GCSE Further Maths

1What GCSE Further Maths actually is

Strictly speaking, there is no GCSE called Further Maths. When schools say "GCSE Further Maths" they almost always mean the AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics (specification 8365). It sits at the same level as a GCSE and uses the same 9 to 4 grading at the top end, but it goes well beyond GCSE content. Most students take it in Year 11 alongside GCSE Maths, usually because they are in a top set and are planning to take maths at A-level.

Some schools offer a different qualification instead: OCR's Level 3 FSMQ in Additional Mathematics (specification 6993). It covers similar ground, goes a little further and is graded A to E. We cover it briefly at the end of this guide. Everything else here is about the AQA certificate.

1.1Why it is worth doing

The honest answer is that it makes the first term of A-level Maths far easier. Topics such as the factor theorem, differentiation, the equation of a circle and trigonometric identities all appear early in Year 12, and students who have met them before have a real head start. It also sharpens your GCSE algebra, which is where most of the marks on the Higher GCSE paper come from.

2How the exam is structured

Both papers are sat at the end of the course, usually in June, and any topic can appear on either paper. Each gives you 105 minutes for 80 marks:

which is more generous than GCSE Maths. You will need it. The total is out of 160 marks. Grades run from 9 down to 4, and below a 4 the result is a U.

That last point surprises people. Because the qualification is aimed at students who are already strong at GCSE, the grade boundaries are set so that a grade 4 still represents good mathematics. Do not be alarmed by low raw percentages on past papers. The boundaries are often lower than you would expect, because the questions are genuinely hard.