O Level and IGCSE Maths
How to Get an A* in O Level and IGCSE Maths
An A* in Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580 Extended) or O Level Maths (4024) needed between 81% and 89% in June 2026. To get there, cover the whole syllabus, practise the non-calculator paper as seriously as the calculator one, work through past papers by topic and then under timed conditions, and show working so method marks are never lost.
Part of the guide O Level and IGCSE Maths: Syllabuses, Papers and Grading Explained
Key takeaways
- June 2026 A*: 162 to 177 out of 200 for 0580 Extended, 173 to 175 out of 200 for 4024.
- Half your marks come from a non-calculator paper, so arithmetic and algebra by hand are now essential.
- Use the syllabus as a checklist: it marks which formulas are given and which you must know.
- Practise by topic first, then full 2-hour papers under exam conditions.
- Old past papers are still useful, but skip questions on topics removed in 2025.
The A* in O Level and IGCSE maths is not reserved for students who find maths easy. It goes to students who cover every topic, do not lose easy marks, and practise the paper they will actually sit. Since 2025 that includes a 2-hour paper with no calculator.
How many marks is an A*?
June 2026 syllabus thresholds, all out of 200:
| Syllabus | Components | A* | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0580 Extended | 21, 41 | 162 (81%) | 138 | 114 |
| 0580 Extended | 22, 42 | 177 (88.5%) | 154 | 120 |
| 0580 Extended | 23, 43 | 177 (88.5%) | 154 | 124 |
| 4024 | 12, 22 | 173 (86.5%) | 147 | 104 |
| 4024 | 13, 23 | 175 (87.5%) | 150 | 109 |
Thresholds change every series and you do not choose your variant, so aim for 90% (180 out of 200) in practice. That is 90 per paper, or ten marks lost on each.
You can only get an A* in 0580 if you are entered for Extended. Core is capped at C.
Step 1: Use the syllabus as your checklist
Download your syllabus (links below) and tick off every learning outcome. The “Notes and examples” column shows the depth expected and says which formulas are given on the paper’s formula list and which you must know. Students who miss an A* often have one or two topics they hoped would not come up: histograms, vectors, circle theorems or functions are common ones.
If you are on 0580 Extended, remember the topics 4024 does not have: differentiation, exact trig values, trig graphs and equations, and conditional probability (full comparison).
Step 2: Train for the non-calculator paper
From 2025, 0580 Paper 2 and 4024 Paper 1 are non-calculator, and each is half your grade. Build these until they are automatic:
- fractions, decimals and percentages by hand, including recurring decimals
- negative numbers, indices and standard form
- surds and rationalising denominators
- expanding and factorising, including quadratics and algebraic fractions
- exact trig values (0580 Extended)
- estimating and checking that answers are sensible
Do one non-calculator paper a week in the final term, not just calculator papers.
Step 3: Past papers, in the right order
- By topic first. After learning a topic, do past paper questions on just that topic until they are routine.
- Then full papers, timed. 2 hours per paper, quiet room, the right calculator (or none).
- Mark with the mark scheme. Note whether each lost mark was method, accuracy, misreading or a gap in knowledge.
- Finish with the most recent series, which match the current format.
Papers from before 2025 are still good practice. Just skip questions on removed topics (for 4024: loci, matrices and proper subsets; for 0580 Extended: linear programming, proper subsets and box-and-whisker plots), and remember older 0580 papers allowed a calculator throughout.
Step 4: Protect your method marks
- Show your working. Method marks are awarded for correct steps even when the final answer is wrong, but only if they are on the page.
- Read the command word. “Show that” means every step; “calculate” means a numerical answer; “sketch” means key features, not a plotted graph.
- Follow the accuracy instruction. If no accuracy is given, Cambridge expects exact answers or 3 significant figures (1 decimal place for angles in degrees).
- Use the formula list, but know which formulas are not on it.
Step 5: Fix your patterns
Keep a list of every mark you lose in practice. After a few papers, patterns appear: sign errors, units, misread questions, the same topic again. Fix those deliberately; it is the fastest way to move from an A to an A*.
Thinking about A Level?
If you plan to take A Level Maths, an A* is a good start, and Additional Maths is even better preparation. Read about the jump to A Level before Year 12.
Back to the O Level and IGCSE Maths guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What percentage do you need for an A* in IGCSE maths?
- In June 2026, Cambridge 0580 Extended needed 162 out of 200 (81%) for components 21 and 41, and 177 out of 200 (88.5%) for components 22 and 42 and 23 and 43. It changes every series.
- What do you need for an A* in O Level maths 4024?
- In June 2026 the A* threshold for 4024 was 173 out of 200 (86.5%) for components 12 and 22, and 175 for components 13 and 23.
- Can I get an A* if I only take Core 0580?
- No. Core candidates sit Papers 1 and 3 and can get grades C to G only. For A* you must be entered for Extended (Papers 2 and 4).
- Are old 0580 and 4024 past papers still useful?
- Yes, for most topics. Before 2025, 0580 papers allowed calculators throughout, and a few topics have since been removed (for example matrices and loci from 4024), so skip those and add extra non-calculator practice.
Sources
Checked against these official documents on 26 Oct 2026. Boards update them, so check the latest version before your exam.
