AS Maths

AS Maths is the name we give to the first year of A-Level Mathematics. The ‘AS’ stands for ‘Advanced Subsidiary’.  Students can study for 1 year and take exams to get a qualification in AS-Level Mathematics. Alternatively, they may go on to study a second year of A-Level Mathematics known as A2 Maths (see info on A2 Maths). Students just sitting AS-Level Maths exams will take two exams at the end of the one year. See below for more exam information or click here to see the Edexcel website information for AS-Level Mathematics.

Topics Covered in AS Maths

The topics and pages you see listed here are those studied during year one when taking either AS-Level Maths or the full A-Level in Maths. 

AS Maths Proof

AS Maths Algebra & Functions

AS Maths Coordinate Geometry

AS Maths Sequence & Series

AS Maths Trigonometry

AS Maths Exponential & Logs

AS Maths Differentiation

AS Maths Integration

AS Maths Vectors

AS Statistics Sampling

AS Statistics Data Presentation & Sampling

AS Statistics Probability

AS Statistics Distributions

AS Statistics Hypothesis Testing

AS Mechanics Quantities & Units in Mechanics

AS Mechanics Kinematics

AS Mechanics Forces & Newton’s Laws

AS Mechanics Moments

  • Not covered in AS Maths

Exam Information

From September 2017, students will have the option to take an AS in Maths. Students will start learning the material in September and will take two exams in May/June of the following year. The examinations are made up of 2 papers: 1 paper on Pure Mathematics and 1 on Statistics and Mechanics. Students are expected to be familiar with the Large Dataset

‘Big data’ is no longer a thing of the future and is creeping into A-Level Maths specifications across the board. You may be expected to answer questions based on a dataset that you are already familiar with. The more you are familiar with it, the more of an advantage you will have when answering questions. You may also be expected to recall trends in the data without being given the data.

The following links are provided by CrashMaths and provide guidance on the A-Level Maths Edexcel large dataset. This dataset contains weather statistics provided by the MET Office:

The Large Dataset (external links)

Pure Maths Paper 1

AS MathsPaper 1 covers the pure (or core) aspects of the course. The paper is out of 100 marks and is worth 62.5% of the qualification. The duration is 2 hours and the exam paper code is 8MA0/01.

  • Paper examines Pure Maths components
  • Out of a possible 100 marks
  • Worth 62.5% of the A-Level Maths qualification
  • Duration – 2 hours
  • Paper code – 8MA0/01

Applied Maths Papers 2 + 3

AS MathsPapers 2 and 3 cover the applied (statistics and mechanics) aspects of the course. Each paper is out of 30 marks and is worth 37.5% of the qualification. The duration is 1 hour 15 minutes and the exam paper codes are 8MA0/21 and 8MAO/22 .

  • Papers examine Statistics and Mechanics components
  • You are given both papers and are given 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete them both. They are out of a total possible 60 marks.
  • Worth 37.5% of the AS Maths qualification
  • Duration – 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Paper codes – 8MA0/21 (Stats) and 8MA0/22 (Mech.)

(Updated July 2024)