Year 13 revision guide – Mathematics
Subject: MATHEMATICS
Examination board: Edexcel
Website for specificationhttps://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/
mathematics-2017.html
ISBN for revision guide: 9781782948049
Paper 1 covers Paper 2 covers
1. Proof 1. Proof
2. Algebra and functions 2. Algebra and functions
3. Coordinate geometry 3. Coordinate geometry
in the (x, y) plane in the (x, y) plane
4. Sequences and series 4. Sequences and series
5. Trigonometry 5. Trigonometry
6. Exponentials and 6. Exponentials and
logarithms logarithms
7. Differentiation 7. Differentiation
8. Integration 8. Integration
9. Numerical methods 9. Numerical methods
10. Vectors 10. Vectors
Date of examination: Date of examination:
Tuesday 6th June afternoon Tuesday 13th June afternoon
Length of examination: 2-hour
Length of examination: 2-hour
% of overall grade:
33.33% of the qualification % of overall grade:
100 marks 33.33% of the qualification
100 marks
Paper 3 covers
(delete if not needed)
Section A: Statistics
1. Statistical sampling
2. Data presentation and
interpretation
3. Probability
4. Statistical distributions
5. Statistical hypothesis
testing
Section B: Mechanics
6. Quantities and units in
mechanics
7. Kinematics
8. Forces and Newton’s
laws
9. Moments
Date of examination:
Thursday 25th May afternoon
Length of examination: 1-hour
&15mins
% of overall grade:
33.33% of the qualification
100 marks
Recommended revision reading/websites;

1. Stats data sheet Formula booklet:

a. https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-
2017.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=category:Pearson-UK:Category
%2FSpecification-and-sample-assessments

2. Textbook: https://www.pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home

3. https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/bookspacedemo

4. https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/

5. https://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/newalevel.html

6. https://www.examsolutions.net/a-level-maths/edexcel/

7. https://madasmaths.com/archive_maths_booklets_standard_topics_various.html

How to revise in this subject

Paper 1&2 – suggested revision techniques = 66% of overall grade

1. Practice exam questions by topic-

2. Use textbook, revision guide or websites to embed subject knowledge
3. Practice exam questions by topic
4. Past papers

Paper 3 – suggested revision techniques = 33% of overall grade

1. Practice exam questions by topic-

2. Use textbook, revision guide or websites to embed subject knowledge
3. Practice exam questions by topic
4. Past papers
5. Make key points on data and be familiar with the data – on Pearson website

Top tips for this subject to work on at home:

 Go through topics that are weaker on- using examples in textbook, revision guide and
websites
 Practice exam questions on these topics
 Complete practice papers and check with mark scheme
Top tips to achieve grades B to A *

- Complete stretch and challenging questions from textbook (the challenge)

- Find stretch and challenge questions from other exam boards once all questions from
Edexcel have been completed
- Use Madasmaths website to complete more stretch and challenge questions

Feedback from the 2019 Chief Examiners report

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/secure/silver/all-uk-and-international/a-level/
mathematics/2017/exam-materials/9MA0_01_pef_20190815.pdf?156055407343171

Paper 1

This was the first 9MA01 paper under the new specification which tested the full cohort of students.
The paper had many straightforward and accessible questions as well as more demanding ones that
stretched the most able of students. Accessible questions and parts of questions included 1, 3, 4a,
5ab, 6, 8a and 12ab. The performance of candidates on topics that were new to the specification
were mixed. For example Q7, the exponential model, was well attempted but Q10, the proof, was
not. Generally students had difficulty on questions that demanded an explanation. This is something
that will improve over the lifetime of the specification as both students and teachers adjust to these
new demands.

Paper 2

This is first time in many years that a full A level Mathematics cohort has sat linear papers. We
therefore found that some candidates, especially those of lower ability, struggled to access to
several questions on Paper 2.

There were some parts of questions involving sector formulae, functions, iteration, trigonometry and
differentiation where a typical E grade student could gain some marks. There were more testing
questions involving indices, parametric equations, functions, mathematical modelling, geometric
series, linearisation, the use of differentiation to solve minimisation problems, integration and
differential equations, that allowed the paper to discriminate well between the higher grades.

It was clear from looking at solutions to questions 2(b), 3(a), 6(c), 7(c) and 11(d) that some
candidates struggled to articulate their ideas in written form. Also, in some instances, candidates’
solutions, particularly to questions 4, 7(b), 8(i), 9(c), 12(a), 13(a) and 14(c), were incoherent.

In this new specification, more emphasis is placed on using mathematical models or formulating
them from real-life situations in context. It was clear from looking at responses to questions 7(a),
7(b), 7(d) and 9(a) that a significant number of candidates struggled to formulate a correct
mathematical model for each of the given situations.

In summary, questions 3, 4, 6(b), 6(d), 7(c), 10(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(d), 12(b), 13(b) and 13(c) were a
good source of marks for the average student, mainly testing standard ideas and techniques,
whereas questions 1, 6(a), 6(c), 7(a), 7(b), 7(d), 8(i), 9, 10(b), 12(a), 13(a), 14(a) and 14(c) were
discriminating at the higher grades. Questions 2, 8(ii), 10(c), 11(a) and 14(b) proved to be the most
challenging questions on the paper.
Paper 3 – Statistics section
This is the second year of this new specification and candidates appeared to be better prepared than
in the previous sitting. Work on the Normal distribution discriminated at the top end with Question 5
proving to be the most challenging. Questions involving the large data set were poorly attempted
and often left blank.

Paper 3 – Mechanics section

Overall the quality of the scripts seemed very mixed, with some clear and entirely correct solutions
but a substantial number were well below standard, particularly for question 4. Questions 2 and 5
also proved to be quite challenging. There may have been some evidence of time being a limiting
factor since some answers seemed rushed or unfinished, although it is difficult to be sure whether
time or ability was the main issue here.

Question 1 was the best answered and proved to be an ideal starter with 41% of the candidates
scoring all six marks. However, Question 4 proved to be extremely challenging with 30% of the
candidates scoring no marks and 70% scoring 3 or fewer out of a possible 11.

In calculations, the numerical value of g which should be used is 9.8, unless otherwise stated. Final
answers should then be given to 2 (or 3) significant figures – more accurate answers will be
penalised, including fractions, but exact multiples of g are usually accepted.

If there is a printed answer to show then candidates need to ensure that they show sufficient detail
in their working to warrant being awarded all of the marks available.

In all cases, as stated on the front of the question paper, candidates should show sufficient working
to make their methods clear to the examiner and correct answers without working may not score all,
or indeed, any of the marks available.

If a candidate runs out of space in which to give his or her answer than he or she is advised to use a
supplementary sheet. If a centre is reluctant to supply extra paper then it is crucial for the candidate
to say whereabouts in the script the extra working is going to be done.

Where is find practice papers:

1) https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-
2017.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=Pearson-UK:Category%2FExam-materials

2) https://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/alevelpapers.html