O Level and IGCSE Maths
Cambridge IGCSE 0580 vs Edexcel 4MA1: Which Maths Exam Is Easier?
Neither is officially easier: both are international GCSE-level maths qualifications. The real differences are format. Cambridge 0580 has a non-calculator paper and grades A* to G; Edexcel 4MA1 allows a calculator on both papers and grades 9 to 1. Both have two tiers and two 2-hour, 100-mark papers at the higher tier.
Part of the guide O Level and IGCSE Maths: Syllabuses, Papers and Grading Explained
Key takeaways
- Higher tiers look alike: two 2-hour, 100-mark papers in both 0580 Extended and 4MA1 Higher.
- Calculator: 0580 Extended Paper 2 is non-calculator; 4MA1 allows a calculator on both papers.
- Grading: 0580 uses A* to G (Extended A* to E); 4MA1 uses 9 to 1 (Higher 9 to 4, with grade 3 allowed).
- Series: 0580 runs in June and November; the 4MA1 specification lists January and June.
- You usually do not choose: your school or exam centre decides the board.
Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1) are the two most common international GCSE maths qualifications. Students ask which one is easier, but the boards are at the same level. What actually differs is how the exam is set and graded.
Side-by-side comparison
| Cambridge IGCSE 0580 | Pearson Edexcel 4MA1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tiers | Core and Extended | Foundation and Higher |
| Higher-tier papers | Paper 2 (non-calculator) and Paper 4 (calculator) | Paper 1H and Paper 2H, calculator on both |
| Higher-tier time and marks | 2 h and 100 marks per paper | 2 h and 100 marks per paper |
| Lower-tier papers | Papers 1 (non-calculator) and 3 (calculator), 1 h 30 min and 80 marks each | Papers 1F and 2F, 2 h and 100 marks each, calculator on both |
| Grades | Extended A* to E, Core C to G | Higher 9 to 4 (grade 3 allowed), Foundation 5 to 1 |
| Formulas | List of formulas on page 2 of every paper | Formulae sheet included in each tier’s papers |
| Exam series | June and November (March in India) | January and June in the specification |
| Current syllabus | 2025 to 2027 syllabus, first exams 2025 | Issue 2 specification, first exams June 2018 |
The calculator is the biggest practical difference
Since 2025, half of a Cambridge 0580 Extended student’s marks come from a 2-hour paper with no calculator. That means fluent arithmetic, fractions, surds and algebra by hand. Edexcel 4MA1 lets you use a calculator in both papers.
If arithmetic speed is a weakness, 4MA1 is likely to feel more comfortable. If you are heading to A Level, though, non-calculator fluency is worth building anyway: Cambridge A Level papers give no marks for unsupported calculator answers.
Grading: A* to G against 9 to 1
- 0580 uses letter grades. In June 2026, an A* on Extended components 21 and 41 needed 162 out of 200 (81%); on 22 and 42 it needed 177 (88.5%).
- 4MA1 uses numbers, 9 highest. Higher tier targets 9 to 4, with a grade 3 allowed as a safety net; Foundation is capped at 5.
A 9 is not a one-to-one swap for an A*: the 9 to 1 scale has more room at the top. Universities and sixth forms state their own requirements, so check with them.
Is the content different?
Both cover number, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, vectors, probability and statistics at a similar depth for the higher tiers. Differences show up in the detail of individual topics rather than whole areas, so the safest way to compare is to use your own board’s syllabus as your checklist. Do not switch revision resources between boards without checking: question style and mark schemes differ.
Which should you take?
In practice the choice is usually made by your school or exam centre, not by you. If you do have a choice:
- Choose 0580 if you want June and November sittings, a letter grade, and early non-calculator practice before A Level.
- Choose 4MA1 if you want a calculator on both papers, a January sitting option, or your sixth form prefers 9 to 1 grades.
Either way, the qualification is accepted at the same level. What matters far more is how well you prepare. See how to get an A* in IGCSE maths.
Back to the O Level and IGCSE Maths guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Edexcel IGCSE maths easier than Cambridge IGCSE maths?
- Neither board says its exam is easier, and both are at the same level. Students who struggle without a calculator may find 4MA1 more comfortable, since it allows a calculator on both papers, while Cambridge 0580 has a non-calculator paper.
- Is 4MA1 graded A* or 9 to 1?
- 4MA1 is graded 9 to 1, with 9 the highest. Foundation tier offers grades 5 to 1 and Higher tier offers 9 to 4, with grade 3 allowed.
- Can I use a calculator in Edexcel 4MA1?
- Yes. The 4MA1 specification says a calculator may be used in the examinations for both papers at both tiers.
- Is a 9 the same as an A*?
- Not exactly. The 9 to 1 scale has more grades at the top, so a 9 is generally treated as the very top of the old A* range. Universities usually state their own conversions, so check with them.
Sources
Checked against these official documents on 26 Oct 2026. Boards update them, so check the latest version before your exam.
