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EDEXCEL HIGHER maths past papers and more

Below you will find all available past papers, mark schemes and grade boundaries for the EDEXCEL higher examination. Also included is the course specification and other useful information, including the dates of your examinations this year.

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EDEXCEL HIGHER grade boundaries (9 - 3)
The maximum mark, totalled from all three papers, is 240. Edexcel's exam grade boundaries can change a little from year to year. Although Edexcel work hard to set exam papers with the same level of difficulty, small variations do occur. To compensate, grade boundaries fluxuate depending upon the difficulty of the paper. 

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Edexcel higher 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
June 2017 79% = 190 65.5% = 157 51.5% = 124 40% = 96 28.5% = 68 17% = 41 11.5% = 27
November 2017 79% = 189 62.5% = 150 46.5% = 112 35.5% = 85 24% = 58 13.5% = 32 8% = 19
June 2018 84% = 202 71% = 170 58% = 139 45.5% = 109 33% = 79 21% = 50 14.5% = 35
November 2018 81% = 194 66.5% = 159 52% = 125 40% = 95 27.5% = 66 15.5% = 37 9% = 22
June 2019 82.5% = 198 69.5% = 167 57% = 137 45% = 108 33.5% = 80 21.5% = 52 16% = 38
November 2019 82% = 197 69% = 165 55.5% = 133 43% = 103 30.5% = 73 18% = 43 11.5% = 28
Covid NOV 2020 79% = 189 65.5% = 157 52.5% = 126 40% = 96 27.5% = 66 15.5% = 37 9% = 22
Covid NOV 2021 80% = 187 64% = 154 51% = 122 39% = 93 27% = 65 15.5% = 37 9.5% = 23
June 2022 81% = 194 69% = 165 57% = 137 43.5% = 104 29.5% = 71 16% = 38 9% = 21
November 2022 81% = 194 69% = 165 57% = 137 43.5% = 104 29.6% = 71 16% = 38 9% = 21
June 2023

NOTE: percentages are rounded to nearest 0.5%

EDEXCEL HIGHER past papers & mark schemes


Practicing past papers should rank highly on any students list of prioritys. BUT THIS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. It vital is that students mark their answers and then seek help/support from teachers/friends/family/a tutor etc, to work on "plugging" these gaps in knowledge and understanding.


  • Access and download a past paper.
  • Mark your answers using the mark scheme. 
  • Seek help to understand questions you are unable to answer, complete more revision on weak topic areas.


The impact of covid.  Summer 2020 = no exam took place. Instead, the summer 2020 papers are used for the autumn's 2020 examinations. Summer 2021 = no exam took place. Once again, the summer 2021 papers are transfered to the November 2021 examinations.


Unavailable papers. The most recent past papers are not available for public to use, as schools typically use the latest papers for student mock exams. Hence, you will NOT find the November 2022 and June 2023 papers published on the internet.


This examination comprises of three papers.

Paper 1 is NO calculator = 1.5 hours, score 80.

Paper 2 uses a calculator = 1.5 hours, score 80.

Paper 3 uses a calculator = 1.5 hours, score 80.


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The dates of the next GCSE maths examinations: May & June 2024

Here are the dates of the summer examinations.

Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3
Thurs 16th May Monday 3rd June Monday 10th June

More about maths series 1MA1


Edexcel is an internal exam board owned by a company called Pearson. Their name represents their key values of education and excellence. Questions on the Edexcel GCSE maths series 1MA1 can feel both wordy and challenging. Questions early on in its' papers may call for a ‘problem-solving’ approach where a candidate may not ‘see' a way forward immediately. Despite this, this Edexcel exam is the UK's most popular maths examination.

Higher past papers from other exam boards

AQA: series 8300

AQA higher

OCR: series J560

OCR higher
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