AQA GCSE Maths — Higher
Grades 4–9 route. Three papers including non-calc Paper 1. Adds quadratics, surds, vectors, trigonometry and proof.
Course overview
The AQA GCSE Mathematics Higher tier (8300H) targets grades 4 to 9. Three written papers each worth 80 marks (33.3% each); Paper 1 non-calculator, Papers 2 and 3 calculator. Higher demands deeper algebraic manipulation, geometric reasoning and multi-step problem solving — including quadratic and simultaneous equations, circle theorems, sine/cosine rules, vectors, and rigorous proof.
Paper-by-paper breakdown
Paper 1Non-calculator
- •Structure and calculation
- •Fractions, decimals and percentages
- •Measures and accuracy
- •Notation, vocabulary and manipulation
- •Graphs
- •Solving equations and inequalities
- •Sequences
- •Ratio, proportion and rates of change
- •Properties and constructions
- •Mensuration and calculation
- •Vectors
- •Probability
- •Statistics
Paper 2Calculator
- •Structure and calculation
- •Fractions, decimals and percentages
- •Measures and accuracy
- •Notation, vocabulary and manipulation
- •Graphs
- •Solving equations and inequalities
- •Sequences
- •Ratio, proportion and rates of change
- •Properties and constructions
- •Mensuration and calculation
- •Vectors
- •Probability
- •Statistics
Paper 3Calculator
- •Structure and calculation
- •Fractions, decimals and percentages
- •Measures and accuracy
- •Notation, vocabulary and manipulation
- •Graphs
- •Solving equations and inequalities
- •Sequences
- •Ratio, proportion and rates of change
- •Properties and constructions
- •Mensuration and calculation
- •Vectors
- •Probability
- •Statistics
Assessment objectives
Use and apply standard techniques
Weighting: F 50% / H 40%
Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically
Weighting: F 25% / H 30%
Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts
Weighting: F 25% / H 30%
Tier differences
Higher includes all Foundation content plus: quadratic and simultaneous equations, function notation, vectors, surds, circle theorems, sine/cosine rule, and iterative methods.
Grade boundaries
June 2024: grade 7 typically required ~165/240, grade 9 ~210/240.
Revision resources for this course
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