Show WorkingNail the core topics
Fractions, percentages, ratio, rounding, area and angles, plus simple algebra like substitution and solving equations. They're the building blocks for loads of questions.
Revision guideGrade 4 and 5
How to pass GCSE maths: getting your grade 4
In England a grade 4 is a standard pass and a grade 5 is a strong pass. If maths isn't your favourite subject, here's the good news: a 4 doesn't need every topic. It needs the common ones done reliably, and far fewer marks thrown away.
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01 / What a pass meansEngland
Grade 4 is the one that opens doors
- Grade 4 is a standard pass, grade 5 a strong pass. Most colleges, sixth forms and employers ask for at least a 4. Some courses want a 5 or more.
- Foundation goes up to grade 5. A grade 4 on Foundation is exactly the same grade as a 4 on Higher.
- No 4 by 16? In England you'll usually keep studying maths at college or sixth form until you get one. See Resitting GCSE maths.
- Grade boundaries change every year. They're set after the papers are marked, so ignore anyone promising a fixed number of marks for a 4.
02 / Where the marks areBank them, every time
Six ways to stop losing easy marks
Take the early questions slowly
Papers usually start with the more approachable questions. Don't rush them. Check each one before you move on.
Show your working
Examiners give marks for a correct method, even when the final answer slips. A bare wrong answer gets nothing.
Practise without a calculator
One of the three papers (for AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR) is non-calculator. Written methods for fractions and percentages pay off here.
Know your formulae sheet
Exams in 2026 and 2027 come with one. Know what's on it before the day, so you're not hunting for it mid-question. Formulas guide.
Have a go at everything
A blank space scores zero. Write down what you know, even the first step. It can be worth a mark.
03 / A four week planIf time is short
Four weeks to a grade 4
Twenty to thirty minutes on most days. More if you can, but steady beats heroic.
Week 1: find the gaps
Go through the topics checklist. Start daily practice on number: fractions, percentages, ratio and rounding.
Week 2: algebra and shape basics
Substitution, simplifying, solving equations and sequences. Then area, perimeter and angles.
Week 3: mix it up
Mixed questions from every topic, and your first timed paper. Write down every topic you dropped marks on.
Week 4: papers and fixes
One or two timed papers. Fix the topics they show up, check your formulae sheet, and rest the night before.
04 / On Higher?Aiming for a 4 or 5
Passing on the Higher tier
If you're on Higher and aiming for a 4 or 5, most of your marks will come from the first part of each paper. Make those questions bulletproof before you spend time on the hardest topics.
Higher has a safety net grade 3 for pupils who just miss a 4. Below that the result is a U. If you're worried about your tier, talk to your maths teacher early. More in Foundation or Higher.
05 / Practise itTen minutes a day
Practise the core topics until they're automatic
Show Working gives you fresh questions on every core topic, marked straight away, with the working shown when you get one wrong. Foundation or Higher, and you can switch any time.
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06 / QuestionsAll questions
Passing GCSE maths, answered
How do I revise for the non-calculator paper?
Practise the written methods: multiplying and dividing on paper, fractions, percentages without a calculator, and rounding to estimate. Do some of your daily practice with the calculator out of reach.
What grade is a pass in GCSE maths?
A grade 4 is a standard pass and a grade 5 is a strong pass. Most colleges, sixth forms and employers ask for at least a 4, though some courses want a 5 or more.
What happens if I don’t pass GCSE maths?
In England, if you don’t have a grade 4 by 16, you’ll usually keep studying maths at college or sixth form alongside your main course. With a grade 3 that normally means taking the GCSE again. With a lower grade it can be a Functional Skills qualification first. Your college will tell you which.
Can I pass GCSE maths on Foundation?
Yes. Foundation papers go up to grade 5, and a grade 4 on Foundation is exactly the same grade as a grade 4 on Higher.
How many marks do I need for a grade 4?
It changes every year, because grade boundaries are set after the papers are marked. Your exam board publishes them on results day, so don’t trust a fixed number you see online.
One topic at a time.
Your grade 4 starts with ten minutes.
Fresh questions, marked straight away, with the working shown. The first topic is free.
Coming soon to the App Store