Mock season

Edexcel IAL P1 mock exam: what is on it and how to revise

The WMA11 paper format, free P1 mini-mocks to sit, a 2-week and a 4-week revision plan, and the P1 mistakes that cost the most marks. Everything here is free.

By , former Head of Maths with IB examining experience (independent)

Sit a free mock paperSee the revision plans

What is on the IAL P1 mock

Your school writes or chooses your mock, so ask your teacher which units and topics are in it. Most mocks copy the real Pearson Edexcel exam, which for P1 Pure Mathematics 1 is one paper:

PaperTimeMarksCalculator
Pure Mathematics P1 (WMA11/01)1 h 30 min75Allowed

As listed on Pearson's website. P1 is examined on its own, so a mock for several units is several separate papers. More on P1: IAL P1 past papers · P1 topics and questions · IAL formula sheet.

Sit a free IAL P1 mock

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

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Two P1 mini-mocks, free to sit

Our own P1 papers at the real exam's pace (75 marks in 90 minutes), answered on screen.

Open Mini-mock A

Free sample: the first 5 questions open with their answers and mark scheme, no sign-up; a free account (no card) opens the whole mark scheme.

The real thing

Pearson's own P1 past papers

Pearson publishes IAL papers and mark schemes on its website. Our page links to every P1 paper Pearson has made public and has an exam timer.

IAL P1 past papers

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Practice exam (PDF)

P1 Pure Mathematics 1: a printable exam with its own mark scheme.

IAL P1 practice exam

2-week IAL P1 mock revision plan

Ten days on the P1 topics, 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. Days 1 and 2

    Algebra: indices, surds, quadratics, inequalities

    Where marks go: Indices, surds and hidden quadratics, worked by hand

    Skill Builders: Inequalities (linear & quadratic) · Algebraic expressions & indices

  2. Days 3 and 4

    Differentiation, tangents and normals

    Where marks go: Tangents and normals, including fractional powers

    Skill Builders: Tangents & normals · Differentiation from first principles

  3. Days 5 and 6

    Trigonometry and radians

    Where marks go: Radians: arcs, sectors and trig graphs

    Skill Builders: Trig ratios & graphs · Radian measure, arc & sector

  4. Days 7 and 8

    Graphs and transformations

    Where marks go: Sketching and describing transformations

    Skill Builders: Sketching polynomial graphs · Graph transformations

  5. Day 9

    Integration and area

    Where marks go: Integration and areas

    Skill Builders: Integration of polynomials · Definite integrals & area

  6. Day 10

    Straight lines

    Where marks go: Straight lines and perpendicular bisectors

    Skill Builder: Coordinate geometry: straight lines

  7. Day 11

    P1 mini-mock A, timed

    Sit P1 mini-mock A in one go: 35 minutes, with the formula booklet.

  8. Day 12

    Mark it and fix the gaps

    Check your answers, put every lost mark in My mistakes, then do the Skill Builders for your two weakest topics.

  9. Day 13

    A full paper, timed

    Sit a recent paper from the IAL P1 past papers: 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks. Short of time? Do P1 mini-mock B instead.

  10. Day 14

    Formulas and calculator

    Learn the IAL formulas not in the booklet, then run the calculator exam-day checklist. Rest the evening before.

4-week IAL P1 mock revision plan

Four weeks lets you go through every P1 topic in more depth and sit three timed papers. Topics where students lose the most marks come first.

Show the 4 weeks, topic by topic
  1. Week 1

    Algebra: indices, surds, quadratics, inequalities · Differentiation, tangents and normals

    Start with a diagnostic: P1 mini-mock A (35 minutes), timed. Then:

  2. Week 2

    Trigonometry and radians · Graphs and transformations

    End the week by redoing everything in My mistakes.

  3. Week 3

    Integration and area · Straight lines, then a full paper

    At the weekend, sit a full paper from the IAL P1 past papers, timed, and mark it.

  4. Week 4

    Papers and the last gaps

    Sit P1 mini-mock B and another full P1 past paper, each timed. Spend the days between on the Skill Builders for your weakest topics, the formulas not in the booklet and the calculator checklist.

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 IAL Maths mock plan.

The IAL P1 mistakes that cost the most marks

From our summary of Pearson Edexcel’s published examiner reports for IAL P1 (WMA11). Check your mock against each one.

  1. Calculator warning ignored: surds and fractions done on the calculator

    Fix: When you see the warning, write every algebraic step. Use the calculator only to check.

  2. Indices: not writing terms as powers of the same base

    Fix: Convert every term to one base, substitute y = aˣ, solve the quadratic, then undo the substitution.

  3. Radians: working (or answering) in degrees

    Fix: If the question uses radians, set the calculator to radians and use s = rθ, A = ½r²θ. Re-read any condition on the angle.

  4. Curve sketches without labelled intercepts and asymptotes

    Fix: Label every intercept as coordinates and every asymptote as an equation. Check the shape at each root (touch or cross).

  5. Intersections and the discriminant: "= 0" missing and the wrong inequality

    Fix: Rearrange to ax² + bx + c = 0, choose the condition (> 0, = 0, < 0), then solve the quadratic inequality with a sketch.

Worked examples of each, and the rest of the list: where IAL P1 students lose marks.

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Common questions

What is on the IAL P1 mock exam?

Your school sets it, so check with your teacher. The real P1 Pure Mathematics 1 exam (WMA11/01) is one paper of 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks, and a calculator is allowed.

Is there a free IAL P1 mock paper?

Yes. Our P1 mini-mocks are free to sit. Free sample: the first 5 questions open with their answers and mark scheme, no sign-up; a free account (no card) opens the whole mark scheme. Pearson publishes its own P1 past papers on its website; our IAL P1 past papers page links to each one.

Can I use a calculator in IAL P1?

Yes. A calculator is allowed in every Edexcel IAL Maths unit, including P1. Show your working anyway: many marks are for the method.

How long should I revise for my IAL P1 mock?

Two weeks is enough for a focused plan: ten days on the P1 topics, then papers. Four weeks lets you cover every topic in more depth and sit three timed papers. Both plans are on this page.

Which units are in an IAL Maths mock?

Ask your teacher: it depends on which units you are taking next. Each unit is a separate paper, and each has its own page here: P1, P2, P3, P4, S1, M1.

Other IAL units

IAL P2 mock exam · IAL P3 mock exam · IAL P4 mock exam · IAL S1 mock exam · IAL M1 mock exam · all A Level Maths mock exams

Also for P1: P1 topics and questions · IAL Maths hub · Examiner Insights · IAL Skill Builders · exam season plans

Independent revision resource, not produced or endorsed by Pearson Edexcel, AQA or OCR. Every mock paper and question on this page is our own; the boards' papers are linked on their own websites.

A Level Math Revision is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the International Baccalaureate Organization. This work/product/service has been developed independently from and is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. International Baccalaureate, Baccalauréat International, Bachillerato Internacional and IB are registered trademarks owned by the International Baccalaureate Organization.