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OCR HIGHER maths past papers and more

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

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OCR HIGHER grade boundaries (9 - 3)
The maximum mark, totalled from all three papers, is 300. OCR's exam grade boundaries can change a little from year to year. Although OCR work hard to set exam papers with the same level of difficulty, small variations do occur. To compensate, grade boundaries change each year to compensate, reflecting the difficulty of the paper.

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OCR Higher 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
June 2017 82.5% = 248 67.5% = 203 53% = 159 40.5% = 121 27.5% = 83 15.5% = 46 9% = 27
November 2017 79.5% = 238 63.5% = 191 48.5% = 145 37% = 111 25.5% = 77 14.5% = 44 9% = 27
June 2018 85.5% = 256 70% = 210 54.5% = 164 43% = 129 31.5% = 94 20% = 60 14.5% = 43
November 2018 79.5% = 239 64.5% = 193 49% = 147 39.5% = 118 30% = 90 20.5% = 62 16% = 48
June 2019 85.5% = 256 71% = 213 57% = 171 45.5% = 136 34% = 102 22.5% = 68 17% = 51
November 2019 81.5% = 245 68% = 204 54.5% = 163 43.5% = 131 33.5% = 100 23% = 69 17.5% = 53
Covid NOV 2020 80.5% = 241 65% = 195 50% = 150 39% = 117 28% = 84 17.5% = 52 12% = 36
Covid NOV 2021 79.5% = 239 64.5% = 193 49% = 147 38.5% = 115 27.5% = 83 17% = 51 11.5% = 35
June 2022 80.5% = 242 66.6% = 200 52.5% = 158 40% = 120 27.5% = 82 15% = 45 8.5% = 26
November 2022
June 2023

NOTE: percentages are rounded to nearest 0.5%

OCR 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 4 uses a calculator = 1.5 hours = 100 marks.

Paper 5 is NO calculator = 1.5 hours = 100 marks.

Paper 6 uses a calculator = 1.5 hours = 100 marks.

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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 OCR Maths Series J560

The OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) examinations aim to “promote educational excellence and high-quality learning”. It contains non-wordy questions.

Higher past papers from other exam boards

Edexcel: 1MA1  spec A

Edexcel higher

AQA: series 8300

AQA higher
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