# Is Additional Maths (4037 / 0606) Worth Taking?

> Additional Maths is worth taking if you are strong at maths and plan to study A Level Maths. Cambridge O Level 4037 and IGCSE 0606 cover the same 14 topics, and those include all eight topic areas of A Level 9709 Paper 1: quadratics, functions, coordinate geometry, circular measure, trigonometry, series, differentiation and integration. If you are not continuing with maths, it adds workload for little extra benefit.

- Page: https://mathvsarham.com/articles/is-additional-maths-worth-it/
- Author: Arham (https://mathvsarham.com/about/)
- Category: O Level and IGCSE Maths
- Part of: O Level and IGCSE Maths: Syllabuses, Papers and Grading Explained (https://mathvsarham.com/articles/o-level-igcse-maths/)
- Published: 2026-10-26
- Last checked: 2026-10-26

## Key takeaways

- 4037 (O Level) and 0606 (IGCSE) have the same 14 topics and the same exam format; you cannot take both in one series.
- Two papers: Paper 1 non-calculator and Paper 2 calculator, 2 hours and 80 marks each, graded A* to E.
- It covers every topic area in A Level 9709 Paper 1, including calculus and the binomial theorem.
- Best for students aiming at A Level Maths, Further Maths, engineering, physics or computer science.
- It assumes the full O Level or IGCSE Maths content, so it is taken alongside the main maths syllabus.

Additional Maths is the optional second maths subject at O Level and IGCSE. Cambridge offers it as O Level Additional Mathematics (4037) and IGCSE Additional Mathematics (0606). Whether it is worth taking depends almost entirely on one question: are you going to do A Level Maths?

## What is Additional Maths?

Both syllabuses assume you know the full content of the main maths syllabus (O Level 4024 or IGCSE 0580), then go further. They have the same 14 topics:

1. Functions
2. Quadratic functions
3. Factors of polynomials
4. Equations, inequalities and graphs
5. Simultaneous equations
6. Logarithmic and exponential functions
7. Straight-line graphs
8. Coordinate geometry of the circle
9. Circular measure
10. Trigonometry
11. Permutations and combinations
12. Series (binomial theorem, arithmetic and geometric progressions)
13. Vectors in two dimensions
14. Calculus (differentiation and integration)

## How is it examined?

| | 4037 (O Level) | 0606 (IGCSE) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paper 1 | Non-calculator, 2 h, 80 marks, 50% | Non-calculator, 2 h, 80 marks, 50% |
| Paper 2 | Calculator, 2 h, 80 marks, 50% | Calculator, 2 h, 80 marks, 50% |
| Grades | A* to E | A* to E |
| Series | June and November | June and November (March in India) |
| Where offered | Administrative zones 3, 4 and 5 | All zones |

You cannot take 4037 and 0606 in the same series. The non-calculator Paper 1 is new from 2025, and mark schemes now give more credit for working.

## How much of A Level does it cover?

This is the real reason to take it. Compare the topics with Cambridge A Level Maths (9709) Paper 1:

| 9709 Paper 1 topic | Covered in Additional Maths? |
| --- | --- |
| Quadratics (completing the square, discriminant) | Yes: Quadratic functions |
| Functions (inverse, composite) | Yes: Functions |
| Coordinate geometry (lines and circles) | Yes: Straight-line graphs, Coordinate geometry of the circle |
| Circular measure (radians, arcs, sectors) | Yes: Circular measure |
| Trigonometry | Yes: Trigonometry |
| Series (binomial, AP, GP) | Yes: Series |
| Differentiation | Yes: Calculus |
| Integration | Yes: Calculus |

Every Paper 1 topic area appears in Additional Maths. A Level goes deeper in each, but an Add Maths student starts Year 12 having already used radians, the binomial theorem, logarithms and calculus. Logarithms, polynomial factors and permutations also reappear in A Level Paper 3 and Paper 5.

This matters most for O Level students. The O Level Maths syllabus (4024) has no differentiation at all, so without Add Maths the first calculus you meet is in A Level Paper 1.

## Who should take it?

**Take it if:**

* you are comfortably getting A or A* grades in your main maths;
* you plan to take A Level Maths, and especially Further Maths;
* you are aiming at engineering, physics, computer science, economics or maths at university.

**Think twice if:**

* your main maths grade is not yet secure, because Add Maths takes time away from it;
* you are not planning to continue with maths after O Level or IGCSE;
* your timetable is already full, since it is a full extra subject.

## How to prepare

* **Get the algebra fluent first.** Factorising, completing the square and rearranging appear in almost every question.
* **Practise without a calculator.** Paper 1 is half the grade.
* **Learn logarithms properly.** They show up again in A Level Paper 3, including the linear law.
* **Use A Level resources for calculus.** Explanations written for 9709 Paper 1 fit Add Maths calculus closely.

The lectures below cover logarithms, differentiation and integration at A Level depth, which goes a little beyond Add Maths but uses the same methods.

Back to the [O Level and IGCSE Maths guide](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/o-level-igcse-maths/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between 4037 and 0606?

4037 is Cambridge O Level Additional Mathematics and 0606 is Cambridge IGCSE Additional Mathematics. They have the same 14 topics and the same two-paper format. 4037 is only offered in Cambridge administrative zones 3, 4 and 5, and Cambridge does not allow both in the same series.

### Is Additional Maths harder than O Level maths?

Yes. It assumes all of O Level or IGCSE Maths and goes further into algebra, logarithms, trigonometry and calculus. Its topics overlap heavily with A Level Paper 1.

### Do I need Additional Maths for A Level Maths?

No. Cambridge A Level Maths (9709) assumes IGCSE 0580 Extended or O Level 4024, not Additional Maths. Add Maths makes the first year of A Level much easier because you will have seen most of Paper 1 already.

### Is a calculator allowed in Additional Maths?

Only in Paper 2. Since 2025, Paper 1 of both 4037 and 0606 is a non-calculator paper.

## Sources

- [Cambridge O Level Additional Mathematics 4037 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/662720-2025-2027-syllabus.pdf)
- [Cambridge IGCSE Additional Mathematics 0606 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/662470-2025-2027-syllabus.pdf)
- [Cambridge 9709 syllabus for 2026 and 2027: Pure Mathematics 1](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/697427-2026-2027-syllabus.pdf)

## Related lectures

- [Logarithms & Exponents: Rules & Laws | Class #07 | A2 Mathematics 9709](https://mathvsarham.com/lectures/KNtPazo7QMo/)
- [Solving Past Papers | Differentiation | Class 28 | AS Level P1 9709](https://mathvsarham.com/lectures/fhS3CrFYlFs/)
- [Introduction to Integration: Rules & Curve Equations | Class 29 | AS Level P1 9709](https://mathvsarham.com/lectures/t6I2Sne25_s/)

## Past papers

- [4037 Additional Mathematics](https://mathvsarham.com/past-papers/)
- [0606 Additional Mathematics](https://mathvsarham.com/past-papers/)