Level 2 Further Maths is a brilliant qualification, but it can definitely feel challenging at times. The good news? With the right revision strategy and a clear understanding of the exams, you can feel confident going in 💪

📑 How Many Papers Are There?

There are two exam papers for AQA Level 2 Further Maths:

• ✅ Paper 1 - Non-calculator

• ✅ Paper 2 - Calculator

• ⏰Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes 

• 🏆Marks: 80 marks (50% of the AQA Level 2 Certificate)

• 📌Content: Although the content pool is the same as Paper 2, Paper 1 requires you to work without a calculator. 

That means you’ll need strong skills in:

• Algebra manipulation

• Exact arithmetic (fractions, surds)

• Graph sketching

• Coordinate geometry methods

• Short quantitative reasoning without calculator support

Key topic examples likely to be tested:

• Algebraic factorising and solving

• Surds and exact simplification

• Determining equation of a line

• Trigonometric identities and exact trig values

• Differentiation basics without calculator work

• ❓Question Types: Paper 1 focuses on exact maths, algebra skills and clear reasoning, without relying on a calculator.

You’re more likely to see:

✏️ Algebra-heavy questions

• Simplifying expressions

• Expanding and factorising (including harder expressions)

• Solving equations exactly (linear, quadratic, simultaneous)

• Algebraic fractions

• Completing the square

• Algebraic proof

📐Exact geometry and trigonometry

• Trigonometry using exact values (e.g. √3, ½)

• Trig identities

• Pythagoras and geometric reasoning

• Angle problems requiring logical steps

📈Coordinate geometry 

• Finding gradients and equations of straight lines

• Distance and midpoint using exact arithmetic

• Equations of circles

• Sketching graphs by hand

📊Calculus with simple coefficients

• Differentiation using standard rules

• Finding gradients of curves

• Turning points (max/min) with clean numbers

🔢 Short, accuracy-based questions

• Simplifying surds

• Using indices laws

• Writing down domains or ranges

📑 Paper 2: Calculator

• ⏰Duration: 1 hours 45 minutes 




• 🏆Marks:  80 marks (50% of the AQA Level 2 Certificate)




• 📌Content: Paper 2 covers exactly the same range of topics as Paper 1 - there’s no separate “Calculator content” list - but a calculator is permitted, so problems can involve:

• Numerical calculus problems

• Matrix arithmetic and transformations

• Complex trigonometry involving decimals

• Coordinate geometry with calculator help

• Mixed multi-stage problem solving

Because a calculator is allowed, Paper 2 questions may include:

Using your calculator to solve tricky equations 🔢

This includes equations that are hard (or impossible) to solve exactly, so you use trial-and-improvement or calculator features to find an approximate solution

Applying maths to real-life situations with calculator help 🧮

These questions often involve longer calculations, decimals or realistic data where a calculator helps you focus on the maths, not the arithmetic

• ❓Question Types: Paper 2 allows a calculator, so questions often involve longer calculations, decimals or real-life contexts.

You’re more likely to see:

🔢 Numerical problem-solving

• Working with awkward numbers or decimals

• Checking values using a calculator

• Solving equations that don’t give “nice” answers

📉 Applied calculus questions

• Using differentiation to solve problems

• Finding numerical values of gradients

• Calculus questions in real-life contexts (e.g. optimisation)

🧮 Matrices

• Matrix multiplication

• Using matrices to describe transformations

• Applying matrix methods step by step

📈 Graphs and interpretation

• Interpreting graphs and functions

• Reading values from graphs

• Applying transformations to functions

🌍 Context-based questions

• Problems set in real-life situations

• Multi-step questions where maths is applied to a scenario

• Questions where the numbers are more realistic