Achieving an A* in A Level Maths is no easy feat – only 16.9% of students achieved an A* in A Level Maths in 2024. However, with the right approach, it’s entirely possible. In this article, I’ll share key strategies and invaluable tips and tricks to enable you to achieve an A* in A Level Maths (from someone who got one).

1. Understand the A Level Maths grading system

Achieving an A* in A Level Maths can seem daunting, but a clear grasp of how the grading system works can make it more attainable.

For example, Edexcel Maths required 251 out of 300 marks (83.7%) for an A* in 2024, compared to 244 out of 300 (81.3%) in 2023 and 217 out of 300 (72.3%) in 2022. These fluctuations arise because grades are not tied to a fixed threshold; instead, they are set according to the overall performance of everyone who took the exam. If most students find a paper challenging, the grade boundaries tend to drop, making top grades more accessible. This relative grading approach is common across various linear exam boards such as OCR, AQA, and CAIE.

Modular vs linear: How they differ

Under the old modular system, A Level Maths was broken into six papers: four compulsory Core modules plus two chosen from Statistics, Mechanics, or Decision. Each paper’s raw marks were converted into a Uniform Mark Scale (UMS) to ensure fairness across sessions. To secure an A*, you first needed an A overall (480/600 UMS) and at least 180/200 UMS in the final two Core papers (an average of 90%).

Since 2018, linear qualifications have replaced that structure. All assessments take place at the end of the course in a single exam series, and raw marks are simply totalled. There’s no need for UMS because everyone sits the same papers at the same time.

Although the logistics differ, grade boundaries in both systems still reflect the group’s performance each year: if many students struggle, the threshold lowers; if most do well, it rises. In modular setups, each unit had its own grade boundary; in linear courses, boundaries are set for the entire qualification at once.

Ultimately, aim to do your best in each paper without stressing about achieving absolute perfection. An A* generally sits around 80%.

A Level Maths notebook and calculator.

2. Practice makes perfect

Practice really does make perfect, and A Level Maths is no exception. To master every topic listed in the exam specification, you’ll need to answer countless practice questions. I recommend using the exam specification itself to evaluate your comfort level. When I teach a new student, I ask them to give each topic a “RAG” rating:

  • Red if they’re totally lost
  • Amber if they have some grasp but would struggle with harder questions
  • Green if they can confidently handle any A*-level question

Most topics fall into the Amber zone, indicating some underlying weaknesses. These gaps can’t be closed by mere repetition; you need a teacher or tutor to probe your understanding and ensure you grasp the concepts at a deep level. Simply memorising methods isn’t enough for an A* – you must know why those methods work so you can apply them confidently to tricky questions.

Recommended resources

I’m often asked exactly which questions and resources to use for practice. Below are key materials for Edexcel Mathematics that can also be applied to other exam boards. Completing these will give you the strongest possible chance of securing an A*:

  • Complete all textbook questions.
  • Complete all practice book questions.For each Edexcel Maths Textbook, Pearson has created a matching practice book with over 2,000 extra questions per book. They provide additional practice, including problem-solving and exam-style questions, to help ensure you are ready for your exam. The chapters and exercises in this practice book match the chapters and sections in your textbook, so you can easily locate additional practice for any section in the textbook. Each chapter finishes with two sets of problem-solving practice questions at three different difficulty levels. An exam question bank at the end of the book provides mixed exam-style questions to help you practise selecting the correct mathematical skills and techniques.
Pearson Edexcel textbooks and practice books. Use the practice books for extra practice, problem-solving questions, and exam-style questions.
  • Complete Solomon Press worksheets for the Pure topics you find most challenging.
  • Complete New Specification AS and A Level Edexcel Papers.
  • Complete New Specification questions by topic booklets on newly introduced topics such as binomial expansion, hypothesis testing, projectiles, and ladders.
  • Complete New Specification IAL papers for Pure 1 to Pure 4, M1, and S1.
  • Complete Old Specification papers C1-C4, M1, and S1.
    Keep in mind that some topics from M1 and S1 are not examinable, such as momentum from M1 and variance of a discrete random variable from S1. Focus on papers from 2013 until 2018, the year of the final old specification exam.
  • Complete harder exam board questions such as OCR MEI and CAIE.

While many other resources exist (e.g., CGP guides, Madas/I.Y.G.B papers, and Naikermaths papers), I recommend prioritising the resources listed above.

A* A Level Maths student doing textbook questions.

3. Practise the right way

Don’t worry about taking extensive notes – maths is best learnt by doing. When practising, check the mark scheme after every question. Instead of tackling entire papers under strict exam conditions, it’s more efficient to cover a broad range of questions and confirm you’re getting them right as you go.

If you’re stuck and don’t understand the mark scheme, ask a tutor or teacher, or look up similar question types on YouTube. My favourite YouTubers include ExamSolutions, TLMaths, and Hegarty Maths, but there are many others who are good. PMT Education also offer walk-through model solutions for past exam paper questions on their YouTube Channel.

It’s worth revisiting especially challenging questions – just wait a while before tackling them again. Keep track of these problems in an easily accessible place so you can quickly access them for practice after enough time has passed.

4. Read ahead or around the subject

Much of my success in A Level Maths came from taking Further Maths, which exposed me to more challenging material and made the A Level content feel easier. To replicate this advantage, focus on difficult questions designed to stretch your thinking – questions from university entrance exams like STEP, MAT, or TUMA are particularly useful. They require a different, deeper approach, which I like to call “A* thinking,” and will prepare you to tackle any tricky A Level Maths questions.

If those exams seem too daunting, spend the summer of Year 12 getting ahead on Year 13 topics such as Trigonometry. Getting a head start will train your problem-solving skills and boost your confidence before school starts in September.

5. Push past self-limiting beliefs

Confidence can work wonders. Be self-assured: know that you’ve put the work in and are capable. Accept that some things are out of your control and there’s no use dedicating energy to them. Ultimately, someone has to get an A* − why shouldn’t it be you?

Ethan D. profile picture.

Ethan D.

Ethan is a First-Class Mathematics graduate from the University of Birmingham. He is currently working as a Management Consultant in the City of London. Ethan has taught Mathematics at KS3, GCSE, and A Level, covering all exam boards, as well as the International Baccalaureate.​ Ethan is delighted to be a tutor at PMT Education, where he continues to support students on their Mathematics journey in his free time.

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