Free A Level Maths baseline test: start of Year 12
Find out where a student is starting from at the start of Year 12. 20 multiple-choice questions on the GCSE / IGCSE Higher maths A Level builds on: indices and surds, quadratics, simultaneous equations, functions, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, sequences, vectors and exponential growth, marked instantly, with a report that shows which topics are secure and which need work.
Free: sign in and start. Use Google, Microsoft or your email; you come straight back to the test.
What it covers
The test is written for the start of Year 12 of A Level Maths. It covers the GCSE / IGCSE Higher maths A Level builds on: indices and surds, quadratics, simultaneous equations, functions, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, sequences, vectors and exponential growth. Each question is tagged with the topic it tests, so the report maps straight onto the course:
- Fractional and negative indices
- Simplifying surds
- Rationalising the denominator
- Expanding brackets
- Factorising quadratics
- The quadratic formula
- Completing the square
- Simultaneous equations (one quadratic)
- Linear inequalities
- Function notation and composite functions
- Equation of a straight line
- Perpendicular gradients
- Circles and lines
- Exact trigonometric values
- The sine rule
- Area of a triangle
- The nth term of a sequence
- Transformations of graphs
- Magnitude of a vector
- Exponential growth
How it works
- 20 questions, four options each, one mark per question, about 40 minutes. Calculator allowed.
- Online or on paper. Click A, B, C or D online, or fill in the one-page answer sheet and upload a photo: the bubbles are read for you and anything unclear is shown to check.
- Students on their own see their result and topic report as soon as they submit.
- Teachers set it for a class from the class page, print the paper and answer sheets, and release results when everyone has finished. The class report shows each student's gaps and the weakest topics across the class, and results go into the class's mastery grid.
Two sample questions
These are like the questions in the test, with different numbers. They are not in the test itself.
Sample 1 · Completing the square
Write \(x^{2} - 6x + 11\) in the form \((x + p)^2 + q\).
- \((x - 3)^2 + 20\)
- \((x - 3)^2 + 2\)
- \((x + 3)^2 + 2\)
- \((x - 6)^2 - 25\)
Show the answer and working
Answer: B
Half the coefficient of \(x\) is \(-3\); \((x - 3)^2 = x^{2} - 6x + 9\), so subtract \(9\): \((x - 3)^2 + 2\).
A is what you get if you added the square of half the coefficient instead of subtracting it. C is what you get if you got the sign inside the bracket wrong. D is what you get if you used the whole coefficient of x instead of half of it.
Sample 2 · Simplifying surds
Simplify \(\sqrt{72} + \sqrt{32}\).
- \(2\sqrt{104}\)
- \(11\sqrt{2}\)
- \(10\sqrt{2}\)
- \(10\sqrt{4}\)
Show the answer and working
Answer: C
Write each surd as a multiple of \(\sqrt{2}\) and collect: \(10\sqrt{2}\).
A is what you get if you added the numbers under the square roots. B is what you get if you took out a square factor wrongly. D is what you get if you left a square factor inside the root.
What the report looks like
Example report (made-up results for one student):
Score 13 / 20 (65%)
- Fractional and negative indicesGap
- Simplifying surdsGap
- Rationalising the denominatorDeveloping
- Expanding bracketsDeveloping
- Factorising quadraticsSecure
- The quadratic formulaSecure
Each weak topic links to practice on that topic, and each wrong answer names the common mistake it comes from (for example “moved a number across without changing its sign”).
Questions students and teachers ask
Is the baseline test free?
Yes. The test, the result and the topic report are free. Sign in with a free account (Google, Microsoft or email) so your result is saved; there is no payment and no card. Teachers use it free with a class too: printable papers, answer sheets and the class report come with a free teacher account.
How long does it take?
20 multiple-choice questions, about 40 minutes. A calculator is allowed. A teacher can set it as a timed test.
Can it be done on paper?
Yes. A teacher prints the question paper and a one-page answer sheet. Students fill in one bubble per question; a photo of the sheet is read for you. The bubbles are read twice (on the device and with AI), and any question where the readings disagree is shown on screen to check. Everyone can also answer online by clicking A, B, C or D.
What does the result show?
The score, a topic-by-topic report with the weakest topics first, the common mistake behind each wrong answer, and links to practise each weak topic. It shows where a student is starting from; it is not a grade prediction.
Can a student take it more than once?
Each student takes each test once (and once for each class it is set for), so the result stays a fair starting point. Teachers release class results when everyone has finished.
Other free baseline tests
- A Level Maths (UK): start of Year 13 baseline · Start of Year 13
- IAL Maths: start of Year 13 baseline · Start of Year 13