Edexcel IAL · Analysis & Prediction
2025 Edexcel IAL Mathematics (YMA01) Past Paper: Analysis & Answers
A balanced and highly comprehensive examination series spanning Pure Mathematics (P1-P4), Mechanics (M1-M2), and Statistics (S1-S2), testing deep algebraic rigour, multi-stage modeling, and exact value representations.
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
AnalysisSample paper
Difficulty 3.5/5
Total marks
450
Duration
540 mins
Most tested
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Paper breakdown
Pure Mathematics P1 (WMA11/01): 75 marks · 90 minsPure Mathematics P2 (WMA12/01): 75 marks · 90 minsPure Mathematics P3 (WMA13/01): 75 marks · 90 minsPure Mathematics P4 (WMA14/01): 75 marks · 90 minsMechanics M1 (WME01/01): 75 marks · 90 minsStatistics S1 (WST01/01): 75 marks · 90 mins
Examiner insights
Official reportCommon pitfalls
- In Mechanics (M1/M2), candidates often omit 'g' from weight terms when resolving perpendicular/parallel to inclined planes.
- For Statistics S1/S2, failure to apply continuity corrections when approximating binomial or Poisson distributions with the Normal distribution is a persistent error.
Misconceptions
- Believing that the normal to a curve has the same gradient as the tangent, rather than the negative reciprocal.
- Thinking that independent events A and B in probability imply P(A ∩ B) = 0 (which is mutually exclusive, not independent).
Where marks are lost
- Losing accuracy marks by not leaving exact answers (e.g. in surds, fractions or ln form) when specifically requested in Pure papers.
- Omission of brackets in binomial expansions leading to incorrect coefficient multiplication (e.g., expanding (5x)^2 as 5x^2 instead of 25x^2).
Estimated grade boundary
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
| Grade | Mark | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A* | — | 90% |
| A | — | 80% |
| B | — | 70% |
| C | — | 60% |
| D | — | 50% |
| E | — | 40% |
Official grade boundaries published by Pearson Edexcel International A Level grade boundaries (UMS).
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