GCSE Maths is the qualification that opens doors. Whether your child is sitting AQA, Edexcel or OCR, the topics are largely the same — and with the right revision strategy, every student can improve their grade significantly.
This guide covers everything you need to know: how the exams work, the key topics to revise, and where to find the best free GCSE Maths revision resources.
How GCSE Maths Is Examined
All three major exam boards (AQA, Edexcel and OCR) use the same format:
- Three papers — Paper 1 (non-calculator), Paper 2 (calculator), Paper 3 (calculator)
- Foundation or Higher tier — Foundation grades 1–5, Higher grades 4–9
- Each paper is 1 hour 30 minutes and worth 80 marks
Understanding the 9–1 Grading System
| Grade | Equivalent old grade | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | A** | Top performers only — above A* |
| 8–9 | A* | Exceptional |
| 7 | A | Above expected |
| 5–6 | B–C | Strong pass |
| 4 | C | Standard pass (meets most requirements) |
| 1–3 | D–G | Below standard pass |
A grade 4 is considered a standard pass. Most sixth forms, colleges and employers require at least a grade 4 in Maths.
Key Topics to Revise
Foundation Tier — Must-Know Topics
- Fractions, decimals and percentages
- Ratio and proportion
- Linear equations and graphs
- Area, perimeter and volume
- Pythagoras’ theorem and basic trigonometry
- Probability
- Statistics: mean, median, mode and reading data from charts
Higher Tier — Additional Topics
- Quadratic equations and graphs
- Circle theorems
- Vectors
- Surds and indices
- Histograms and cumulative frequency
- Trigonometry: sine and cosine rules
- Functions and transformations of graphs
AQA vs Edexcel vs OCR — What’s the Difference?
The content is almost identical across all three boards. The main differences are in the style and phrasing of questions:
- AQA — tends to use clear, direct question phrasing. Popular with schools for its straightforward approach.
- Edexcel — known for multi-step reasoning questions. Diagrams are detailed and well-labelled.
- OCR — includes more problem-solving and real-world context questions.
Always practise using the specific past papers for your exam board.
Revision Strategy That Works
- Identify weak topics first — do a practice paper, mark it, and list the topics where marks were lost.
- Focus on those topics — don’t just redo the whole syllabus. Targeted revision is more efficient.
- Do questions, not just reading — understanding a method and being able to apply it under pressure are different skills. Practice is essential.
- Timed papers closer to the exam — in the final four weeks, simulate exam conditions. Time pressure is a key variable many students don’t prepare for.
Free GCSE Maths Revision Resources
- Year 10 GCSE Maths lessons and interactive revision — Skoolmaths
- Year 11 GCSE Maths revision and past paper practice — Skoolmaths
- Free maths worksheets and resources — no sign-up required