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Edexcel IAL P3 October 2021 question paper and mark scheme (WMA13/01)

Pure Mathematics 3 (P3), sat in October 2021: 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 Differentiation · 5 marks

    A curve has the equation $y = e^{-x}\sin x$. Find the exact x-coordinate of the first positive turning point of the curve.

    Worked answer
    1. M1 for using the product rule to differentiate: $\frac{dy}{dx} = -e^{-x}\sin x + e^{-x}\cos x$.
    2. M1 for setting the derivative equal to 0 to find turning points: $e^{-x}(\cos x - \sin x) = 0$.
    3. M1 for dividing by $e^{-x}$ (since $e^{-x} \ne 0$) to get $\cos x = \sin x$.
    4. M1 for dividing by $\cos x$ to obtain $\tan x = 1$.
    5. A1 for identifying the first positive solution as $x = \frac{\pi}{4}$.
  2. Further Integration · 4 marks

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

    Worked answer
    1. M1 for expanding the bracket to $\cos^2 x - 2\sin x \cos x + \sin^2 x$.
    2. M1 for simplifying to $1 - \sin 2x$.
    3. M1 for integrating the expression term by term.
    4. A1 for $x + \frac{1}{2}\cos 2x + c$.
  3. Exponentials and Logarithms · 4 marks

    Solve the equation $2\ln x = \ln(3x + 4)$.

    Worked answer
    1. M1 for applying the power law to the LHS: $\ln(x^2) = \ln(3x + 4)$.
    2. M1 for equating the arguments: $x^2 = 3x + 4$.
    3. M1 for rearranging to $x^2 - 3x - 4 = 0$ and finding roots $x = 4$ and $x = -1$.
    4. A1 for rejecting $x = -1$ (since $\ln x$ must have $x > 0$) and giving $x = 4$.

More on these topics: Further Differentiation · Further Integration · 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 2021 mark scheme?

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

What are the grade boundaries for IAL P3 October 2021?

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.