# O Level and IGCSE Maths: Syllabuses, Papers and Grading Explained > Cambridge O Level Mathematics (4024) and Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) are two papers each, with one non-calculator paper since 2025. O Level is graded A* to E; IGCSE Extended is graded A* to E and Core C to G. Edexcel's International GCSE (4MA1) is graded 9 to 1 and allows a calculator on both papers. - Page: https://mathvsarham.com/articles/o-level-igcse-maths/ - Author: Arham (https://mathvsarham.com/about/) - Category: O Level and IGCSE Maths - Published: 2026-10-26 - Last checked: 2026-10-26 ## Key takeaways - 4024 O Level: two 2-hour, 100-mark papers. Paper 1 non-calculator, Paper 2 calculator. Grades A* to E. - 0580 IGCSE Extended: Paper 2 (non-calculator) and Paper 4 (calculator), 2 hours and 100 marks each. Grades A* to E. - 0580 IGCSE Core: Papers 1 and 3, 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each. Grades C to G. - Edexcel 4MA1: two 2-hour, 100-mark papers per tier, calculator on both, graded 9 to 1. - Since 2025, every Cambridge maths paper prints a list of formulas on page 2, but not every formula you need is on it. Secondary school maths in Cambridge and Edexcel schools usually means one of three syllabuses: Cambridge O Level Mathematics (4024), Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) or Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1). Many students also add Additional Mathematics. This guide explains how each is examined and graded, and links to the detailed comparisons. ## The three main syllabuses at a glance | | O Level 4024 | IGCSE 0580 (Extended) | Edexcel 4MA1 (Higher) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Board | Cambridge | Cambridge | Pearson Edexcel | | Papers | Paper 1 + Paper 2 | Paper 2 + Paper 4 | Paper 1H + Paper 2H | | Time and marks | 2 h, 100 marks each | 2 h, 100 marks each | 2 h, 100 marks each | | Calculator | Paper 1 no, Paper 2 yes | Paper 2 no, Paper 4 yes | Both papers | | Grades | A* to E | A* to E | 9 to 4 targeted | | Series | June, November | June, November (March in India) | January, June | 0580 also has a **Core** tier (Papers 1 and 3, 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each, graded C to G) for students expected to get grade D or below. 4MA1 has a **Foundation** tier (1F and 2F) targeting grades 5 to 1. ## What changed in 2025? Cambridge revised both 4024 and 0580 for first exams in 2025: * **A non-calculator paper** was introduced at every tier. In 0580, Papers 1 and 2 are now non-calculator; in 4024, Paper 1 is. * **Every paper now prints a list of formulas on page 2.** Not every formula you need is on it; the syllabus says which are given. * **4024 gained** surds, exponential growth and decay, recurring decimals, composite functions and the alternate segment theorem, and **lost** loci, matrices and proper subsets. * **0580 Extended** gained surds, exact trigonometric values, domain and range, and recall of certain squares, cubes and roots, and lost linear programming, proper subsets, congruence criteria and box-and-whisker plots. Old past papers are still good practice, but skip questions on removed topics and do extra non-calculator practice. ## O Level or IGCSE: which one? Cambridge describes O Level, IGCSE and IGCSE (9 to 1) as being at the same level. The practical differences are in the [O Level vs IGCSE comparison](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/o-level-vs-igcse-maths/). The headline: the two syllabuses now share almost all their topics, but 0580 Extended also covers differentiation, trigonometric functions and exact values, and conditional probability. O Level is only offered in Cambridge administrative zones 3, 4 and 5. If your school is choosing between Cambridge and Edexcel, see [0580 vs 4MA1](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/cambridge-igcse-0580-vs-edexcel-4ma1/). ## What grade boundaries look like In June 2026: * **4024** (components 12 and 22, out of 200): A* 173, A 147, B 104, C 62. * **0580 Extended** (components 21 and 41, out of 200): A* 162, A 138, B 114, C 90. * **0580 Extended** (components 22 and 42): A* 177, A 154. So an A* needed somewhere between about 81% and 89% depending on the syllabus and variant. [How to get an A* in O Level and IGCSE maths](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/how-to-get-an-a-star-in-igcse-maths/) turns this into a study plan. ## Should you add Additional Maths? Cambridge O Level Additional Mathematics (4037) and IGCSE Additional Mathematics (0606) are taken alongside the main maths syllabus by students who are strong in maths and planning A Level. They cover almost all of the topics in A Level Paper 1. See [is Additional Maths worth it?](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/is-additional-maths-worth-it/) ## After O Level and IGCSE Cambridge's A Level Maths (9709) assumes the content of 0580 Extended or 4024. Read [how big the jump to A Level is](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/igcse-to-a-level-maths/) before you start Year 12, and the [9709 guide](https://mathvsarham.com/articles/cambridge-a-level-maths-9709/) for how the A Level works. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which is better, O Level or IGCSE maths? Cambridge says they are at the same level and equivalent grade for grade. The real differences are the grading scale, which administrative zones can take O Level, and a few topics: IGCSE 0580 Extended includes differentiation and conditional probability, and 4024 does not. ### Is there a non-calculator paper in IGCSE maths? Yes, since 2025. In Cambridge 0580, Paper 1 (Core) and Paper 2 (Extended) are non-calculator. Edexcel 4MA1 still allows a calculator on both papers. ### Can I take O Level and IGCSE maths in the same series? No. Cambridge does not allow 4024 to be combined with 0580, 0980 or 0607 in the same exam series. ### Are formulas given in O Level and IGCSE maths? A list of formulas is printed on page 2 of every 4024 and 0580 paper, but not every formula you need is on it. The syllabus marks which formulas are given and which you must know. ## Sources - [Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/662480-2025-2027-syllabus.pdf) - [Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/662466-2025-2027-syllabus.pdf) - [Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1) specification, Issue 2](https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/International%20GCSE/Mathematics%20A/2016/Specification%20and%20sample%20assessments/international-gcse-in-mathematics-spec-a.pdf) - [Cambridge 0580 grade thresholds, June 2026](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/762852-mathematics-without-coursework-0580-june-2026-grade-threshold-table.pdf) - [Cambridge 4024 grade thresholds, June 2026](https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/762917-mathematics-syllabus-d-4024-june-2026-grade-threshold-table.pdf) ## Related lectures - [Coordinate Geometry | Past Papers | IGCSE/O-Level Mathematics | Class 24](https://mathvsarham.com/lectures/kfGiNGEq4qc/) - [Fundamental Geometry & Angle Properties | IGCSE/O-Level Mathematics | Class 25](https://mathvsarham.com/lectures/MphCdkH9QdQ/) - [Edexcel IGCSE 4MA1/H Demo Class](https://mathvsarham.com/lectures/yEps4ZhukE8/) ## Past papers - [4024 Mathematics (Syllabus D)](https://mathvsarham.com/past-papers/4024/) - [0580 Mathematics](https://mathvsarham.com/past-papers/) - [4MA1 Mathematics A](https://mathvsarham.com/past-papers/)