GCSE maths topics: the full list
7 min read ยท updated 2026-09-03
AQA, Edexcel and OCR all organise GCSE maths around the same six topic areas, though the depth and question styles differ. Here is the complete map, plus which topics are worth the most revision time.
The six topic areas
- โ Number: fractions, decimals, percentages, indices, surds, standard form
- โ Algebra: expressions, equations, inequalities, sequences, graphs, quadratics
- โ Ratio, proportion and rates of change: percentages change, direct/inverse proportion, growth
- โ Geometry and measures: angles, triangles, circles, transformations, Pythagoras, trigonometry
- โ Probability: tree diagrams, Venn diagrams, combined events
- โ Statistics: averages, charts, scatter graphs, sampling
Foundation vs Higher tier
Foundation covers grades 1-5 with a narrower, more procedural question set; Higher covers grades 4-9 including the toughest algebra, trigonometry and proof questions. Choosing the right tier matters: the wrong tier either caps the grade or overwhelms the student. Schools decide the tier, and it is worth a conversation in Year 10.
Where the marks actually are
Algebra and ratio/proportion questions carry a large share of marks on both tiers, and geometry questions reward memorised angle and circle rules. Within every topic, 'explain your reasoning' and multi-step problems are where confident students drop marks, so practising written method is not optional.
The non-calculator paper: what to expect
Paper 1 of every board is calculator-free, and students who treat it as a surprise consistently underperform on it. The non-calculator paper leans on exact number work: fraction arithmetic, percentages without a screen, index laws, standard form, surds, solving equations by hand, and exact trig values at Higher tier. Topics that depend on lengthy computation (trial-and-improvement style statistics work, iterative methods at Higher) are far less likely to appear.
Preparation is specific: practise mental and written methods weekly, memorise fraction-decimal-percent equivalents and the exact trig values, and do at least a few full non-calculator papers in the run-up so the arithmetic pace feels normal rather than rushed.
How to use this list
RAG-rate (red, amber, green) every topic from a past paper, then revise reds first in the order they appear in the specification. Tutors who follow the specification line-by-line, like ours do, keep sessions aligned with what the exam will actually ask rather than a generic order.
FAQs
What topics come up on GCSE maths paper 2 and paper 3?๏ผ
Papers 2 and 3 (both calculator) draw from the same specification as paper 1, so anything can appear - but in practice they carry more multi-step and calculator-friendly questions: percentages of change, trigonometry, area and volume, statistics charts and iteration at Higher. Because paper 1 (non-calculator) is sat first, its topic list often hints at what remains for papers 2 and 3; teachers and tutors publish predictions after each paper, which students rightly treat as hints, not guarantees.
Do all exam boards test the same topics?๏ผ
The six topic areas are set nationally, so content is broadly the same; question style and structure differ between AQA, Edexcel and OCR, which is why past papers from your own board matter most.
What topics are only on Higher?๏ผ
Higher-only content includes advanced algebra (quadratic sequences, functions, algebraic fractions), sine and cosine rules, circle theorem proofs and more complex probability. Foundation students are not assessed on these.
What topics come up on the non-calculator GCSE maths paper?๏ผ
Expect fraction and percentage work by hand, indices, standard form, surds, linear and quadratic equations solved without a screen, ratio, and angle geometry. At Higher, exact trig values and algebraic manipulation are staples. The skills are arithmetic fluency and written method, so practise both under timing.
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