Edexcel A-Level Mathematics answers, written to the spec
17 topics · specification 9MA0 · explanations and examiner marking in Edexcel’s own language
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This is the full Edexcel A-Level Mathematics specification, code 9MA0, as elid holds it — 17 topics, each with the terminology Edexcel marks against. Every explanation and every mark elid gives you is written against this list, not a generic A-level one, because the same question answered in AQA, CAIE or OCR language loses marks it should have earned.
The Edexcel A-Level Mathematics specification, topic by topic
Proof
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Mathematical argument, language, and proof by deduction, exhaustion, contradiction, and disproof by counter-example.
Equations of straight lines, circle geometry, parametric equations of curves, and conversion between parametric and Cartesian forms.
Specification terms elid matches
straight line
gradient
midpoint
perpendicular
parallel
circle
radius
tangent
normal
intersection
parametric
Cartesian
parameter
parametric equation of curve
Sequences and Series
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Binomial expansion, arithmetic and geometric sequences and series, sigma notation, recurrence relations, and convergence.
Specification terms elid matches
binomial expansion
binomial coefficient
factorial
sequence
series
arithmetic progression
geometric progression
common difference
common ratio
first term
sum to infinity
sigma notation
recurrence relation
Pascal's triangle coefficients
Trigonometry
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Radian measure, arc length, area of a sector, trigonometric ratios, graphs, identities, equations, and R-form.
Specification terms elid matches
Radian
degree
arc length
sector area
sine
cosine
tangent
Secant
cosecant
cotangent
trigonometric identity
trigonometric equation
CAST diagram
principal value
Exponentials and Logarithms
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Exponential growth and decay, natural logarithm, laws of logarithms, solving equations, and linearizing non-linear relationships.
Specification terms elid matches
exponential
logarithm
base
natural log
laws of logs
change of base
growth
decay
rate of change
linearization
log-log graph
semi-log graph
exponential model y=a e^bx
logarithmic equation solution
Differentiation
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
First principles, derivatives of standard functions, chain rule, product rule, quotient rule, implicit differentiation, parametric differentiation, stationary points, and rates of change.
Specification terms elid matches
Derivative
gradient function
differentiation
first principles
tangent
normal
stationary point
maximum
minimum
point of inflection
rate of change
chain rule
product rule
quotient rule
Integration
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Fundamental theorem of calculus, indefinite and definite integration, area under a curve, volume of revolution, integration by substitution, integration by parts, partial fractions, and differential equations.
Specification terms elid matches
integration
integral
antiderivative
definite integral
indefinite integral
area under curve
integration by substitution
integration by parts
trapezoidal rule
constant of integration
integration by substitution u
integration by parts u dv
integration using partial fractions
trapezoidal rule approximation
Numerical Methods
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Location of roots, interval bisection, linear interpolation, Newton-Raphson method, and iterative formulas.
Specification terms elid matches
numerical methods
root
iteration
iterative formula
Newton-Raphson
cobweb diagram
staircase diagram
divergence
convergence
Newton-Raphson formula x_n+1
sign change interval
linear interpolation method
iterative convergence condition
Vectors
Assessed in Paper 1, 2
Vector arithmetic, magnitude, direction, unit vectors, position vectors, displacement vectors, scalar product, and equations of lines.
Specification terms elid matches
vector
magnitude
direction
unit vector
position vector
scalar product
dot product
collinear
parallel
coordinate
3D vectors
3D vector magnitude |v|
vector equation of line r=a+lambda b
angle between two vectors
Statistical Sampling and Data Presentation
Assessed in Paper 3
Populations, samples, sampling methods, data presentation (histograms, box plots), measures of central tendency/variation, and the large data set.
Specification terms elid matches
population
Sample
random sampling
stratified sampling
systematic sampling
quota sampling
opportunity sampling
bias
census
histogram
box plot
cumulative frequency
mean
median
Probability
Assessed in Paper 3
Mutually exclusive events, independent events, Venn diagrams, tree diagrams, conditional probability, and laws of probability.
Specification terms elid matches
probability
event
Sample space
mutually exclusive
independent
Venn diagram
tree diagram
conditional probability
intersection
union
complement
Bayes' theorem formula
probability tree diagram
Venn diagram set probability
Statistical Distributions
Assessed in Paper 3
Discrete random variables, probability distributions, Binomial distribution, Normal distribution.
Specification terms elid matches
random variable
Discrete random variable
continuous random variable
probability distribution
cumulative distribution
Binomial distribution
Normal distribution
mean
variance
standard deviation
bell curve
z-score
Binomial distribution B(n,p)
Normal distribution N(mu, sigma^2)
Statistical Hypothesis Testing
Assessed in Paper 3
Hypothesis testing, null/alternative hypotheses, significance level, critical region, p-value, 1-tailed/2-tailed tests, and testing for correlation.
Specification terms elid matches
Hypothesis test
null Hypothesis
alternative Hypothesis
significance level
critical region
critical value
acceptance region
test statistic
p-value
1-tailed test
2-tailed test
Type I error
Type II error
binomial Hypothesis test
Kinematics
Assessed in Paper 3
Motion in a straight line, SUVAT equations, variable acceleration using calculus, and projectile motion.
Specification terms elid matches
kinematics
displacement
distance
velocity
speed
acceleration
constant acceleration
SUVAT
variable acceleration
calculus
displacement-time graph
velocity-time graph
projectile motion trajectory
angle of projection
Forces and Newton's Laws
Assessed in Paper 3
Forces, weight, friction, Newton's three laws of motion, equilibrium, dynamics of a particle, connected particles, and inclined planes.
Specification terms elid matches
force
mass
weight
gravity
tension
thrust
friction
normal reaction
coefficient of friction
limiting friction
Newton's laws
F=ma
equilibrium
resultant force
Moments
Assessed in Paper 3
Moment of a force, turning effect, equilibrium of a rigid body, center of mass, and support forces.
Specification terms elid matches
moment
torque
force
perpendicular distance
pivot
fulcrum
center of mass
uniform beam
non-uniform beam
equilibrium
anticlockwise moment
clockwise moment
support force
principle of moments sum
How the papers are weighted
elid uses these weightings when it decides which topics deserve your revision time first.
Paper
Share of the qualification
Paper 1
33.33%
Paper 2
33.33%
Paper 3
33.33%
Marked the way Edexcel marks it
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