GCSE Maths is offered at two levels, called tiers. Choosing the right tier can make a big difference to your final grade.
The two tiers
| Tier | Grades available |
|---|---|
| Foundation | 1 to 5 |
| Higher | 4 to 9 |
On Higher tier, if you just miss grade 4, you may be given a grade 3. Below that, the result is U (ungraded).
What is the same?
- Three papers, each 1 hour 30 minutes.
- One paper is non-calculator; the other two allow a calculator.
- All the papers are sat at the end of Year 11.
What is different?
Foundation has more questions on number, ratio, percentages, basic algebra and geometry. Questions start easier.
Higher includes harder topics, such as:
- quadratic equations and the quadratic formula,
- trigonometry in any triangle (sine and cosine rules),
- vectors and circle theorems,
- functions and harder graphs.
How to choose
Your teacher will usually decide, based on your mock results. Here are some things to think about:
- Aiming for grade 6 or above? You need Higher.
- Working at grade 3 to 4? Foundation gives you more questions you can answer, so a grade 4 or 5 is often more secure.
- Borderline between the two? Talk to your teacher. A strong grade 5 on Foundation is better than a U on Higher.
Getting the most from your tier
- Learn the topics that come up every year first.
- Practise the non-calculator paper: fractions, percentages and long multiplication without a calculator.
- Use past papers for your tier and your board.
In short
Foundation goes up to grade 5; Higher goes from 4 to 9. Pick the tier that gives you the best chance of your target grade, and practise with papers from the right tier.
Notes, tests and papers for your exam board
AshACE® Revise is opening soon for Year 6 to GCSE.