Everything you need to know about AQA Maths GCSE

What’s the difference between Higher and Foundation?

As you can see, the format of the two Maths tier papers is the same. The key difference between the two is how challenging the questions are and the grades available.

Foundation tier Maths AQA:

• Covers the essential topics students need to know that will prepare them for further study, work and everyday life.

• In Foundation Maths, students can achieve grades 1,2,3,4, and 5, but no higher.

Higher tier Maths AQA:

• The higher tier covers more advanced topics such as: more complex Algebra, higher-level Geometry, and deeper Functions.

• For Higher tier Maths, students can achieve grades 3-9, but no lower.

Your school will place you in the correct tier based on your performance in Year 9. Sometimes, students may be moved up or down a tier during Year 10 or 11.

AQA requires all exams to be taken at the same level, so you cannot do Higher for one part and Foundation for another.

How long is the exam?

• Each paper is 1 hour and 30 minutes (90 minutes) long.

• If you're entitled to 25% extra time, you'll have 1 hour 53 minutes per paper.

• All papers are set on separate days, usually spread across the exam period in May and June.

What does the exam paper look like?

Each paper will include:

• An instructions page: This is where students will need to fill in their personal details and where they can read through the materials, instructions, information and advice for each AQA Maths paper.

• The question booklet: This will include all the questions and where students will write their answers and show their working out.

• Additional pages: These are for extra space to include working out, if needed. Students must write the question number in the left-hand margin to ensure they don’t lose marks.

What kinds of questions are there?

For each of the papers, a mix of question styles will appear. The difficulty increases as you progress through the paper.

Towards the start of the paper, short, one or two-mark questions will appear:

Pictured: The first page from Higher Tier, Paper 1 AQA GCSE Maths June 2024.

As you progress through the paper, multi-step problems with more marks will be included, requiring deeper thinking:

Pictured: Higher Foundation Tier, Paper 1 AQA GCSE Maths June 2024.

Each AQA GCSE Maths paper is worth 80 marks in total. The number of marks for a question shows how much detail or working is needed.

Short, 1–2 mark questions are simpler, while the later questions can be worth up to 8 marks and usually require more steps and reasoning.

Here's a breakdown of the types of questions you'll find by number of marks:

1-mark questions:

• These are often simple recall, single-step arithmetic, or quick fact questions.

• They test basic skills: e.g. “Write ⅗ as a decimal,” “What is 7 × 8?”, “Calculate 15% of 80.”

• They don’t require extended working. One line or even just the answer is enough (though working is beneficial in case of slips).

• They’re designed to build confidence early in the paper.

Medium-mark questions (2–5 marks):

• These questions require a few more steps to solve, and ask students to demonstrate more thought and understanding.

• You may need to show intermediate workings or justify a step.

• The mark scheme will award method marks (for correct setup or steps) as well as final answer marks.

Higher-mark, multi-step / reasoning questions (6, 7, 8+ marks):

• These ask you to combine multiple areas of Maths: Algebra, Geometry, Statistics or Ratio, in context.

• They often include “show that”, “explain why”, “prove”, or “justify” wording.

• You must lay out a clear method, break down steps, and sometimes consider alternative approaches or show reasoning.

• Marks are split into different types. You can earn method marks for showing the correct steps and working, and accuracy marks for getting the right answers. Some questions also award extra marks for giving a clear explanation or justification at the end.

• Even if the final answer is wrong, partial marks can be earned for correct working.

• For the higher mark questions, students must show their working out.

What are the grade boundaries for AQA Maths GCSE?

It’s important to remember that the exact grade boundaries for your GCSE exams will change every year.

Exam boards adjust the grade boundaries after an exam has happened, depending on how advanced the exam content was and how the cohort performed. This is so students don’t have an advantage or disadvantage because of the year they took the paper. For example, if your paper were harder, grade boundaries would be lowered so that a grade 5 reflects the same level of knowledge as in previous years.

The grade boundaries for AQA Maths in 2026 are not yet known, but we’ve taken a look at the previous year’s data to give you an idea of what to expect.

• In recent years, grade 9s hovered between 214 and 219 marks out of 240.

• Grade 8s fell between 184 and 191, and grade 7s between 157 and 164.

• The standard pass for a grade 4 on the Higher paper tended to be in the 60s. Last year it was 63 marks, and before that 61.

• On Foundation papers, grade 5 required 186 to 188 marks, with a grade 4 around 150 to 160.

The changes in grade boundaries year on year are often not huge. The biggest drops will be if a more difficult paper is set, but don’t worry - exam boards take care of making sure grading is fair and consistent for your year group.

If the results aren’t what you’d hoped for, you can ask for your paper to be remarked. But be careful, you can lose marks too in remarking!

As a reminder, take a look at our blog on how GCSE exams are graded.

Where can I find past papers and mark schemes?

Practising with past papers and mark schemes is one of the most effective ways to prepare for GCSE AQA Maths. Past papers help you understand the question style, see how marks are awarded, and build confidence with real exam timing and structure.

Head to the AQA website to find past papers and mark schemes from previous GCSE AQA Maths exams.

What key topics do I need to know for the AQA Maths GCSE?

AQA Maths tests several key topics at GCSE. You’ll need a thorough understanding of each topic, and it’s important to make sure you revise the areas you find most difficult ahead of the exam.

The topics are:

• Number: This topic tests your understanding of things like units of measure, fractions and prime numbers.

• Algebra: For this topic, you’ll be tested on expanding and simplifying algebraic equations, plotting and understanding graphs, and more.

• Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change: This topic involves understanding concepts such as compound units, scale diagrams, and direct and inverse proportion.

• Geometry and Measure: Here you’ll need to understand properties of angles, coordinate axes, rotation, reflection, translation and enlargement, among other things.

• Probability: This involves calculating the likelihood of outcomes in future experiments, understanding the probability scale, using tree diagrams, and more.

• Statistics: For Statistics, you’ll need to interpret and construct charts, graphs and diagrams, understand population data, understand correlation and more.

If you’re taking Further Maths, you’ll also be tested on topics like Functions, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus and Matrix Transformations.

What are examiners looking for?

When marking AQA GCSE Maths papers, examiners aren’t just checking for the right answers; they want to see how you think. They’re looking for clear working, sensible explanations and answers that show genuine understanding of the questions.

Every question on the paper is written to show examiners what a student can really do. Each question tests one or more of the three Assessment Objectives (AOs), which helps examiners assess how well a student can apply Maths to solve problems.

The three assessment objectives are:

1. AO1 – Applying standard techniques

This is about using mathematical skills and methods correctly. Examiners look for accuracy in calculations, correct use of formulae, and clear working.

Questions that assess AO1 often involve number work, algebraic manipulation, or Geometry. Students are rewarded for demonstrating the correct method, even if they make a mistake in their calculations.

2. AO2 – Reasoning, interpreting and communicating

Here, examiners want to see a student’s ability to think logically and explain their process. AO2 is about showing why something works, not just how to do it.

Students might need to compare results, interpret graphs, or explain relationships between numbers. Clear reasoning and well-presented answers are key; examiners are looking for clear, logical thinking just as much as the correct final answer.

3. AO3 – Solving problems in context

This objective focuses on applying Maths to real-life or unfamiliar situations. Examiners are assessing how well students can choose the right method, link different areas of Maths, and make sense of their answers.

AO3 questions often require several steps and reward logical reasoning and a clear understanding of the problem, not just the final answer.

Every AQA Maths paper provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate what they truly understand. The best way to impress examiners is to approach each question step by step, show the working clearly, and check that your answers make sense.

By practising this approach regularly, you build the habits examiners look for: clear working, logical thinking, and confidence in tackling unfamiliar problems. It’s these skills, developed over time, that help turn preparation into strong, well-earned marks on exam day.