AQA GCSE Maths past papers and mark schemes

By the STEM-Tutor team · Updated October 2026

AQA publishes its GCSE Maths (8300) past papers free, with mark schemes and examiner reports, about a year after each exam. Here is every series it currently makes public, Foundation and Higher. Each series has three papers: Paper 1 is non-calculator, Papers 2 and 3 allow a calculator, and each is 80 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes.

AQA GCSE Maths papers by series

Every file opens from the official exam board website. Click any file to preview it here; the preview has Open in new tab and Download. On a phone, files open in a new tab.

Source: official AQA GCSE Maths past papers. All papers are © their publisher.

AQA GCSE Maths paper structure

For the 2025, 2026 and 2027 exams, every student gets a formulae sheet with the key formulas, such as the area of a trapezium and the quadratic formula. Practise with it, but still learn the formulas: knowing them saves time.

Tips for AQA GCSE Maths papers

• The November series papers are full papers too, and fewer students know them, so save one as a surprise mock.
• AQA examiner reports quote real student answers. Read the report for any question you got wrong to see the exact slip examiners saw most.
• On Paper 1, practise written methods for fractions, percentages and long multiplication until they are automatic: there is no calculator to check you.
• Show every step: AQA mark schemes give method marks even when the final answer is wrong.

Frequently asked questions

When does AQA publish GCSE Maths past papers?

AQA releases each series about a year after the exam, so teachers can use the newest papers as mocks first.

Which AQA GCSE Maths paper is non-calculator?

Paper 1, at both Foundation and Higher tier. Papers 2 and 3 allow a calculator.

Are AQA GCSE Maths mark schemes free?

Yes. The mark scheme and examiner report for each paper are free from AQA and linked on this page.