Edexcel Maths Paper 1 and the other GCSE papers: dates, marks and how to prepare

Key takeaways

• →Edexcel GCSE Maths has three papers. Each lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, carries 80 marks and counts for 33.33% of the GCSE. Paper 1 is the only non-calculator paper.
• →In 2027, Paper 1 is on Friday 14 May, Paper 2 on Thursday 27 May and Paper 3 on Monday 14 June, all in the morning.
• →Foundation covers grades 1 to 5 and Higher covers grades 4 to 9. Students sit all three papers at the same tier, and each tier’s content is assessed across all three papers.
• →Practise with Pearson’s past papers and mark schemes, show your working on every question, and treat grade boundaries as a guide only, because they change each year.

1. The three papers at a glance

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths (1MA1) is assessed by three written papers. Paper 1 is a non-calculator paper. A calculator is allowed on Papers 2 and 3.^[1]

The papers are the same size. Each lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, is worth 80 marks and counts for 33.33% of the GCSE.^[1]

Added together, that makes 240 marks. This is the total Pearson’s grade boundaries are set against.^[9]

Students sit all three papers at the same tier, in the same exam series.^[1]

2. Foundation and Higher tiers

Each student is entered for either the Foundation tier or the Higher tier. Foundation covers grades 1 to 5. Higher covers grades 4 to 9, so grades 4 and 5 can be reached on either tier.^[1]

A Higher student who falls just short of a grade 4 can still be given a grade 3. Below that, the result is a U, which means unclassified.^[1]

Ask your child’s teacher which tier suits them.

Pearson’s specification says the content for each tier is assessed across all three papers. So revise every topic for all three papers, rather than saving one topic for each.^[1]

Pearson also gives each topic area a weighting range. Foundation puts the most weight on Number, and on Ratio, proportion and rates of change (22 to 28% each). Higher puts the most on Algebra (27 to 33%).^[1]

Every paper starts with easier questions and gets harder, so the hardest questions come near the end.^[2]

3. When the papers are in 2027

Pearson’s final summer 2027 timetable puts Paper 1 (non-calculator) on Friday 14 May 2027, Paper 2 on Thursday 27 May 2027 and Paper 3 on Monday 14 June 2027.^[3]

All three are morning papers of 1 hour 30 minutes, for both tiers. Check the timetable your child’s school gives them.^[3]

4. What about the formula sheet?

Pearson calls its formula sheet an exam aid, and students get a copy as an insert with the question paper. The one we opened is for 2026, so look for the 2027 copy on Pearson’s qualifications website.^[4]

Our GCSE maths formula sheet guide explains what is on the sheet, what is not, and how to revise with it.

5. What the papers reward

Pearson marks every paper against three assessment objectives, or AOs. These are the skills the exam rewards. Each paper covers all three, in the percentages below. Some questions are set in maths contexts and others in real-life ones.^[1]

Foundation leans more on knowing and using methods. On Higher, reasoning and problem-solving (AO2 and AO3) make up 60% of the marks, against 50% on Foundation.^[1]

6. How to practise for Paper 1 (no calculator)

Paper 1 has 80 marks in 90 minutes, which is a little over a minute a mark. Pearson’s Foundation papers open with short one-mark questions that often test basic number skills, so collect those marks quickly and carefully.^[2]

Make written methods automatic: times tables, long multiplication and division, fractions, percentages and ratio. Practise without a calculator, then check with one afterwards.

Show all your working. The front cover of Pearson’s May 2025 Paper 1 Higher paper tells students they must do this, and that calculators may not be used.^[5]

Pearson’s mark scheme for the summer 2024 Paper 1 Higher paper awards method marks for a correct method, even when the final answer is wrong.^[6]

Bring the right equipment. The same front cover lists a ruler marked in centimetres and millimetres, a protractor, compasses, a pen, a pencil and an eraser, and says tracing paper may be used.^[5]

If you are stuck, move on and come back. Questions get harder through the paper, so do not let one question use up time meant for easier marks later.^[2]

Show your working: Write each step, even when you are sure of the answer. A slip in the last line can still earn method marks.

7. How to practise for Papers 2 and 3 (calculator)

Papers 2 and 3 allow a calculator, but they carry the same 80 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes, and they reward the same three skills as Paper 1. Practise reasoning and problem-solving, not only button-pressing.^[1]

Learn your own calculator. Know how to enter fractions, brackets, powers and standard form, and check it is in degrees mode for trigonometry. Use the same model in practice and on the day.

Write down the calculation you typed in, not just the answer. Pearson’s mark scheme says that where a question asks for working, an answer with none can get no marks.^[6]

Estimate first. Round the numbers roughly in your head, so you can spot a slip such as a missing bracket.

Our GCSE Maths guide covers the whole course and our GCSE maths topics guide lists what to revise, so use them to plan which topics to practise on each paper.

8. Past papers and grade boundaries

Pearson publishes past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports on its qualifications website. You can search by qualification, subject and exam series. Pearson’s page says they are available free to teachers and students.^[7]

The newest papers are held back so teachers can use them as mock exams. Ask your child’s teacher for the latest ones, and use older Pearson papers in the meantime.^[7]

Sit a whole paper to time, mark it with the mark scheme, and list the topics that lost the most marks. Then practise those topics before the next paper.

Pearson publishes grade boundaries on its website from results day.^[12]

Its grade boundaries page lists the latest set and lets you search earlier exam series.^[8]

The boundaries are raw marks for the whole qualification, out of 240 for each tier. They are not given for single papers.^[10]

Boundaries change each year. In June 2026, a grade 5 needed 181 of 240 marks on Foundation but 82 on Higher, so marks on the two tiers cannot be compared.^[9]

Pearson also publishes notional boundaries for each paper. They are not real grades, but teachers can use them as a guide when a past paper is used as a mock.^[11]

You can also check our grade boundaries page.

9. How Brainhub can help

Our GCSE students typically improve by 2 grades over 12 weeks of weekly lessons (Brainhub student records, 2021–2026). That figure is our own data, not independent research.

We teach one-to-one, live online across the UK, with online GCSE lessons from £30 an hour. Every family starts with a free 45-minute assessment, so we can see whether non-calculator skills, problem-solving or particular topics need the most work first.

1. 1. Which Edexcel GCSE Maths paper does not allow a calculator?

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2. 2. When are the three Edexcel GCSE Maths papers in 2027?

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3. 3. Which grades can Foundation and Higher tier students get?

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Your next steps

• Print a past Pearson Paper 1 and its mark scheme, and sit it in 1 hour 30 minutes with no calculator.
• Mark it against the mark scheme and list the topics that lost the most marks.
• Book a free 45-minute assessment to see which topics and skills to work on first.

Subject guides to go with this

Want one-to-one help? See how our online lessons work.