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A-Level guide · checked October 2026

A-Level Further Maths, explained simply

A second maths A-Level for students who love the subject: complex numbers, matrices, further calculus, and a choice of statistics, mechanics or decision maths. This page shows how each board sets the papers, the marks typically needed for each grade, and how to prepare.

  • 3 or 4 exams
  • Core pure plus options
  • No coursework
  • Grades A* to E

Exam board

Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper.

The exams at a glance

AQA A-Level Further Maths (7367). 3 papers, 6 hours of exams and 300 marks in total. Each paper is worth 33% of the grade.

PaperNotesTimeMarks
Paper 1Pure2 hours100 (33%)
Paper 2Pure2 hours100 (33%)
Paper 3Two options from discrete, statistics, mechanics2 hours100 (33%)

Specification: AQA A-Level Further Maths (7367)

What's in the exams

About half or more of the course is "core pure" maths that everyone takes; the rest is options the sixth form chooses. The shares are each paper's weight in the final grade.

  • Paper 1: pure (complex numbers, matrices, calculus and more)33%
  • Paper 2: pure33%
  • Paper 3: two of discrete, statistics and mechanics33%

How the grading works

How the grading works

Everyone sits the same papers. The marks are added up and the total decides the grade, from A* down to E. Because students take different option papers, each board publishes separate boundaries for every combination, so there is no single table to show here. A formula booklet is provided and calculators are allowed.

The marks needed in June 2026

Across all option combinations: AQA (out of 300) needed 236 to 240 for an A* and 199 to 203 for an A. Edexcel (out of 300) needed 262 to 275 for an A* and 236 to 251 for an A. OCR (out of 300) needed 235 to 243 for an A* and 200 to 209 for an A.

Past paper mock builder

Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see your total and percentage.

  1. Paper 1, June 2026 · Pure · 2 hours

  2. Paper 2, June 2026 · Pure · 2 hours

  3. Paper 3, June 2026 · Two options from discrete, statistics, mechanics · 2 hours

Download the papers and mark schemes: AQA official past papers or Save My Exams past papers. Exam boards keep the most recent series for schools only for a while, so if the newest one isn't there, take the one before.

Enter your marks for each paper to see your total and percentage.

What Further Maths is really about

Where the word comes from

"Mathematics" comes from the Greek mathēma, "something learned". "Further" simply marks it as the second, more advanced maths A-Level, taken alongside A-Level Maths.

Where it comes from

Much of Further Maths was built in Britain and Europe between the 1600s and 1800s. William Rowan Hamilton developed quaternions in Dublin in 1843, carving the formula into Broom Bridge, and Arthur Cayley in Cambridge developed the theory of matrices in the 1850s, now used in everything from computer graphics to search engines.

Why it's still taught

Further Maths is valued by top universities for maths, physics, engineering, computer science and economics, and some strongly prefer or require it. It also makes A-Level Maths feel easier, because students meet the ideas twice.

How to do well in A-Level Further Maths

Keep A-Level Maths rock solid

Further Maths builds directly on A-Level Maths. Gaps in algebra or calculus cause most problems.

Learn the new ideas carefully

Complex numbers, matrices and proof by induction are new ways of thinking. Work through examples slowly before speeding up.

Practise the option papers

Option papers are a quarter or third of the grade. Know which options your sixth form teaches and practise their past papers.

Write proofs neatly

Proof questions reward clear, logical steps. Practise setting out each line.

Use the formula booklet well

Know what it contains so you don't waste time searching, and learn the results it leaves out.

Do full papers to time

From spring of Year 13, sit complete papers under exam conditions and mark them strictly.

The three best places to revise

Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.

Physics & Maths Tutor

Free past papers, mark schemes and topic questions for every board, including option papers.

Advanced Mathematics Support Programme

Free and low-cost support for Further Maths students and schools, run by MEI.

TLMaths

Free video lessons covering much of the Further Maths content step by step.

Questions parents ask

Not sure where your child stands?

Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.

Sources