Edexcel International A Level
Open SYRO, do today's session, close it. It decides what to study next from real past papers, shows you where examiners take marks off, and has you ready by your sitting.
Notes ready now: Molecules, Diet, Transport and Health, Marketing and People, Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Markets in action, Pure Mathematics 1, Mechanics and Materials, Cells, Development, Biodiversity and Conservation, Managing Business Activities, Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols, Macroeconomic performance and policy, Pure Mathematics 2, Waves and Electricity, Practical Skills in Biology I, Business Decisions and Strategy, Practical Skills in Chemistry I, Business behaviour, Practical Skills in Physics I, Statistics 1, Energy, Environment, Microbiology and Immunity, Global Business, Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry, Developments in the global economy, Mechanics 1, Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles, Respiration, Internal Environment, Coordination and Gene Technology, Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry, Pure Mathematics 3, Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology, Practical Skills in Biology II, Practical Skills in Chemistry II, Pure Mathematics 4, Practical Skills in Physics II, Statistics 2, Mechanics 2, Decision Mathematics 1. Built from 346 real Edexcel IAL papers.
Today
WMA11 · exam in 73 days
Pure Mathematics 1
About 20 minutes · 3 topics · exam 8 January
From the examiners
June 2019
Integrate x^n
Where the marks went: Split the fraction into separate terms wrongly, with one term carrying the wrong power, before integrating.
What you get
Built from your units and exam dates. Weak topics come back until they hold.
Method, accuracy, follow-through. Every topic shows how examiners give marks and where students drop them.
10,589 question parts since 2019, each filed under the topic it tests.
Straight from the examiners
Mathematics · WMA11 · Algebra and functions
Apply the index laws (multiplying, dividing, powers of powers) for any rational exponent, including switching between fractional-index and root notation.
Where the marks went: Could not turn the root of 27 into a power of 3, so the two sides never shared a base; most scored nothing here.
Examiner report Jan 2019 (WMA11), p.3
Mathematics · WST02 · The Binomial and Poisson distributions
Use the binomial and Poisson distributions to model real situations, state the conditions they require and comment critically on their suitability; find cumulative probabilities by calculation or tables; use the additive property of Poisson (rate per 5 minutes = 5λ).
Where the marks went: Did not apply the n − 1 step, giving 10 or 12.
Examiner report Oct 2021 (WST02), p.5
Physics · WPH13 · Planning
Describe how to measure each relevant variable with the most suitable instrument and correct technique.
Where the marks went: Technique described (repeat in different positions, mean) but not explained: the error it reduces was never named.
Examiner report Jan 2024 WPH13, p.4
Chemistry · WCH12 · Energetics
Use experimental data to calculate energy transferred (Q = mcΔT, recalled) and the enthalpy change in kJ mol^-1, for insulated-container mixing and calorimeter combustion experiments.
Where the marks went: Used 7.56 g or 107.56 g instead of the 100 g of water as m in Q = mcΔT
Examiner report October 2024 WCH12, p.3
Mathematics · WMA11 · Algebra and functions
Sketch curves from simple equations (cubics, reciprocals y = k/x and y = k/x², trig graphs), know the term asymptote, and use intersection points of graphs to solve equations.
Where the marks went: Reciprocal graph with the asymptote at x = -2 instead of x = 2, or y = plus/minus 2; intercepts left off.
Examiner report Oct 2024 (WMA11), p.8
Mathematics · WME02 · Kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane
Solve simple projectile problems: time of flight, range, greatest height, speed and direction at a point, and the equation of the trajectory where appropriate.
Where the marks went: Left the answer as a fraction or gave more than 3 significant figures.
Examiner report Oct 2023 (WME02), p.4
Physics · WPH14 · Electric and Magnetic Fields
Know capacitance is defined as C = Q/V and use it.
Where the marks went: Average current over a decay: ΔQ = CΔV divided by time; averaging two V/R values assumes a straight line.
Examiner report Jan 2023 WPH14, p.5
Chemistry · WCH14 · Kinetics
Go from a rate equation to the likely slow step, and from a proposed slow step back to the rate equation.
Where the marks went: Stated whether the mechanism fits each equation but gave no justification for one or both
Examiner report October 2023 WCH14, p.5
Mathematics · WMA12 · Integration
Interpret a definite integral as the area under a curve; find areas bounded by a curve and straight lines or between two curves, often by subtracting a triangle/trapezium or a second integral.
Where the marks went: Found the area under the curve but had no strategy to locate where the tangent meets the x-axis, so the triangle to subtract was never found.
Examiner report Oct 2023 (WMA12), p.6
Physics · WPH11 · Mechanics
Use P = E/t and P = W/t to link power with time and with energy transferred or work done.
Where the marks went: Took the kilowatt-hour to mean kilowatts per hour, so divided instead of multiplying by the time.
Examiner report Jan 2019 WPH11, p.5
Physics · WPH15 · Thermodynamics
Use ΔE = mcΔθ and ΔE = LΔm.
Where the marks went: mcΔθ slips: specific heat capacities swapped between substances, added together, or the wrong mass used.
Examiner report Jan 2022 WPH15, p.5
Chemistry · WCH16 · Use and application of scientific methods and practices
Identify the variables and say how to control them to make an experiment more valid.
Where the marks went: Did not realise keeping the total volume fixed is what makes KBr volume track its concentration; gave elaborate wrong reasons
Examiner report January 2022 WCH16, p.4
Mathematics · WST01 · Correlation and regression
Calculate the product moment correlation coefficient from summary statistics, interpret its sign and size in context, and know its limitations (no causation, linear only, unaffected by coding).
Where the marks went: Stated r is unchanged by the coding but gave no acceptable reason; some interpreted the strength of correlation instead
Examiner report Jan 2024 (WST01), p.4
Physics · WPH11 · Mechanics
Treat the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile independently to solve problems.
Where the marks went: Range: multiplied time to max height by horizontal speed (half range); setting vertical displacement to zero is safer than doubling.
Examiner report June 2023 WPH11, p.10
Physics · WPH16 · Planning
Describe how to measure each relevant variable with the most suitable instruments and techniques.
Where the marks went: Unclear whether the count or the distance was being repeated; suggested distances far beyond the few-cm range of alpha in air.
Examiner report Oct 2020 WPH16, p.5
Chemistry · WCH11 · Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
Explain melting and boiling temperature trends across Periods 2 and 3 from structure and bonding, the general rise and the dips in ionisation energy across Periods 2 and 3, and why first ionisation energy falls on going down a group.
Where the marks went: Said 'less energy' as if comparing, when no comparison was asked
Examiner report January 2020 WCH11, p.4
Mathematics · WME01 · Dynamics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane
Solve problems with two connected particles (strings over smooth pulleys or pegs, towing with rods/cables), with a force that changes from one constant value to another (e.g. string breaks, particle hits the ground), and motion directly up or down a smooth or rough incline.
Where the marks went: Used g as the acceleration despite having found the system's acceleration in (a).
Examiner report Jan 2025 (WME01), p.7
Physics · WPH12 · Waves and Particle Nature of Light
Use nλ = d sin θ for a diffraction grating.
Where the marks went: Did not know what n and d stand for in the grating equation, or forgot to invert d to get lines per mm.
Examiner report Jan 2021 WPH12, p.8
Chemistry · WCH11 · Bonding and Structure
Draw dot-and-cross diagrams for covalent species with single, double and triple bonds and with dative bonds, including Al2Cl6 and NH4+.
Where the marks went: Drew gaseous BeCl2 as ionic even though the question said it was a molecular (covalent) species
Examiner report October 2021 WCH11, p.3
Mathematics · WMA13 · Trigonometry
Know sec, cosec and cot and the inverse functions arcsin, arccos, arctan; their relationship to sin, cos, tan; their graphs and restricted domains; work in degrees and radians.
Where the marks went: Missed the second solution, or found one in the wrong quadrant.
Examiner report Jan 2025 (WMA13), p.12
Physics · WPH12 · Electric Circuits
Know the definition of e.m.f., understand internal resistance, and distinguish e.m.f. from terminal p.d.
Where the marks went: E.m.f. definition: any mention of 'voltage' instead of energy per unit charge lost the mark; only a third scored.
Examiner report Jan 2025 WPH12, p.4
Chemistry · WCH12 · Redox Chemistry and Groups 1, 2 and 7
Know how to keep measurement uncertainty low in titrations and estimate the total uncertainty in the final answer.
Where the marks went: Said Ar rises because oil adds mass, without explaining that less metal reacted so fewer moles of hydroxide formed
Examiner report October 2021 WCH12, p.5
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