A LEVEL
MATHEMATICS
QUESTION AND
ANSWERS
,Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in
Mathematics Specification Issue 4 changes
Summary of changes made between previous issue and this current issue Page number
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 1.1 – Example of proof by 11
exhaustion in guidance replaced with better example.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 1.1 – Square root symbol 11
changed to include bar over 2.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.3 – Text in guidance changed 12
from ‘use of a calculator and completing the square’ to ‘use of calculator or
completing the square’ to clarify wording.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.4 – Text in guidance changed 12
from ‘The quadratic may involve powers of 2...’ to ‘This may involve powers of
2...’ for clarity.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.5 – Three inequality symbols in 13
guidance changed to not bold.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.6 – Text in the guidance 13
changed to clarify that roots can be fractional.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.7 – ‘graphs’ changed to 14
‘graph’.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.7 – Text ‘Direct proportion 14
between two variables’ removed from guidance to avoid misinterpretation that it
suggests only direct proportion is included.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 3.3 – Fixed typo – deleted ‘5’ 17
before ‘describes’.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 4.2 – Bracket in equation 18
changed from italic to roman.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 5.3 – π/ 2 removed from list of 19
exact values required for tan, to match DfE content.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 5.5 – Inserted space before 20
‘and’.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 6.4 – Plus sign made not 21
subscript.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 6.4 – Fixed typo – deleted 21
inequality symbol from ‘k ≤logax’.
,Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 6.7 – Deleted ‘second’ from 22
‘Consideration of a second improved model may be required’ to make expectation
clearer.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 7.1 – First sentence of guidance 23
made bold.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 7.3 – Line removed from content 23
and guidance column.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 7.6 – Text ‘which may include 24
direct proportion’ deleted from guidance. Example added.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 8.2 – Fixed typo – deleted ‘x’ 24
from end of first sentence in guidance.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 8.3 – Two parts of guidance text 25
made bold.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 8.5 – Integration by substitution 25
text deleted from guidance as it was a repetition of text in content column.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.1 – Full stop made not bold. 27
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.2 – Vector ‘a’ changed to 27
roman.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.4 – Formula for distance 27
between two points in three dimensions added to guidance (not bold).
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.5 – Text about use of ratio 28
theorem deleted to avoid confusion over ‘ratio theorem’.
Assessment information – ‘Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables’ 29
italicised.
Synoptic assessment – ‘assesses’ corrected to ‘assess’. 29
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 2.2 – Paragraphs reordered, some 31
text deleted to avoid repetition.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 5.2 – Line deleted from across 35
Content and Guidance columns.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 6.1 – Guidance made bold. 35
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.1 – Guidance made bold. 36
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.3 – Sentence starting ‘Understand 36
and use suvat formulae...’ made not bold and moved down a row.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.4 – ‘r’, ‘v’, ‘a’ and ‘t’ italicised in 36
integrals.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.4 – Cross-reference corrected in 36
guidance.
, Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 8.2 – Order of paragraphs changed in 37
guidance.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 8.3 – Section starting ‘The inverse 37
square law...’ moved from guidance to content, as it is part of DfE wording.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 8.4 – Text ‘restricted to forces in two 38
perpendicular directions or simple cases of forces given as 2-D vectors’ added to
content to match DfE wording.
Breakdown of Assessment Objectives – Ranges for AO2 and AO3 changed. 41
Earlier issues show previous changes.
If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via our website
at: qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html.
Contents
1 Introduction 2
Why choose Edexcel A Level Mathematics? 2
Supporting you in planning and implementing this qualification 3
Qualification at a glance 5
2 Subject content and assessment information 7
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics 11
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics 30
Assessment Objectives 40
3 Administration and general information 42
Entries 42
Access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, special consideration and malpractice 42
Student recruitment and progression 45
Appendix 1: Formulae 49
Appendix 2: Notation 53
Appendix 3: Use of calculators 59 Appendix 4: Assessment Objectives
60
Appendix 5: The context for the development of this qualification 62
Appendix 6: Transferable skills 64
Appendix 7: Level 3 Extended Project qualification 65
Appendix 8: Codes 67
MATHEMATICS
QUESTION AND
ANSWERS
,Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in
Mathematics Specification Issue 4 changes
Summary of changes made between previous issue and this current issue Page number
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 1.1 – Example of proof by 11
exhaustion in guidance replaced with better example.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 1.1 – Square root symbol 11
changed to include bar over 2.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.3 – Text in guidance changed 12
from ‘use of a calculator and completing the square’ to ‘use of calculator or
completing the square’ to clarify wording.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.4 – Text in guidance changed 12
from ‘The quadratic may involve powers of 2...’ to ‘This may involve powers of
2...’ for clarity.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.5 – Three inequality symbols in 13
guidance changed to not bold.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.6 – Text in the guidance 13
changed to clarify that roots can be fractional.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.7 – ‘graphs’ changed to 14
‘graph’.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 2.7 – Text ‘Direct proportion 14
between two variables’ removed from guidance to avoid misinterpretation that it
suggests only direct proportion is included.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 3.3 – Fixed typo – deleted ‘5’ 17
before ‘describes’.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 4.2 – Bracket in equation 18
changed from italic to roman.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 5.3 – π/ 2 removed from list of 19
exact values required for tan, to match DfE content.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 5.5 – Inserted space before 20
‘and’.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 6.4 – Plus sign made not 21
subscript.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 6.4 – Fixed typo – deleted 21
inequality symbol from ‘k ≤logax’.
,Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 6.7 – Deleted ‘second’ from 22
‘Consideration of a second improved model may be required’ to make expectation
clearer.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 7.1 – First sentence of guidance 23
made bold.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 7.3 – Line removed from content 23
and guidance column.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 7.6 – Text ‘which may include 24
direct proportion’ deleted from guidance. Example added.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 8.2 – Fixed typo – deleted ‘x’ 24
from end of first sentence in guidance.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 8.3 – Two parts of guidance text 25
made bold.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 8.5 – Integration by substitution 25
text deleted from guidance as it was a repetition of text in content column.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.1 – Full stop made not bold. 27
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.2 – Vector ‘a’ changed to 27
roman.
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.4 – Formula for distance 27
between two points in three dimensions added to guidance (not bold).
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics, Section 10.5 – Text about use of ratio 28
theorem deleted to avoid confusion over ‘ratio theorem’.
Assessment information – ‘Mathematical Formulae and Statistical Tables’ 29
italicised.
Synoptic assessment – ‘assesses’ corrected to ‘assess’. 29
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 2.2 – Paragraphs reordered, some 31
text deleted to avoid repetition.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 5.2 – Line deleted from across 35
Content and Guidance columns.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 6.1 – Guidance made bold. 35
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.1 – Guidance made bold. 36
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.3 – Sentence starting ‘Understand 36
and use suvat formulae...’ made not bold and moved down a row.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.4 – ‘r’, ‘v’, ‘a’ and ‘t’ italicised in 36
integrals.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 7.4 – Cross-reference corrected in 36
guidance.
, Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 8.2 – Order of paragraphs changed in 37
guidance.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 8.3 – Section starting ‘The inverse 37
square law...’ moved from guidance to content, as it is part of DfE wording.
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics, Section 8.4 – Text ‘restricted to forces in two 38
perpendicular directions or simple cases of forces given as 2-D vectors’ added to
content to match DfE wording.
Breakdown of Assessment Objectives – Ranges for AO2 and AO3 changed. 41
Earlier issues show previous changes.
If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via our website
at: qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html.
Contents
1 Introduction 2
Why choose Edexcel A Level Mathematics? 2
Supporting you in planning and implementing this qualification 3
Qualification at a glance 5
2 Subject content and assessment information 7
Paper 1 and Paper 2: Pure Mathematics 11
Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics 30
Assessment Objectives 40
3 Administration and general information 42
Entries 42
Access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, special consideration and malpractice 42
Student recruitment and progression 45
Appendix 1: Formulae 49
Appendix 2: Notation 53
Appendix 3: Use of calculators 59 Appendix 4: Assessment Objectives
60
Appendix 5: The context for the development of this qualification 62
Appendix 6: Transferable skills 64
Appendix 7: Level 3 Extended Project qualification 65
Appendix 8: Codes 67
