Mathematics units & topics
Tap a unit to see its topics. Every topic has free notes, a diagram, quizzes and flashcards.
GCSE Maths revision is unique because the exam tests problem-solving, not just procedures. You can't just memorise methods — you need to recognise which method applies to unfamiliar problems. The specification covers number, algebra, ratio and proportion, geometry, probability, and statistics, with questions designed to combine topics in unexpected ways.
GCSE Maths has three papers: Paper 1 is non-calculator (1 hour 30 minutes), Papers 2 and 3 are calculator papers (each 1 hour 30 minutes). Each paper is worth 80 marks. The content is the same across all three papers — any topic can appear on any paper. Foundation tier covers grades 1-5, Higher tier covers grades 4-9.
Tap a unit to see its topics. Every topic has free notes, a diagram, quizzes and flashcards.
A simple, proven loop that works for every topic on this page — and beats re-reading your notes every time.
GCSE Maths cannot be revised by reading. You must do questions. For every topic, find 5-10 practice questions at your target grade level and work through them with pen and paper. Check the mark scheme after each one. Reading a worked example and thinking 'I get that' is not the same as solving it yourself.
Paper 1 is non-calculator and students consistently score lower on it. Practise long multiplication, long division, fraction arithmetic, and percentage calculations without a calculator. These skills rust quickly if you always reach for the calculator during homework.
GCSE Maths mark schemes show you exactly how marks are allocated. A 4-mark question usually has 1 mark for method, 1 for substitution, 1 for working, and 1 for the answer. Understanding this helps you show the right working and pick up marks even when your final answer is wrong.
In the exam, topics aren't separated — a question might combine ratio, algebra, and geometry. Practise with mixed-topic question sets to build the skill of recognising which method to use. This is the difference between 'I can do algebra when I know it's algebra' and 'I can spot when a problem needs algebra.'
Wherever you are in your GCSEs, here's the best place to pick up Mathematics.
Just starting GCSE content? Begin with the first unit — it underpins almost everything else in the Mathematics course.
Start from the beginningWorking through the course? Follow the units in order and learn one new topic at a time, testing as you go.
Browse all unitsExams approaching? Focus on the high-frequency topics examiners ask most, and drill them with quizzes and past questions.
See top exam topicsGCSE Mathematics is assessed across 9 written papers.
127 topics · Maths Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)
127 topics · Maths Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)
130 topics · Maths Paper 1 (Non-Calculator)
127 topics · Maths Paper 2 (Calculator)
127 topics · Maths Paper 3 (Calculator)
127 topics · Maths Paper 2 (Calculator)
127 topics · Maths Paper 3 (Calculator)
130 topics · Maths Paper 2 (Calculator)
130 topics · Maths Paper 3 (Calculator)
PrepWise covers 127 GCSE Mathematics topics across AQA, Edexcel and OCR. Each topic includes revision notes, exam-style questions, and flashcards.
Yes. All 127 topics, 1,627+ exam-style questions, and 1,459 flashcards are free during alpha. No card required, no trial period.
PrepWise covers AQA, Edexcel and OCR for GCSE Mathematics. You can select your board during setup and the content, questions, and daily plan adapt to your specification.
GCSE Maths Papers 2 and 3 are calculator papers. The highest-frequency topics are compound interest, reverse percentages, trigonometry, standard form calculations, ratio and proportion, cumulative frequency, and circle theorems. The formula sheet gives you some formulas but you still need to rearrange them yourself.
For students and parents — from Year 10 through to exam day
GCSE Maths revision is unique because the exam tests problem-solving, not just procedures. You can't just memorise methods — you need to recognise which method applies to unfamiliar problems. The specification covers number, algebra, ratio and proportion, geometry, probability, and statistics, with questions designed to combine topics in unexpected ways.
GCSE Maths has three papers: Paper 1 is non-calculator (1 hour 30 minutes), Papers 2 and 3 are calculator papers (each 1 hour 30 minutes). Each paper is worth 80 marks. The content is the same across all three papers — any topic can appear on any paper. Foundation tier covers grades 1-5, Higher tier covers grades 4-9.
The most important GCSE Maths revision skill is practice under timed conditions. Unlike other GCSEs where you can 'learn content', Maths requires you to develop fluency through repetition. Students who do 20 minutes of daily practice consistently outperform those who cram for 4 hours the weekend before an exam.
GCSE Maths content is almost identical across the three main boards — the specification is nationally standardised. The differences are in question style and paper structure, which can affect your GCSE Maths revision approach.
Three papers: Paper 1 non-calculator, Papers 2-3 calculator. Each 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks. AQA Maths questions tend to be wordy with real-world contexts. Their grade boundaries are usually slightly lower than Edexcel. Strong emphasis on 'reasoning' questions that ask you to explain or prove.
Three papers: Paper 1 non-calculator, Papers 2-3 calculator. Each 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks. Edexcel is considered slightly harder at Higher tier, with more problem-solving questions. Their past papers are widely available and are the most commonly used for practice across all boards.
Three papers: Paper 1 non-calculator, Papers 2-3 calculator. Each 1 hour 30 minutes, 100 marks. OCR Maths has a different mark total but the same content. Their questions tend to be more structured with clearer steps. OCR provides a formula sheet with fewer formulas than AQA/Edexcel, so you need to memorise more.
A complete gcse mathematics revision plan from Year 10 through to the final exam — with advice for students and tips for parents at every stage.
GCSE Maths revision should start with building fluency in fundamentals: fractions, percentages, ratio, basic algebra, and angles. These underpin everything in Year 11. Don't rely on a calculator for basic arithmetic — Paper 1 is non-calculator and worth a third of your grade. If you can't do long multiplication, fraction arithmetic, and percentage calculations by hand, practise until you can. Parents: regular short practice is far more effective than occasional long sessions for Maths.
Year 11 introduces the hardest GCSE Maths topics: quadratics, trigonometry, circle theorems, vectors, and iterative methods (Higher only). Keep practising the basics while learning these — exam questions routinely combine Year 10 and Year 11 content. Start a formula sheet with every formula you need to memorise (the exam only gives you a few). Do 10 questions every evening, mixing topics.
Work through the entire GCSE Maths specification topic by topic. For each one, do 5 practice questions. If you get 4 or more right, move on. If fewer, study the method and do 10 more. This systematic approach ensures you cover everything rather than just revising what you're already good at. Use a revision guide or online questions bank sorted by topic for this phase.
Your Maths mock is the most important diagnostic you'll get. After the mock, list every topic where you dropped marks. These are your revision priorities for the next three months of GCSE Maths revision. Don't just look at your grade — look at which questions you got wrong and why. Was it a silly mistake, a method you didn't know, or a question you didn't attempt? Each needs a different fix.
Do one full GCSE Maths past paper per week — all three papers over a weekend. Mark them ruthlessly using the mark scheme. Focus your weekday practice on the topics that keep coming up wrong. For Higher: make sure you can solve simultaneous equations, complete the square, and use trigonometry for non-right-angled triangles. For Foundation: nail ratio, percentages, and basic probability — these topics alone are worth 30+ marks.
Final GCSE Maths revision should focus on exam technique. Practise timing: you have roughly 1 minute per mark. Skip questions you're stuck on and come back to them. For non-calculator Paper 1, practise mental arithmetic and estimation. Make sure you show all working — even if your answer is wrong, method marks can be the difference between grades. The night before: review your formula sheet and do 10 quick-fire questions on your weakest topics, then stop.
GCSE Maths cannot be revised by reading. You must do questions. For every topic, find 5-10 practice questions at your target grade level and work through them with pen and paper. Check the mark scheme after each one. Reading a worked example and thinking 'I get that' is not the same as solving it yourself.
Paper 1 is non-calculator and students consistently score lower on it. Practise long multiplication, long division, fraction arithmetic, and percentage calculations without a calculator. These skills rust quickly if you always reach for the calculator during homework.
GCSE Maths mark schemes show you exactly how marks are allocated. A 4-mark question usually has 1 mark for method, 1 for substitution, 1 for working, and 1 for the answer. Understanding this helps you show the right working and pick up marks even when your final answer is wrong.
In the exam, topics aren't separated — a question might combine ratio, algebra, and geometry. Practise with mixed-topic question sets to build the skill of recognising which method to use. This is the difference between 'I can do algebra when I know it's algebra' and 'I can spot when a problem needs algebra.'
These come straight from examiner reports — the mistakes that cost students marks every year.
Not showing working — even if the answer is right, you get zero marks without working on 'show that' questions, and you miss method marks when the answer is wrong.
Rounding too early in multi-step calculations. Keep full precision until the final answer, then round as the question asks.
Forgetting to check units in context questions — if the answer is '3' but the question asks for time in hours and minutes, you need '3 hours' or convert to hours and minutes.
On non-calculator Paper 1, making arithmetic errors because you rush. Check your arithmetic — one wrong subtraction can cost you 4 marks on a multi-step question.
Not reading the question fully. 'Give your answer to 2 decimal places' or 'Give your answer in its simplest form' are instructions that cost marks when ignored.
As parents of GCSE students ourselves, we know how hard it is to support revision without being overbearing. Here's what actually helps with gcse mathematics revision at home.
GCSE Maths is the subject where daily practice makes the biggest difference. Even 15-20 minutes every evening — working through a few questions, checking answers — builds the fluency that cramming cannot.
If your child says 'I can't do maths', the reality is usually 'I can't do a few specific topics.' Help them identify which topics they struggle with (algebra? fractions? geometry?) and target those specifically.
Past papers are freely available on every exam board's website. Printing a paper and sitting with your child while they attempt it under timed conditions is one of the most effective things you can do. You don't need to mark it — the mark schemes are online too.
Foundation vs Higher tier: schools choose which tier students sit. Foundation caps at grade 5, Higher starts at grade 4 (but grade 4 is harder to achieve on Higher). If your child is borderline, ask the teacher which tier gives them the best chance of a grade 4 or 5.
127 topics, all aligned to your exam board — learn, quiz and test your way through them.
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