Edexcel International GCSE (IGCSE) Mathematics A (4MA1) Past Papers 2026

Paper 1 — Foundation and Higher Tier

Duration: 2h

Paper 2 — Foundation and Higher Tier

Duration: 2h

Reverse percentages — identifying the original value before a percentage change

Flagged in Paper 1F, Paper 1H, and Paper 2F across both series. The overwhelmingly common error was to find a percentage of the given (post-change) value rather than reversing the change. Examiners described this as one of the recurring weaknesses seen 'every year'.

Paper 1F, Paper 1H, Paper 2F

Algebraic manipulation — sign errors, missing brackets, and isolating the subject

Every report flags sign errors when rearranging equations (e.g. 5p = 28 + 11 instead of 28 − 11). On Higher tier, failure to factorise correctly before completing the square, and incomplete rearrangement when changing the subject, lost marks in 2023 and 2024 across both Paper 1H and Paper 2H.

Paper 1F, Paper 1H, Paper 2F, Paper 2H

Probability — combined events, non-replacement, and probability notation

Repeatedly dividing by the wrong number in two-stage probability problems (e.g. dividing by 2 instead of 3), treating non-replacement problems as replacement, and giving answers as ratios (12:29) instead of fractions. The ratio notation error was specifically penalised in Paper 1F 2024.

Paper 1F, Paper 1H, Paper 2F, Paper 2H

Speed, distance, time — unit conversions and mixing km/h with minutes

Writing 9 hours 36 minutes as 9.36 hours (instead of 9.6) was specifically flagged in Paper 2F 2024 and Paper 2H 2024 as a very common error that lost the accuracy mark. Converting m/s to km/h with reversed operations (multiplying where dividing is needed) was flagged in both Paper 2F and Paper 2H 2023.

Paper 2F, Paper 2H

Set theory and Venn diagrams — notation and placing values correctly

Set theory produced 'many blank responses' and 'muddled, ambiguous and wrong statements' in Paper 1F and Paper 1H 2024. On Higher tier (Paper 2H 2024), students misinterpreted n(A) as listing elements rather than counting them, and failed to subtract the intersection when placing values.

Paper 1F, Paper 1H, Paper 2H

Completing the square for quadratics with a leading coefficient — especially negative

Paper 1H 2024 reported that completing the square for a negative quadratic (requiring factorising −3 out first) was 'poorly attempted' and 'generally left unattempted by many'. Common incorrect factorisations included −3(x² + 12x) and 3(x − 6x)². Only a minority gained full marks.

Paper 1H

Gradient of a straight line — stating a numerical value, not an expression

Paper 2H 2024 reported 'we are now of the very strong opinion from the evidence from a great number of students that many do not actually know what the gradient is.' Students wrote 2.5x or 5/2x rather than the numerical value 2.5. This cost marks on what should be a straightforward question.

Paper 2H

Circle formulae — area vs circumference confusion

Paper 2F 2024 reported that only around half the students gained the 2 marks for the area of a circle, with circumference being commonly seen instead. This was also noted in the Paper 2F 2023 summary. Students are also confused by formulae such as 2r (no π), 2πr² (combines both formulae incorrectly), or πr (uses radius instead of squaring it).

Paper 2F