5 ) (for ( x > 0 )), the line ( x = 1 ), the x-axis, and the line ( x = 3 ). The question requires the use of the trapezium rule for an estimate and showing that the exact area can be written in the form ( a/b + \ln c ), where a, b, and c are integers.
Differentiation questions are also included. For example, a sketch of the curve ( y = f(x) ) with maximum and minimum turning points is given. Students are asked to show that the x-coordinates of these points are solutions of the equation ( \tan 2x = \sqrt{2} ) and then to find the x-coordinate of the minimum turning point for transformed curves, such as ( y = f(2x) ) and ( y = 3 - 2f(x) ).
Other Free Resources and Exam Information
Beyond past and practice papers, other free resources are available to support students. These include exam questions organised by topic, covering Pure, Applied (Stats), and Applied (Mechanics) sections. There are also resources for legacy modular Edexcel syllabuses, including units C1, C2, C3, C4, S1, S2, M1, and M2. For international students or those preparing for the new linear syllabus, international past exam papers for Edexcel (C12, C34, M1, M2, S1, S2) are available.
Key information for the 2026 Edexcel A-Level Maths exams has been provided. The exam dates are: * Paper 1: Wednesday, 3rd June 2026 * Paper 2: Thursday, 11th June 2026 * Paper 3: Thursday, 18th June 2026
All exams are scheduled for the afternoon. Students will sit three exams, each two hours long, with no coursework. The use of a formula booklet and a graphical calculator (such as the fx-CG50) is permitted.
Conclusion
Students preparing for Edexcel A-Level and AS-Level Mathematics examinations in the UK have access to a wealth of free support materials directly from Pearson Edexcel. These resources include comprehensive past papers, practice papers, mark schemes, sample assessment materials, and specification documents. By utilising these no-cost materials, students can gain a thorough understanding of the exam format, practice a wide range of questions, and identify areas requiring further revision. Accessing these official resources is a critical step in effective exam preparation, providing a structured and reliable path to achieving success in A-Level Mathematics.