As students receive their A level results this week, we wish to provide further clarity and reassurance about our A level Maths assessments this summer.

Read more
What happened with A level Maths Paper 2 this year?

We previously communicated that two different versions of A level Maths Paper 2 had been taken by students this year. While there were two versions of the exam, all candidates received the correct and intended paper for each exam, and for whichever version they sat can have full confidence in the results they have received.

One version was taken by 99.9% of the entry and was the intended paper for this cohort of students. This was a valid and approved reserve Paper 2, written to meet the specification requirements and our own standards and quality checks. Analysis of student performance has shown that it produced a good spread of marks, indicating the paper did what it was intended to do – be a fair test of what students know and can do.

The second version of the paper was taken by fewer than 70 students who requested certain modified versions of the paper. These modified papers, such as modified large print or Braille, require additional preparation and there was not sufficient time to do this for our reserve Paper 2 to the level of quality we demand when issuing assessments to students. As such, these students took the paper that was originally intended for 2025. Analysis of student performance has shown that it produced a good spread of marks, allowing us to set grade boundaries accordingly.
Were any students disadvantaged by the change in paper?

No students were disadvantaged by the change in A level Maths Paper 2. All candidates sat a valid and secure version of the paper that met Pearson’s standards and requirements of the specification. The reserve paper had already passed all quality assurance checks and was reviewed by senior examiners to ensure it was fair, aligned with the specification and represented an appropriate level of demand. Subsequent analysis of student performance has shown that it produced a good spread of marks, allowing us to set grade boundaries accordingly.
Did the combined papers meet requirements for specification coverage?

Yes. The combination of papers met the requirements of the specification. Exam papers cannot ever cover the full curriculum. Papers in any given year will test a representative sample of the content, with specific topics varying annually. This ensures that the full breadth of the curriculum is thoroughly assessed over a number of years. It’s important to note that both A level Maths Paper 1 and 2 can test any part of the Pure content and the same topics can appear on both papers, as has happened in previous exam series.
How did you determine where the grade boundaries should be?

Each year, setting grade boundaries involves balancing statistical data with expert judgement to maintain standards across series. This includes analysing student performance, such as mean paper marks, and reviewing scripts to ensure that work at key grade boundaries reflects the expected standard.

Understanding grade boundaries

This year, the process was applied separately to both versions of A level Maths Paper 2. Both versions were marked independently, and grade boundaries were set independently through a rigorous process.

To ensure fairness and comparability:

  • A panel of senior examiners reviewed scripts collaboratively, including modified format scripts, to confirm that standards were aligned across both versions.
  • Outcomes were scrutinised at paper level to ensure no group of candidates was disproportionately affected.
  • Subject-level outcomes were consistent with previous years, meaning it was no easier or harder to achieve, for example, a grade A, than in any other year.
  • Ofqual observed both awarding discussions where grade boundaries are confirmed.

After all checks, the same grade boundaries were confirmed for both versions. The overall grade boundaries are slightly higher than last summer, but student outcomes are in line with both 2023, 2024 and pre-pandemic exam series.  

As explained in Ofqual's communication earlier this year, it is important to remember that the grade boundaries for a qualification may vary from year to year. It is important that they do so in order to reflect any difference in both the demand of the question papers and the ability of the cohort. 

Ofqual: GCSE and A level grading: what you need to know

Although senior examiners aim to produce papers of comparable demand, we know that some variations in the level of demand of an assessment, and any changes to grade boundaries as a result, are inevitable to ensure that fair and appropriate grading standards are set. This ensures that it is not easier or harder to get a grade between one year and the next.
What resources will be available for the modified version of paper 2?

Teachers will have access to the usual exam materials that includes the question paper and mark scheme. Both versions of the question paper sat, with accompanying mark scheme, will be available on our website as well as the Maths Emporium. We are making the relevant modifications to the standard version to ensure both versions are accessible for mocks. Therefore, modified formats of both versions will also be available on our website from September.