Mock season

Edexcel IAL P4 mock exam: what is on it and how to revise

The WMA14 paper format, free P4 mini-mocks to sit, a 2-week and a 4-week revision plan, and the P4 mistakes that cost the most marks. Everything here is free.

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

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What is on the IAL P4 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 P4 Pure Mathematics 4 is one paper:

PaperTimeMarksCalculator
Pure Mathematics P4 (WMA14/01)1 h 30 min75Allowed

As listed on Pearson's website. P4 is examined on its own, so a mock for several units is several separate papers. More on P4: IAL P4 past papers · P4 topics and questions · IAL formula sheet.

Sit a free IAL P4 mock

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

Start here

Two P4 mini-mocks, free to sit

Our own P4 papers at the real exam's pace (75 marks in 90 minutes), answered on screen.

Open Mini-mock A

Every question is free to read and a free account marks your answers; the mark scheme comes with an A Level plan or the free 7-day trial.

The real thing

Pearson's own P4 past papers

Pearson publishes IAL papers and mark schemes on its website. Our page links to every P4 paper Pearson has made public and has an exam timer.

IAL P4 past papers

Print it

Practice exam (PDF)

P4 Differential Equations, Integration by Substitution and Proof by Contradiction: a printable exam with its own mark scheme.

IAL P4 practice exam

2-week IAL P4 mock revision plan

Ten days on the P4 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

    Integration: substitution, parts, volumes, partial fractions

    Where marks go: Integration: substitution, parts and volumes

    Skill Builders: Further integration (partial fractions) · Integration by substitution

  2. Days 3 and 4

    Implicit differentiation and rates of change

    Where marks go: Implicit differentiation and connected rates

    Skill Builders: Connected rates of change · Implicit differentiation

  3. Days 5 and 6

    Parametric equations

    Where marks go: Parametric equations

    Skill Builders: Parametric equations · Parametric differentiation

  4. Day 7

    Vectors and lines

    Where marks go: Vector lines

    Skill Builders: Vector equations of lines · Vectors in 2D & 3D

  5. Day 8

    Binomial expansion (any index)

    Where marks go: Binomial expansion (any index)

    Skill Builder: Binomial expansion (general index)

  6. Day 9

    Proof by contradiction

    Where marks go: Proof by contradiction

    Skill Builder: Proof by contradiction

  7. Day 10

    Differential equations

    Where marks go: Differential equations

    Skill Builder: Differential equations

  8. Day 11

    P4 mini-mock A, timed

    Sit P4 mini-mock A in one go: 49 minutes, with the formula booklet.

  9. 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.

  10. Day 13

    A full paper, timed

    Sit a recent paper from the IAL P4 past papers: 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks. Short of time? Do P4 mini-mock B instead.

  11. 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 P4 mock revision plan

Four weeks lets you go through every P4 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

    Integration: substitution, parts, volumes, partial fractions · Implicit differentiation and rates of change · Parametric equations

    Start with a diagnostic: P4 mini-mock A (49 minutes), timed. Then:

  2. Week 2

    Vectors and lines · Binomial expansion (any index)

    End the week by redoing everything in My mistakes.

  3. Week 3

    Proof by contradiction · Differential equations, then a full paper

    At the weekend, sit a full paper from the IAL P4 past papers, timed, and mark it.

  4. Week 4

    Papers and the last gaps

    Sit P4 mini-mock B and another full P4 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 P4 mistakes that cost the most marks

From our summary of Pearson Edexcel’s published examiner reports for IAL P4 (WMA14). Check your mock against each one.

  1. Differential equations: the constant added too late

    Fix: Add + c at the integration step, use the condition to find c, then rearrange.

  2. Binomial (any index): factor not raised to the power

    Fix: Write a^n(1 + bx/a)^n; square the whole (bx/a) term; state validity |bx/a| < 1.

  3. Proof by contradiction: the assumption and conclusion

    Fix: Begin "Assume, for contradiction, that …" (including any domain), reach a contradiction, state it and conclude.

  4. Connected rates of change: values not substituted, reasons missing

    Fix: Write the chain rule linking the rates, substitute the given value, and give units.

  5. Parametric: dy/dx the wrong way up; limits in t versus x

    Fix: dy/dx = (dy/dt)/(dx/dt). For areas, ∫ y (dx/dt) dt with t-limits found from the x-values.

Worked examples of each, and the rest of the list: where IAL P4 students lose marks.

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Common questions

What is on the IAL P4 mock exam?

Your school sets it, so check with your teacher. The real P4 Pure Mathematics 4 exam (WMA14/01) is one paper of 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks, and a calculator is allowed.

Is there a free IAL P4 mock paper?

Yes. Our P4 mini-mocks are free to sit. Every question is free to read and a free account marks your answers; the mark scheme comes with an A Level plan or the free 7-day trial. Pearson publishes its own P4 past papers on its website; our IAL P4 past papers page links to each one.

Can I use a calculator in IAL P4?

Yes. A calculator is allowed in every Edexcel IAL Maths unit, including P4. Show your working anyway: many marks are for the method.

How long should I revise for my IAL P4 mock?

Two weeks is enough for a focused plan: ten days on the P4 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 P1 mock exam · IAL P2 mock exam · IAL P3 mock exam · IAL S1 mock exam · IAL M1 mock exam · all A Level Maths mock exams

Also for P4: P4 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.