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Edexcel IAL P3 October 2020 question paper and mark scheme (WMA13/01)

Pure Mathematics 3 (P3), sat in October 2020: 1 h 30 min, 75 marks, calculator allowed. The buttons open Pearson's own files.

The official paper and mark scheme

Sit it under exam conditions: open the paper, press Start timer, press Finish when time is up, then mark it against the mark scheme.

Try 3 P3 questions like these

Written and checked by us, not taken from the Pearson paper. Tap "Worked answer" to see every step.

  1. Further Integration · 4 marks

    Find $\int (\sin x + \cos x)^2 \, dx$.

    Worked answer
    1. M1 for expanding the bracket to $\sin^2 x + 2\sin x \cos x + \cos^2 x$.
    2. M1 for simplifying using $\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x \equiv 1$ and $2\sin x \cos x \equiv \sin 2x$.
    3. M1 for integrating $1 + \sin 2x$.
    4. A1 for $x - \frac{1}{2}\cos 2x + c$.
  2. Algebraic Methods · 5 marks

    Express $\frac{x+2}{x^2 - 5x + 6} - \frac{x-1}{x^2 - 4x + 3}$ as a single fraction in its simplest form.

    Worked answer
    1. M1 for factorising $x^2-5x+6$ to $(x-2)(x-3)$.
    2. M1 for factorising $x^2-4x+3$ to $(x-1)(x-3)$.
    3. M1 for simplifying the second fraction: $\frac{x-1}{(x-1)(x-3)}$ cancels to $\frac{1}{x-3}$.
    4. M1 for creating a common denominator $(x-2)(x-3)$ and subtracting: $\frac{x+2}{(x-2)(x-3)} - \frac{x-2}{(x-2)(x-3)}$.
    5. A1 for reaching the final simplified answer $\frac{4}{(x-2)(x-3)}$.
  3. Exponentials and Logarithms · 5 marks

    The variables $x$ and $y$ satisfy the equation $y = a b^x$. A graph of $\ln y$ against $x$ is plotted and forms a straight line passing through $(0, 2)$ and $(4, 10)$. Find the exact values of the constants $a$ and $b$.

    Worked answer
    1. M1 for taking natural logarithms of both sides to get $\ln y = \ln a + x \ln b$.
    2. M1 for calculating the gradient of the line: $\ln b = \frac{10 - 2}{4 - 0} = 2$.
    3. A1 for solving to find exactly $b = e^2$.
    4. M1 for identifying the y-intercept from the coordinate $(0, 2)$, so $\ln a = 2$.
    5. A1 for solving to find exactly $a = e^2$.

More on these topics: Further Integration · Algebraic Methods · Exponentials and Logarithms

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P3 topics this paper can test

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Formula booklet

Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables (International AS/A Level Mathematics) · Pearson Edexcel · For the 2018 IAL specification (current)

P3 in other series

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Questions students ask

Where is the P3 October 2020 mark scheme?

The mark scheme button above opens Pearson's own copy.

What are the grade boundaries for IAL P3 October 2020?

Pearson publishes raw-mark grade boundaries for each IAL unit and series on its grade boundaries page (opens in a new tab). We don't copy the numbers.

Is a calculator allowed in P3?

1h 30min written paper (75 marks), calculator permitted.