Edexcel IAL P3 mock exam: what is on it and how to revise

What is on the IAL P3 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 P3 Pure Mathematics 3 is one paper:

As listed on Pearson's website. P3 is examined on its own, so a mock for several units is several separate papers. More on P3: IAL P3 past papers · P3 topics and questions · IAL formula sheet.

Sit a free IAL P3 mock

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

2-week IAL P3 mock revision plan

Ten days on the P3 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

   Functions and the modulus function

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

   Skill Builders: Composite & inverse functions · The modulus function

2. Days 3 and 4

   Exponential models and log graphs

   Where marks go: Exponential models and log graphs

   Skill Builders: Exponential & logarithmic modelling · Logarithmic graphs: y = axⁿ and y = kbˣ

3. Day 5

   Chain, product and quotient rules

   Where marks go: Chain, product and quotient rules

   Skill Builders: Chain, product & quotient rules · Differentiating e^x, ln x & trig

4. Day 6

   Compound angles and R-form

   Where marks go: Compound angles and R-form

   Skill Builders: Compound & double angle formulae · The R sin(x±α) form

5. Day 7

   Numerical methods

   Where marks go: Numerical methods (radian mode!)

   Skill Builder: Numerical methods (root location & iteration)

6. Day 8

   Reciprocal and inverse trig

   Where marks go: Reciprocal trig equations

   Skill Builder: Reciprocal & inverse trig functions

7. Day 9

   Partial fractions and algebraic fractions

   Skill Builders: Partial fractions · Simplifying rational expressions

8. Day 10

   Integration of standard functions

   Skill Builder: Integrating e^x, 1/x, sin x & cos x (incl. f(ax+b))

9. Day 11

   P3 mini-mock A, timed

   Sit P3 mini-mock A in one go: 42 minutes, with the formula booklet.

10. 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.

11. Day 13

    A full paper, timed

    Sit a recent paper from the IAL P3 past papers: 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks. Short of time? Do P3 mini-mock B instead.

12. 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 P3 mock revision plan

Four weeks lets you go through every P3 topic in more depth and sit three timed 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 IAL Maths mock plan.

The IAL P3 mistakes that cost the most marks

From our summary of Pearson Edexcel’s published examiner reports for IAL P3 (WMA13). Check your mock against each one.

1. Functions: the domain of an inverse (again), fg versus gf, range

   Fix: Domain of f⁻¹ = range of f. For fg, apply g first. Sketch to find the range.

2. Modulus equations and inequalities: extra solutions

   Fix: Sketch both graphs, then solve each case and check every answer in the original equation.

3. Calculator in the wrong mode (and used instead of calculus)

   Fix: P3 calculus and root-finding are in radians. Show the derivative and the equation you solved.

4. Exponential models: e⁰, long-term values and units

   Fix: Substitute t = 0 using e⁰ = 1; for "long term" let the exponential term tend to 0; give units.

5. Integrating sin² and cos²: identity not used

   Fix: Rewrite sin²A = ½(1 − cos 2A), cos²A = ½(1 + cos 2A) before integrating.

Worked examples of each, and the rest of the list: where IAL P3 students lose marks.

Other IAL units

IAL P1 mock exam · IAL P2 mock exam · IAL P4 mock exam · IAL S1 mock exam · IAL M1 mock exam · all A Level Maths mock exams

Also for P3: P3 topics and questions · IAL Maths hub · Examiner Insights · IAL Skill Builders · exam season plans