AQA GCSE Maths
AQA GCSE Mathematics (8300)
A tiered, linear GCSE assessed by three written exams, taken at Foundation or Higher tier, with all content potentially examined on any paper.
Three 1 hour 30 minute papers, each worth 80 marks (240 total). Paper 1 is non-calculator; Papers 2 and 3 allow a calculator. Each paper carries 33⅓% of the qualification.
- Foundation:Grades 1–5
- Higher:Grades 4–9 (with grade 3 allowed)
Official resources
Specification, papers, mark schemes and grade boundaries - straight from AQA.
- Past papers: Filter by "Question papers" - also hosts specimen and sample papers.
- Mark schemes: Filter the assessment-resources page by "Mark schemes".
- Examiner reports: Filter the assessment-resources page by "Examiner reports".
A formulae sheet is provided in every paper for 2025–2027 series. Includes quadratic formula, trapezium area, prism volume, circle formulae, Pythagoras, right-angled trig ratios, sine rule, cosine rule, ½ab sin C, compound interest, and the probability addition / conditional rules. Cone, sphere and kinematics formulae are still given in the relevant question.
Assessment objectives
How marks are split across the three things examiners look for.
Accurately recall facts, terminology and definitions; use and interpret notation correctly; carry out routine procedures or multi-step solutions.
Make deductions and draw conclusions, construct chains of reasoning, interpret and communicate information accurately, present arguments and proofs, and critically evaluate methods.
Translate problems into mathematical processes, make connections between different parts of mathematics, interpret results in context, and evaluate methods and assumptions used.
What AQA tests
The AQA specification organises content into the sections below. Each one shows the GCSEwiz topics that practise material from that strand.
Structure and calculation, fractions / decimals / percentages, indices, surds, standard form, measures and accuracy.
Notation, manipulation, solving linear and quadratic equations, simultaneous equations, sequences, and graphs of linear, quadratic, exponential and trigonometric functions.
Ratio, scale, direct and inverse proportion, percentage change, compound measures, and growth and decay including compound interest.
Properties and constructions, mensuration, vectors, similarity, circle theorems and trigonometry of non-right triangles (Higher).
Calculation, listing and representation of probability, including tree diagrams, Venn diagrams and conditional probability.
Sampling, interpretation and representation of data, summary measures, plus cumulative frequency, box plots and histograms with unequal class widths at Higher.
Topics that appear on the Higher paper but not Foundation.
- Surds: simplifying and rationalising denominators
- Fractional and negative indices
- Quadratic formula, completing the square and quadratic inequalities
- Function notation including composite and inverse functions
- Sine rule, cosine rule and ½ab sin C in non-right triangles
- Full circle theorems and equation of a circle
- Vectors used in geometric proofs
- Histograms with unequal class widths
AQA in other GCSE subjects
Maths is the deep dive above; here is what AQA offers across the rest of the GCSE catalogue - each subject's specification, its code and how the papers are structured, with the full syllabus guide a click away.
AQA GCSE English Language (8700)
2 written papers, each 1h45 and worth 80 marks / 50%. Paper 1 'Explorations in creative reading and writing' (one unseen literature-fiction text; descriptive/narrative writing). Paper 2 'Writers' viewpoints and perspectives' (two linked unseen non-fiction texts across time; viewpoint writing). Untiered, all texts unseen. Spoken Language is a separate, non-marked endorsement. Fully co-teachable with AQA GCSE English Literature 8702.
AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)
2 closed-book written papers, untiered. Paper 1 'Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel' (1h45, 64 marks, 40%): one Shakespeare extract question plus one 19th-century-novel extract question. Paper 2 'Modern texts and poetry' (2h15, 96 marks, 60%): modern text essay (choice), one anthology-poetry comparison, and unseen poetry. Co-teachable with AQA English Language 8700.
AQA GCSE Biology (8461)
2 written papers, each 1h45, 100 marks, 50% each; tiered Foundation/Higher; linear. No NEA - 10 required practicals assessed within the written papers. Paper 1 covers topics 1–4 (Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; Bioenergetics); Paper 2 covers topics 5–7 (Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; Ecology).
AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)
2 written papers, each 1h45 and 100 marks (50% each), tiered Foundation/Higher. Paper 1 covers topics 1–5 (atomic structure & periodic table; bonding/structure/properties; quantitative chemistry; chemical changes; energy changes); Paper 2 covers topics 6–10 (rate & extent of change; organic chemistry; chemical analysis; chemistry of the atmosphere; using resources). No NEA; 8 required practicals assessed in the written papers, with at least 15% of marks relating to practical skills.
AQA GCSE Physics (8463)
2 papers, each 1h45 and 100 marks (50% each), tiered F/H, linear. No NEA; 10 required practicals taught during the course and assessed within the exams. Paper 1 covers topics 1–4 (Energy, Electricity, Particle model, Atomic structure), Paper 2 covers topics 5–8 (Forces, Waves, Magnetism & electromagnetism, Space physics). An equations sheet is provided; some equations must still be recalled.
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)
6 written papers - two each in biology, chemistry and physics. Each paper is 1h15, worth 70 marks and 16.7% of the GCSE; tiered Foundation/Higher. No NEA; 16 required practicals assessed in the written papers. Double award (two GCSE grades).
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy (8465)
4 written papers - two 'Life and environmental sciences' papers and two 'Physical sciences' papers, each 1h45; tiered Foundation/Higher. No NEA; 16 required practicals assessed in the written papers. Double award (two GCSE grades).
AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525)
Untiered, linear; 2 papers, each 50%. Paper 1 'Computational thinking and programming skills' tests programming and computational thinking and is sat in a chosen language - candidates enter a language-specific variant (8525/1A C#, 8525/1B Python, 8525/1C VB.NET); Paper 2 'Computing concepts' (1h45, 90 marks) is a written theory paper. No NEA - programming is exam-assessed. Note: the spec was redeveloped (still code 8525) for first teaching Sept 2025 / first exams summer 2027 after DfE content changes - some content trimmed and relational databases/SQL emphasised.
AQA GCSE Geography (8035)
3 papers, untiered. Paper 1 Living with the physical environment (1h30, 88 marks incl. 3 SPaG, 35%); Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment (1h30, 88 marks incl. 3 SPaG, 35%); Paper 3 Geographical applications (1h15, 76 marks incl. 6 SPaG, 30%) - split into a pre-release issue evaluation and a fieldwork section. No NEA; compulsory fieldwork in two contrasting environments assessed in Paper 3.
AQA GCSE History (8145)
2 papers, each 1h45 and 50% (84 marks + 4 SPaG). Paper 1 'Understanding the Modern World' = Section A a period study (e.g. America 1840–1895; Germany 1890–1945; Russia 1894–1945; America 1920–1973) + Section B a wider world depth study (e.g. Conflict and Tension 1894–1918 / 1918–39 / Asia 1950–75 / between East and West 1945–72). Paper 2 'Shaping the Nation' = Section A a thematic study (Health and the People c1000–present; Power and the People c1170–present; Migration, Empires and the People c790–present) + Section B a British depth study with historic environment (Norman England c1066–c1100; Medieval England 1066–1485; Elizabethan England c1568–1603; Restoration England 1660–85). Untiered; 100% exam, no NEA.
AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062)
2 written papers, each 1h45, each 50% (96 marks + 3 SPaG). Untiered, linear, 100% exam. Paper 1 (Component 1): beliefs, teachings and practices of two chosen religions (from Buddhism, Christianity, Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism; Christianity + Catholic Christianity is a prohibited pairing). Paper 2 (Component 2): four themes from six - A Relationships and families, B Religion and life, C The existence of God and revelation, D Religion, peace and conflict, E Religion, crime and punishment, F Religion, human rights and social justice. An alternative textual-studies route swaps two themes for two textual studies.
AQA GCSE French (8652)
New 2024 spec (first teaching Sept 2024, first exams 2026). 4 papers, each 25%: Paper 1 Listening (F 40 marks/~35 min, H 50 marks/~45 min, includes a dictation section - min 20 words at Foundation, 30 at Higher); Paper 2 Speaking (teacher-conducted, F up to 9 min, H up to 12 min - read-aloud, role-play, photo card + conversation); Paper 3 Reading (F 40/~35 min, H 50/~45 min, includes translation into English); Paper 4 Writing (includes translation into French). Tiered F/H, linear.
AQA GCSE Spanish (8692)
New 2024 spec (first teaching Sept 2024, first exams 2026). 4 papers, each 25%: Paper 1 Listening (F 40 marks/~35 min, H 50 marks/~45 min, includes a dictation section - min 20 words at Foundation, 30 at Higher); Paper 2 Speaking (teacher-conducted, F up to 9 min, H up to 12 min - read-aloud, role-play, photo card + conversation); Paper 3 Reading (F 40/~35 min, H 50/~45 min, includes translation into English); Paper 4 Writing (includes translation into Spanish). Tiered F/H, linear.
AQA GCSE German (8662)
New 2024 spec (first teaching Sept 2024, first exams 2026). 4 papers, each 25%: Paper 1 Listening (F 40 marks/~35 min, H 50 marks/~45 min, includes a dictation section - min 20 words at Foundation, 30 at Higher); Paper 2 Speaking (teacher-conducted, F up to 9 min, H up to 12 min - read-aloud, role-play, photo card + conversation); Paper 3 Reading (F 40/~35 min, H 50/~45 min, includes translation into English); Paper 4 Writing (includes translation into German). Tiered F/H, linear.
AQA GCSE Business (8132)
2 papers, each 1h45 and 90 marks, each 50%. Paper 1: Influences of operations and HRM on business activity; Paper 2: Influences of marketing and finance on business activity. Both papers assess the whole specification through multiple-choice, short-answer, calculation and extended-response questions, including a case-study context. Untiered, no NEA.
AQA GCSE Economics (8136)
2 papers, each 1h45 and 80 marks (160 total), each 50%. Paper 1: How markets work (microeconomics); Paper 2: How the economy works (macroeconomics). Each paper has Section A multiple-choice plus Section B case-study/data questions, mixing calculations, short and extended responses. Untiered, linear, no NEA.
AQA GCSE Psychology (8182)
2 written papers, 1h45 each, 100 marks each, 50% each. Paper 1 'Cognition and behaviour' (memory, perception, development, research methods); Paper 2 'Social context and behaviour' (social influence; language, thought and communication; brain and neuropsychology; psychological problems). Untiered, linear; no NEA. All topics compulsory.
AQA GCSE Sociology (8192)
2 written papers, 1h45 each, 100 marks each, 50% each. Paper 1 'The sociology of families and education' (also covers the sociological approach and relevant research methods); Paper 2 'The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification' (also covers theory and relevant research methods). Untiered, linear; no NEA. Question types include multiple-choice, short and extended responses.
AQA GCSE Art and Design (8201–8206)
No written exam. Component 1 Portfolio (96 marks, 60%) plus Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (96 marks, 40%) with a preparatory period and 10 hours of sustained supervised work. Six endorsed titles: Art, craft and design (8201), Fine art (8202), Graphic communication (8203), Textile design (8204), Three-dimensional design (8205), Photography (8206).
AQA GCSE Design and Technology (8552)
Written exam (Paper, 2 hours, 100 marks, 50%) covering core technical principles, specialist technical principles and designing and making principles; plus NEA - a single design-and-make task (100 marks, 50%, approx. 30–35 hours) producing a design portfolio and prototype. Min 15% maths, min 10% science.
AQA GCSE Music (8271)
Three components. Component 1 Understanding Music (listening exam): 1h30, 96 marks, 40%, Section A unfamiliar-music questions across all four areas of study, Section B two linked sets of questions of which one must be Area of study 1. Component 2 Performing: NEA, 72 marks, 30%, two pieces (one solo, one ensemble), combined minimum 4 minutes, internally marked / externally moderated. Component 3 Composing: NEA, 72 marks, 30%, two pieces (one to a brief, one free), minimum 3 minutes total.
AQA GCSE Drama (8261)
Three components. Component 1 Understanding Drama: written exam, 1h45, 80 marks, 40% - Section A multiple-choice on theatre roles/terminology, Section B questions on one set play (study from a performer/designer/director perspective), Section C analysis and evaluation of live theatre seen. Component 2 Devising: NEA, 40% - devised performance plus an individual Devising log (log 60 marks, performance 20 marks). Component 3 Texts in Practice: NEA, 20% - performance of two extracts from one play, marked by a visiting examiner.
AQA GCSE Physical Education (8582)
2 written papers, each 1h15 and 78 marks, 30% each (Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport; Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and well-being in physical activity and sport) = 60% theory. NEA 40%: practical performance in 3 activities (one team, one individual, one free choice) plus a written analysis-and-evaluation task. Untiered, linear. A spec update applies to exams from summer 2027.
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