How to Get an A* in A Level Further Maths

Key takeaways

Getting an A* in A Level Further Maths is tough, but it's absolutely within your reach. Here's what you need to know:

• An A* requires around 85% across your papers (exact boundaries vary by exam board and year)

• You need rock-solid pure maths skills plus excellence in your chosen applied modules

• A* students don't just memorise, they understand deeply and adapt to unfamiliar problems

• Strategic revision, past paper practice, and learning from mark schemes are essential

• With the right approach and consistent effort, you can achieve the top grade

What does an A* in Further Maths mean?

Let's start with the facts. An A* in Further Maths typically requires you to score around 85% or more across all your papers, though exact grade boundaries shift each year depending on paper difficulty and the exam board.

For context, an A grade usually sits around 75%. That 10% difference might not sound massive, but it represents a significant jump in mathematical ability and exam technique.

Here's what makes Further Maths different from regular A Level Maths. Further Maths pushes you into more abstract territory across a broader range of topics. For example, proof by induction, complex numbers, advanced calculus, matrices, and sophisticated applied mathematics in the optional modules. While there are of course many abstract concepts in A Level Maths, studying Further Maths means you encounter more of them, and encounter them in more depth when they layer on top of each other.

In both A Level Maths and Further Maths, the examiners aren't just testing whether you can solve familiar problems. They want to see if you can apply your knowledge to questions you've never seen before. This flexibility and depth of understanding can be what separates A* students from the rest.

An A* proves you're not just competent; you're exceptional. Universities know this. Top courses in Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science actively look for Further Maths students with an A* because it signals serious mathematical talent and rigour.

Understand the exam structure and modules

Before you can conquer Further Maths, you need to understand exactly what you're up against. The structure varies depending on your exam board.

Edexcel (opens in a new tab) students typically sit two compulsory pure papers (Core Pure 1 and Core Pure 2), plus two optional applied papers chosen from Further Pure, Mechanics, Statistics, or Decision Maths.

AQA (opens in a new tab) follows a similar pattern with compulsory pure content and optional applied modules, though the specific content breakdown differs slightly.

OCR (opens in a new tab) offers two specifications—OCR A and OCR B (MEI). Both include compulsory pure mathematics and optional modules, but MEI tends to focus more on applied problem-solving and modelling.

The key point? Pure mathematics forms the foundation. You'll spend at least half your exam time on pure content, so this needs to be a strength for you.

Your applied modules matter too, of course. Depending on which options you are studying, you may find these complement and extend your knowledge from A Level Maths. For options which are more different, like Decision (or Discrete) Maths it’s really important to know exactly what is in the specification from the exam board.

We have a full list of topics for Edexcel A Level Further Maths. The article also contains information about how the other exam boards differ from Edexcel, with links to each board’s specification.Read (opens in a new tab) the specifications carefully. Knowing exactly what topics can appear is half the battle.

Key skills that separate A* students from A students

So what actually distinguishes an A* student from someone who "only" gets an A? It comes down to four critical skills.

Process fluency and proof mastery. A* students move through algebraic manipulations smoothly and confidently. They don't stumble over algebra and other intermediate steps, or complex number operations. They understand proof techniques confidently (induction, contradiction, disproof by counterexample) and can construct clear, logical arguments. The more confident you are with the processes en route to an answer, the more you can think about the overall strategy and direction of solving the problem.

Calculus confidence. Integration techniques, differential equations, parametric equations, implicit differentiation; these need to be second nature. A* students don't just know the methods, they know when to apply each technique and can spot connections between different approaches. Through practising enough problems, you should be able to identify which techniques and strategies will help you most effectively.

Mathematical modelling and problem-solving. When faced with an unfamiliar question, A* students don't panic. They identify the underlying mathematical structure, connect it to familiar concepts, and build a solution step by step. They read questions carefully, extract the essential information, and make sensible assumptions where needed. This is especially important as many students struggle with more applied and contextual questions. So you can capitalise on this to increase your chances of getting an A*.

Exam efficiency. Time management matters enormously in Further Maths. A* students work quickly but accurately. They know which questions to attempt first, when to move on from a stuck problem, and how to maximise marks even when they can't complete every part.

These skills don't appear overnight. They develop through consistent, focused practice over months.

How to revise effectively for an A* in Further Maths

To learn about some great revision techniques for A Level Further Maths in general, I recommend you read our article, How to Revise for A Level Further Maths.

Below I have collated some key tips specific to attaining an A* in Further Maths, which I have seen used by the highest attaining students I have taught. There are many revision strategies you should implement anyway, no matter what grade you are aiming for. For example “complete all the past papers”. But these are more specific for those aiming for an A*.

1. Always read the mark scheme’s alternate methods and the examiner reports. Being able to answer a question one way is good, but you should be able to consider multiple strategies and select the best one. Perhaps an alternate strategy you didn’t spot before may help you solve a problem on the real paper. The examiner reports can also highlight some important pitfalls or misconceptions to avoid.

2. Help other students. Helping other students who are stuck on a Further Maths problem can be really useful to interrogate your own knowledge too. E.g. “Why does this method work for this problem?” or “How do you know how to pick that method?”. These are all metacognitive questions which can solidify your knowledge, or perhaps identify areas you aren’t as sure of as you thought you were.

3. Don’t just use one textbook or website. Different websites and textbooks may emphasise different elements of the specification and include different worked examples and problems. Practising the hardest (usually the last couple of) questions in each exercise can be really useful to stretch your knowledge of the edges of the specification.

4. Practise exam papers in timed conditions. This is the closest you can get to the real thing, and pacing yourself through a paper will help reduce your stress levels in the exam and therefore improve your performance. Timed conditions will also help you practice strategies for approaching the paper. You may consider looking through the whole paper first, and rapidly answering the “easy” questions first, even if that means skipping, say, question 5 for now so you can come back to it later.

Using past papers and mark schemes strategically

Past papers are your most valuable revision resource. But simply completing papers isn't enough—you need to use them strategically.

Start with topic-specific questions from Save My Exams or your exam board. Build confidence on individual topics before tackling full papers.

When attempting full papers, recreate exam conditions. Time yourself strictly (don't give yourself "just five more minutes"). Work without notes or textbooks. This builds stamina and reveals what you actually know versus what you think you know.

After completing a paper, mark it honestly. Don't award yourself marks for "nearly right" answers unless the mark scheme explicitly allows method marks.

Here's where the real learning happens: reviewing mark schemes in detail. Don't just check whether you got the right answer. Study exactly what the mark scheme rewards. Notice how solutions are structured. Identify where method marks are available even if the final answer is wrong.

Examiner reports are gold dust for A* students. Published after each exam series, they reveal common mistakes, misunderstood concepts, and poorly answered questions. If you know where other students typically struggle, you can avoid those pitfalls.

Look for patterns across multiple exam series. Certain topics appear regularly. Some question types recur with small variations. Spotting these patterns helps you anticipate what might appear in your exam.

Multi-part questions often build from simple to complex. Part (a) might be straightforward; part (d) requires synthesis of multiple techniques. If you're stuck on a later part, look back at earlier parts. They often provide hints about the approach needed.

Resources to help you revise A Level Further Maths

You don't have to tackle your revision alone.

Save My Exams offers comprehensive resources designed specifically for A Level Further Maths students:

• Revision notes: Clear explanations of every concept, written by experienced teachers

• Past papers: Practice real exam papers exactly as they appeared

• Exam questions by topic: For effective and targeted practice of the topics you need to focus on

Our resources are organised by exam board, so you'll always be practising the relevant material. We have past papers for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and OCR MEI. We have revision notes, past papers, and exam questions by topic for Edexcel. 

Frequently asked questions

How many hours should I revise per week for an A* in Further Maths?

This depends on where you are in the course and how confident you feel.

During term time:

As a teacher I always recommended at least as much time as you spent in class. So if you had 6 hours per week of maths lessons, I would expect you to be completing at least 6 hours per week of study outside of lessons.

During exam revision period:

Increase this to at least 10-15 hours per week. This should include topic revision, past papers, and reviewing mistakes. As you approach your exam this may increase even more, especially as you start to complete exams in other subjects which may reduce the number of subjects you have left to revise for.

Remember: consistency matters more than marathon sessions. It's better to do one hour daily than seven hours in one sitting.

Adjust based on your other subjects and commitments. But make Further Maths a priority. It demands regular practice to stay sharp.

Is Further Maths much harder than standard A Level Maths?

Further Maths is generally considered to be harder than standard A Level Maths. But that doesn't mean you can't succeed.

The difficulty comes from:

• More abstract concepts (like complex numbers and matrices)

• Faster pace and heavier workload

• Questions that require multiple steps and creative problem-solving

On the other hand you should remember that half of the Further Maths qualification is designed to be taught in Year 12, so it doesn’t all rely on a full knowledge of A Level. There are also several areas which are more about broadening your maths knowledge, as opposed to just making it deeper or more difficult.

Students who enjoy maths and are willing to practise regularly tend to do very well. Universities and employers recognise Further Maths as one of the most challenging A Levels, which makes it an impressive addition to your CV.

AMSP (opens in a new tab) suggests that it is a highly desirable qualification that universities recognise the benefits of and often make differentiated offers for.

Final thoughts

Achieving an A* in A Level Further Maths is challenging, but it's absolutely achievable with the right approach.

Success requires three elements: solid mathematical foundations, excellent exam technique, and confident problem-solving ability. Build these systematically through focused practice over months.

Start by understanding your exam structure and identifying your weaker topics. Revise strategically using active recall and mixed practice. Master pure mathematics thoroughly; it underpins everything else. Excel in your applied modules through repeated practice and careful attention to mark schemes.

Use past papers extensively and learn from examiner reports. Let Save My Exams guide your practice with exam-style questions and detailed solutions tailored to your specification.

Most importantly, believe in yourself. You're already taking Further Maths, which proves you're a strong mathematician. With consistent effort and smart revision strategies, that A* is within your grasp. I have seen many students achieve it. 

With persistent effort and purposeful work, the top grade awaits.

Improve your grades with Save My Exams

Save My Exams is here to help you achieve the best grade possible in A Level Further Maths by offering expert-written resources specifically made for your exam board. We’ve got everything you need:

• Detailed revision notes

• Exam-style questions with student friendly worked solutions

• Past papers with mark schemes

Whether you want to improve your understanding of key topics, test your knowledge, or sharpen your exam techniques, Save My Exams makes it easier and more effective for you to revise.

Explore Our A Level Further Maths Resources

References

AMSP (opens in a new tab) (Advanced Mathematics Support Programme). What is A level Further Mathematics?