Edexcel IAL S1 mock exam: what is on it and how to revise
The WST01 paper format, free S1 mini-mocks to sit, a 2-week and a 4-week revision plan, and the S1 mistakes that cost the most marks. Everything here is free.
By Pete Bromfield, former Head of Maths with IB examining experience (independent)
What is on the IAL S1 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 S1 Statistics 1 is one paper:
| Paper | Time | Marks | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics S1 | 1 h 30 min | 75 | Allowed |
As listed on Pearson's website. S1 is examined on its own, so a mock for several units is several separate papers. More on S1: IAL S1 past papers · S1 topics and questions · IAL formula sheet.
Sit a free IAL S1 mock
Sit one paper under timed conditions before you revise: the marks you lose tell you which topics to fix first.
Start here
Two S1 mini-mocks, free to sit
Our own S1 papers at the real exam's pace (75 marks in 90 minutes), answered on screen.
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 S1 past papers
Pearson publishes IAL papers and mark schemes on its website. Our page links to every S1 paper Pearson has made public and has an exam timer.
Print it
Practice exam (PDF)
S1 Normal Distribution: a printable exam with its own mark scheme.
2-week IAL S1 mock revision plan
Ten days on the S1 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.
- Days 1 and 2
Probability, Venn and tree diagrams
- Days 3 and 4
The normal distribution
- Days 5 and 6
Location, spread, outliers and coding
- Days 7 and 8
Discrete random variables
- Day 9
Correlation and regression
- Day 10
Data representation (stem-and-leaf, histograms, box plots)
- Day 11
S1 mini-mock A, timed
Sit S1 mini-mock A in one go: 38 minutes, with the formula booklet.
- 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.
- Day 13
A full paper, timed
Sit a recent paper from the IAL S1 past papers: 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks. Short of time? Do S1 mini-mock B instead.
- 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 S1 mock revision plan
Four weeks lets you go through every S1 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
- Week 1
Probability, Venn and tree diagrams · The normal distribution
Start with a diagnostic: S1 mini-mock A (38 minutes), timed. Then:
- Week 2
Location, spread, outliers and coding · Discrete random variables
End the week by redoing everything in My mistakes.
- Week 3
Correlation and regression · Data representation (stem-and-leaf, histograms, box plots), then a full paper
At the weekend, sit a full paper from the IAL S1 past papers, timed, and mark it.
- Week 4
Papers and the last gaps
Sit S1 mini-mock B and another full S1 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 S1 mistakes that cost the most marks
From our summary of Pearson Edexcel’s published examiner reports for IAL S1 (WST01). Check your mock against each one.
Standardisation not shown when the question requires it
Fix: Write P(X < a) = P(Z < (a − μ)/σ) before the probability. Sketch to decide the tail.
Outliers: rule applied but no conclusion
Fix: Calculate both fences, compare the extreme values, and name the outlier(s).
Comparisons without figures or context
Fix: Compare a location measure and a spread measure, quote both values, and say what the difference means in context.
Histograms: frequency density and reading scales
Fix: Area ∝ frequency: frequency = frequency density × width. Find the scale from a bar you know.
Sxx and Sxy "show that": numbers not substituted
Fix: Write the formula, substitute the numbers visibly, then simplify to the printed value.
Worked examples of each, and the rest of the list: where IAL S1 students lose marks.
Make your mock revision count: free account
- The whole mark scheme of a free mini-mockOpen the full mark scheme of the P1 mini-mock A (our free sample), not just its first 5 questions.
- Build your own mockPick your weak topics and take a test made from the free questions, then mark it.
- My mistakesEvery question you get wrong goes into one list, ready to retry before the mock.
Make a free account: no card needed5 more practice questions on every topic with instant feedback, answers and mark schemes on free questions, and your streak and progress on any device.
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Common questions
What is on the IAL S1 mock exam?
Your school sets it, so check with your teacher. The real S1 Statistics 1 exam (WST01/01) is one paper of 1 hour 30 minutes for 75 marks, and a calculator is allowed.
Is there a free IAL S1 mock paper?
Yes. Our S1 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 S1 past papers on its website; our IAL S1 past papers page links to each one.
Can I use a calculator in IAL S1?
Yes. A calculator is allowed in every Edexcel IAL Maths unit, including S1. Show your working anyway: many marks are for the method.
How long should I revise for my IAL S1 mock?
Two weeks is enough for a focused plan: ten days on the S1 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 P4 mock exam · IAL M1 mock exam · all A Level Maths mock exams
Also for S1: S1 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.
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