Edexcel A Level Maths mock exam: what is on it and how to revise

What is on the Edexcel 9MA0 mock

Your school writes or chooses your mock, so ask your teacher which papers and topics are in it. Most Year 13 mocks copy the real Edexcel A Level Maths exam, which is:

• Paper 1: Any of the pure content (Edexcel Pure topics 1 to 10).
• Paper 2: Any of the pure content (Edexcel Pure topics 1 to 10).
• Paper 3: Section A is statistics (topics 1 to 5), Section B is mechanics (topics 6 to 9). Pearson sometimes publishes the two sections as separate files (9MA0/31 and 9MA0/32).

As listed on Pearson's website. More on each paper: Edexcel 9MA0 past papers · Edexcel A Level Maths course guide · the Edexcel large data set.

Sit a free Edexcel A Level Maths mock

Sit one paper under timed conditions before you revise: the marks you lose tell you which topics to fix first.

2-week Edexcel 9MA0 mock revision plan

Ten days on the ten topics where Edexcel students lose the most marks, in the order our Examiner Insights rank them, then four days on papers. Each topic links to its revision page and a Skill Builder.

1. Day 1

   Algebra and functions

   Where marks go: Functions: inverse, composite, modulus and domain/range

   Skill Builders: The modulus function & modulus equations · Composite functions

2. Day 2

   Integration and differential equations

   Where marks go: Integration techniques and differential equations

   Skill Builders: Forming differential equations · Solving differential equations & modelling

3. Day 3

   Differentiation

   Where marks go: Differentiation, including implicit and parametric

   Skill Builders: Implicit differentiation · Parametric differentiation

4. Day 4

   Exponentials and logarithms

   Where marks go: Exponential models: find, state and critique the model

   Skill Builders: Exponential growth & decay models · Exponential functions & graphs

5. Day 5

   Trigonometry

   Where marks go: Trigonometry: R-form, identities and small angles

   Skill Builders: Small angle approximations · Fundamental trig identities

   Question sets: small angle approximations and radians questions (18)

6. Day 6

   Binomial and normal distributions

   Where marks go: Binomial and normal: notation, tails and accuracy

   Skill Builders: The binomial distribution · The normal distribution

   Question sets: normal distribution questions (30) · normal approximation to the binomial questions (12)

7. Day 7

   Moments

   Where marks go: Moments with a rod on a peg or ladder

   Skill Builders: Moments & the turning effect · Equilibrium of rigid bodies

8. Day 8

   Proof

   Where marks go: Proof: completing the square, exhaustion and contradiction

   Skill Builders: Proof by exhaustion · Proof by contradiction

9. Day 9

   Numerical methods

   Where marks go: Numerical methods: sign change, Newton–Raphson, iteration

   Skill Builders: Locating roots by change of sign · Iteration x = g(x)

10. Day 10

    Vectors

    Where marks go: 3D vectors and geometric problems

    Skill Builders: Position vectors & geometry problems · Vectors in 2D: notation, magnitude & direction

11. Day 11

    Paper 1, timed

    Sit the free Predicted Paper 2027 or a recent Paper 1 from the Edexcel 9MA0 past papers in one go: 2 hours, with the formulae booklet.

12. Day 12

    Mark it and fix the gaps

    Mark it with the mark scheme, put every lost mark in My mistakes, then do the Skill Builders for your two weakest topics.

13. Day 13

    Paper 3, timed

    Sit a recent Paper 3 from the Edexcel 9MA0 past papers, timed. Read the large data set guide first: some statistics questions use it.

14. Day 14

    Formulas and calculator

    Learn the formulas you are not given (Formulas not in the Edexcel booklet), then run the calculator exam-day checklist. Rest the evening before.

4-week Edexcel 9MA0 mock revision plan

Four weeks lets you cover all 17 topics and sit all three papers. Topics where students lose the most marks come first.

Want the four weeks ticked off and a reminder each Monday? Mock Season Plan counts back from your mock date. Only 12 days? Use the 12-day A Level Maths mock plan.

The Edexcel 9MA0 mistakes that cost the most marks

From our summary of Pearson Edexcel’s published examiner reports for 9MA0. Check your mock against each one.

1. "Show that": skipped steps, working back from the answer, no final line

   Fix: Start from the question, write every line, and end with exactly the printed result. If the answer is an equation, include "= 0".

2. Inverse and composite functions: domain left out, fg and gf mixed up

   Fix: Write the domain of f⁻¹ every time (it is the range of f). For fg(x), apply g first. For the graph of f⁻¹, reflect in y = x.

3. Modelling: model not written out, limitation not in context

   Fix: Finish with the full equation of the model. Give limitations and interpretations using the context's words and units.

4. Premature rounding and truncating

   Fix: Store calculator values in memory, round only at the end, and round (don't chop). Re-read the accuracy the question asks for.

5. Proof: "squares are always positive" and no concluding statement

   Fix: Use (…)² ≥ 0, carry the inequality through, and end with a sentence restating what has been proved.

Worked examples of each, and the rest of the list: where Edexcel 9MA0 students lose marks.

Other boards

AQA A Level Maths mock exam · OCR A Level Maths mock exam · Edexcel IAL mock exams · all A Level Maths mock exams

Also for Edexcel: course guide · A Level topics · Examiner Insights · Skill Builders · exam season plans