OCR A Level Mathematics A (H230/H240/2017) Past Papers 2026

Pure Mathematics

Duration: 2h

Pure Mathematics and Statistics

Duration: 2h

Pure Mathematics and Mechanics

Duration: 2h

Detailed reasoning for solving quadratic equations — factorisation or formula must be shown explicitly

H240/03 June 2023 Q7(a): 'Almost all candidates correctly set the expression for the acceleration equal to zero and obtained a correct three-term quadratic equation in t. However, very few showed a correct method for solving this quadratic even though the question clearly said that detailed reasoning must be shown.' Many candidates reverse-engineered the factorisation from calculator roots, which was not accepted.

H240/01, H240/03

Set notation for ranges of solutions — union notation, correct inequality direction

H240/03 June 2024 Q2: 'Many candidates are still unfamiliar with set notation with many either leaving their answer as 2/9 < x < 4, giving an answer using interval notation or using the symbol for union rather than either correct answer.' Quadratic inequality solutions must be expressed in correct set notation ({x: a < x < b} or {x: x > a} ∩ {x: x < b}).

H240/01, H240/03

Parametric integration — area between curve and y-axis, correct use of dx/dt

H240/01 June 2024 Q12(a): 'Many candidates did not know how to find the area between a parametric curve and the y-axis and often set about forming ∫y dx/dt dt with little success.' Many candidates only knew the formula for area between a parametric curve and the x-axis.

H240/01

Moments and contact forces in rod/lamina problems — geometry of perpendicular distances

H240/03 June 2023 Q11(a) and H240/03 June 2024 Q11(a): in both years most candidates could identify the need to take moments about point A but 'many struggled with the corresponding geometry of the situation.' Incorrect angles of 30, 60, 35 or 55 degrees were used in 2023; in 2024 almost all could not deal with the moment for the weight.

H240/03

Large Data Set: specific knowledge of structure required, not generic statistical observations

H240/02 June 2023: candidates who 'misunderstood parts of the Large Data Set question' are explicitly listed in the 'did less well' column. In 2023 Q13, many candidates gave descriptions of the data that were too vague or did not identify the LAs correctly from the scatter diagram.

H240/02

Harmonic form (R sin(x + α) or R cos(x + α)) — phase angle in the correct quadrant

H240/03 June 2023 Q2(a): 'The most common errors when it came to determining the value of α was to suggest cos α = 3, sin α = 4 or to incorrectly state that R sin α = −4 ⟹ α = −53.13, so obtaining the correct answer from incorrect working (which was penalised).'

H240/03

Logarithmic function domain and convexity — points of inflection are not necessarily stationary points

H240/01 June 2023 Q6(b): 'A common misconception was to show that there was a single stationary point, and it was a minimum point, hence the curve must be convex for all x, without appreciating that points of inflection are not necessarily stationary points.' H240/01 June 2024 Q11: finding the full domain of a log function involving a trig expression proved challenging for the vast majority.

H240/01

Statistics: explaining limitations of a model — must be specific to the scenario, not a generic comment

H240/02 June 2024 Q5(d): 'less than half of candidates providing a sufficiently detailed explanation in context.' Many candidates correctly identified that the model gives small P for large t but did not link this to why the model is invalid (non-integer populations; extinction below P = 1). H240/01 June 2023 Q9(c) showed similar issues with model-limitation explanations.

H240/01, H240/02