A Level Mathematics (Edexcel)9MA0

A Level Mathematics (Edexcel) study checklist

Revise in this order: the topics worth the most marks first. Tick a topic off when you can answer its questions in the paper above without notes.

1. Statistics · about 17% of the marksFixed by the specification: Section A of Paper 3 is 50 of the 300 marks, spread over data, probability, the binomial and normal distributions and hypothesis tests.
2. Mechanics · about 17% of the marksFixed by the specification: Section B of Paper 3 is 50 of the 300 marks: kinematics with calculus, projectiles, connected particles, moments and friction.
3. Integration · about 14% of the marksOur estimate: integration (by parts, substitution, partial fractions, areas, differential equations) usually carries the long final questions on both pure papers, about 40 of the 200 pure marks.
4. Proof, algebra and functions · about 13% of the marksOur estimate: proof, functions, partial fractions and the factor theorem run through both pure papers; Pearson gives no per-topic marks, only that Papers 1 and 2 may test any pure topic.
5. Trigonometry · about 10% of the marksOur estimate: radians, identities, the $R\sin(x \pm \alpha)$ form and solving equations in a range appear on both pure papers, about 30 marks in all.
6. Differentiation · about 8% of the marksOur estimate: first principles, the product, quotient and chain rules, implicit differentiation and connected rates of change, about 25 of the pure marks.
7. Coordinate geometry, parametric equations and vectors · about 8% of the marksOur estimate: circles, parametric curves and 3D vectors are smaller areas of the specification but usually give one longer question between them.
8. Sequences and series · about 7% of the marksOur estimate: arithmetic and geometric series in context and the binomial expansion with a fractional power, one or two questions on each pure paper.
9. Exponentials and logarithms · about 4% of the marksOur estimate: exponential models with a rate of change and equations solved by logs, usually one question on each pure paper.
10. Numerical methods · about 2% of the marksOur estimate: a change of sign, Newton Raphson, an iteration or the trapezium rule, usually one short question or part.

Questions