OCR GCSE Maths — Foundation
OCR J560 Foundation. Three papers covering the same core content with OCR's distinctive question style.
Course overview
OCR GCSE Mathematics (J560) at Foundation tier covers grades 1–5 across three written papers. Paper 2 is the non-calculator paper; Papers 1 and 3 allow a calculator. OCR questions often feature unusual contexts and step-by-step structured problems, with a clear emphasis on showing working.
Paper-by-paper breakdown
Paper 1Calculator
- •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 2Non-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 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
Foundation excludes the higher-only content listed for AQA/Edexcel.
Grade boundaries
OCR boundaries are typically 5–10 marks above AQA per paper; check the latest series.
Revision resources for this course
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