How the GCSE Maths Exam Works: Foundation, Higher and Three Papers Explained

GCSE Mathematics is assessed across three separate papers taken at the end of Year 11. Students are entered for either Foundation tier (grades 1 to 5) or Higher tier (grades 4 to 9), with the tier decision typically made by the school in the spring of Year 11. One paper is non-calculator; the other two allow a calculator.

How many GCSE Maths papers are there?

There are three papers, all sat in the same June examination series at the end of Year 11. Using AQA — the most widely used exam board for GCSE Maths — the papers are:

Paper 1 (non-calculator): 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

Paper 2 (calculator): 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

Paper 3 (calculator): 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

The total mark across all three papers is 240. Grade boundaries — the number of marks needed for each grade — are set by the exam board after the exams have been sat, based on national performance. There is no coursework or non-examined assessment in GCSE Maths: the three papers alone determine the final grade.

What is the difference between Foundation and Higher tier?

Every GCSE Maths student is entered for one of two tiers. The tier determines the range of grades that can be awarded and the difficulty of the questions your child will face.

Feature | Foundation | Higher
Grades available | 1 to 5 (occasionally a 6 at the very top) | 4 to 9 (grade 3 possible if very low)
Content coverage | Core topics across all five content areas | Full range, including extended and higher-level material
Proportion of full GCSE content | Roughly 60–70% | 100%
Typical student profile | Working at grades 1–4 in Year 11 | Working at grades 5–9 in Year 11

Foundation covers essential numeracy and mathematical reasoning. Higher extends into more demanding algebra, trigonometry, higher-level geometry, and proof. A student who sits Higher but performs poorly may still be awarded a grade 3 in some circumstances. A student who sits Foundation and performs outstandingly will generally receive a grade 5, and occasionally a grade 6. This overlap makes the tier decision one that is worth discussing carefully with the school.

What topics come up in GCSE Maths?

The GCSE Maths specification is divided across five content areas, and questions from all of them can appear in any of the three papers:

Number — fractions, decimals, percentages, standard form, surds, indices

Algebra — expressions, equations, inequalities, sequences, graphs and functions

Ratio, proportion and rates of change — ratio, direct and inverse proportion, percentage change, speed, distance and time

Geometry and measures — angles, area, volume, Pythagoras' theorem, trigonometry, transformations, and circle theorems (Higher only)

Statistics and probability — data collection and representation, averages, probability

Questions range from single-step calculations worth one or two marks to multi-step problems worth four or five marks, requiring students to identify which method to apply and justify their reasoning. Showing working is essential — marks are available for correct method even when the final answer is wrong.

How are the papers timed and marked?

All three papers carry equal weight. Each lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes, with 80 marks available per paper.

Paper | Duration | Marks | Calculator?
Paper 1 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 80 | No
Paper 2 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 80 | Yes
Paper 3 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 80 | Yes

Papers 2 and 3 require a scientific calculator. Ensure your child has a calculator they are fully comfortable with well before the exam series — borrowing an unfamiliar one on the day costs time and confidence. Unlike A-level Maths, no formula sheet is provided at GCSE, so students need to have key formulae memorised (though some are given within the question where relevant).

Each paper is marked by external examiners. Method marks are awarded for setting out the correct approach even when the final answer is wrong, which is why tidy, legible working is genuinely important — not just good practice.

What grade does my child need to pass?

GCSE Maths is graded 1 to 9, with 9 the highest:

Grade 4 is the "standard pass". It is the minimum grade accepted by most employers, sixth forms and colleges as a baseline entry requirement for post-16 courses and many careers.

Grade 5 is the "strong pass". Competitive sixth forms, some university courses and a growing number of apprenticeships set grade 5 in Maths as their minimum.

Students who do not achieve a grade 4 by the end of Year 11 are legally required to continue studying maths post-16. This requirement has been in place since 2014 and applies to all students in England who remain in education or training at ages 16 and 17. They may resit GCSE Maths or work towards a Functional Skills qualification, depending on their circumstances.

When is the tier decision made and can it be changed?

Schools typically make the tier decision in the spring term of Year 11, often between February and April. At this stage, teachers assess your child's current attainment and decide which tier gives them the best chance of achieving their target grade.

The formal exam entry deadline — after which the tier is confirmed with the exam board — falls in the late winter or early spring term. After that point, changing the tier becomes very difficult and may not be possible. If you have concerns about the tier your child has been entered for, the time to raise them is as early as possible in Year 11 — ideally before Christmas. Schools do move students between tiers where there is a clear case, but the window is short and entry fees may already have been paid.

How to support maths revision at home

Encourage regular, shorter sessions. Twenty to thirty minutes of focused daily practice is considerably more effective than a single long session at the weekend. Consistent exposure matters in mathematics.

Prioritise weak topics. Using the GCSE Maths topic list to identify areas of difficulty helps your child direct their revision rather than revisiting what they already know well.

Use past papers under timed conditions. AQA and Pearson Edexcel both publish past papers with mark schemes freely on their websites. Practising under exam conditions builds the stamina needed for three 90-minute papers within a short window.

Make showing working a habit. Encourage your child to write out their method in full every time they practise, so that it becomes automatic in the real exam.

Talk to the school. Teachers can often pinpoint exactly which topics or question types are costing marks. Use this information to direct home revision and any tutoring support.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my child is entered for Foundation but could manage Higher?

A student who achieves a grade 5 at Foundation has reached the ceiling of what that tier can reliably award. A student consistently working at grade 5 or above in class would typically benefit from sitting Higher, where grades 6 to 9 are available. If you believe your child has been placed in the wrong tier, raise it with their maths teacher before the exam entry deadline — ideally by the end of Year 10 or very early in Year 11. After the deadline, changes are very difficult to make.

Is there coursework in GCSE Maths?

No. GCSE Maths is assessed entirely through the three written papers. There is no coursework, no non-examined assessment and no project work that contributes to the final grade. This has been the case since the current GCSE Mathematics specifications were introduced in 2015 for first examination in 2017.

What if my child doesn't pass GCSE Maths?

Students who receive a grade 3 or below at the end of Year 11 must continue studying maths post-16. Most schools' sixth forms and further education colleges run GCSE Maths resit courses, with resit exams available each November and June. Many students improve significantly between their Year 11 sitting and their first resit, particularly with targeted tutoring to address the specific topics and question types where marks were lost.

How many marks does my child need for a grade 4 in Maths?

Grade boundaries are not fixed in advance — AQA and other boards set them after each exam series, based on national performance. Boundaries are published on results day. As a rough guide from recent years, a grade 4 at Foundation has typically required around 45–55% of total marks (approximately 105–135 out of 240). Higher tier grade 4 boundaries tend to be lower in percentage terms, given the greater difficulty of the questions. Rather than chasing a specific mark target, the most reliable preparation is consistent, broad practice across all five content areas.

For Maths tutoring tailored to your child's tier and target grade, visit aitutors.me — our AI tutors adapt to each student's level and work at their pace.