IGCSE Maths
Revision
for
CIE Extended
Start with the right paper, find the topics costing marks, and build towards a grade B or C with a clear plan.
Your exam at a glance
Formulas are printed inside each question paper
What CIE, 0580 and Extended Mean
Three quick definitions before you start the past papers.
The exam board
Cambridge International, the body that creates and marks the exam. CIE is the older common name. The current official name is Cambridge International Education.
The syllabus code
The code for Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics. Grades go from A* (highest) down to G (lowest), passing through A, B, C, D, E and F on the way.
The higher tier
Extended candidates sit Paper 2 and Paper 4 and can earn A*, A, B, C, D or E. A* is the highest grade available. Students aiming for grade D or below sit the Core tier (Papers 1 and 3) instead.
How to Improve with CIE IGCSE Past Papers
The four-step revision loop. Turn mistakes into marks.
Do a paper
Start with the latest paper and attempt it honestly.
Mark it
Use the mark scheme to spot where you lost marks.
Fix weak topics
Focus on your worst 2-3 topics, not everything at once.
Test again
Try another paper and check if the mistakes are gone.
CIE IGCSE Extended Past Papers and Mark Schemes
Past papers are the fastest way to see where the marks are going.
- V1Variant 1. Sat in earlier time-zones, mostly Asia and the Pacific.
- V2Variant 2. The most common worldwide and the only variant in March.
- V3Variant 3. Sat in later time-zones, mostly the Americas.
CIE IGCSE Extended Grade Boundaries
See recent grade B and C boundaries and what marks you usually need. Each session has three variants, so pick yours below.
Grade boundaries by year
June series, Variant 2 · /200What your current score usually means
Based on June, Variant 2 · out of 200Not yet secure for a recent grade C
Recent grade C boundary zone
Between C and B, building toward B
Recent grade B boundary zone
Strong Extended performance, pushing toward A
Topics Worth the Most Marks
on CIE IGCSE Extended
Pick the topic costing you the most marks and start there.
Algebra
Algebra is the main grade-mover. Master simplifying, equations, sequences and graphs, and you protect many of the marks needed for a secure B or C.
Set out one step per line. Clear working can still earn marks even if the final answer is wrong.
CIE IGCSE Extended Maths FAQs
Quick answers to the most common revision questions.
Start with one timed past paper first. Your mistakes show which topics are costing you marks, so you can revise the right things instead of guessing.
Yes, with a smart plan. Extended is not about answering every question perfectly. Your job is to collect the reliable marks first, like algebra, percentages, ratio, and geometry. If your exam entry is not final and you are scoring far below a C in practice, ask your teacher about Core.
Paper 2 is non-calculator, so it tests your number skills, algebra steps and exact working. Paper 4 allows a calculator and usually has longer, more structured questions. You need to practise both. Do not only revise with a calculator.
A safe rule of thumb is roughly 1 mark per minute, plus 5 to 10 minutes for checking. If a question is taking longer than its marks, skip it and come back. For a B, losing easy marks to time pressure costs more than missing a hard one.
Do not just check the score. Sort every lost mark into one of four buckets: did not know the topic, wrong method, careless mistake, or ran out of time. Then redo the worst questions without looking at the mark scheme.
A formula sheet is printed inside each Extended paper, but having it in front of you is not enough. You still need to know which formula to pick, how to rearrange it, and how to use it without calculator slips.
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