OCRGCSE249 resourcesFoundation & Higher

OCR GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free OCR GCSE Mathematics (J560) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Foundation & Higher tiers, six papers. 249 resources available.

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

Download Past Papers

Type

Tier

Year

249 of 249 resources — page 1 of 3

June 2023

11 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 1

Question Paper

Download

November 2023

12 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 1 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 1

Question Paper

Download

June 2022

12 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📋

Mathematics (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 1 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

November 2022

13 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 1

Question Paper

Download

📋

Mathematics (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 1 formulae sheet

Question Paper

Download

November 2021

6 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📋

Mathematics (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

Download

November 2020

7 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📋

Mathematics (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 6

Mark Scheme

Download

June 2019

7 files

📊

Mathematics (9-1) – Summer highlights report

Examiner Report

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 6

Mark Scheme

Download

November 2019

7 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

📋

Mathematics (9-1) – Modified papers

Modified Paper

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 6

Mark Scheme

Download

June 2018

7 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 6

Mark Scheme

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 5

Mark Scheme

Download

November 2018

6 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 6

Mark Scheme

Download

June 2017

6 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2 erratum

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

November 2017

6 files

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 5

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 6

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 2

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 3

Question Paper

Download

📄

Mathematics (9-1) – Question paper – Paper 4

Question Paper

Download

✅

Mathematics (9-1) – Mark scheme – Paper 5

Mark Scheme

Download

OCR GCSE Maths (J560): Six Papers, Two Tiers, and the Formulae You Must Know

OCR GCSE Mathematics (J560) uses a distinctive six-paper structure — three for Foundation tier and three for Higher — rather than the three-paper model used by other boards. Foundation candidates sit Papers 1, 2, and 3, while Higher candidates sit Papers 4, 5, and 6. In each set the first paper is non-calculator and the remaining two allow a calculator, with each paper lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and carrying 100 marks, for a total of 300 marks per tier. The specification organises content into six strands: Number, Algebra, Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change, Geometry and Measures, Probability, and Statistics. Higher tier extends each strand — quadratic inequalities, sine and cosine rules, iteration, and conditional probability all appear only on Papers 4–6. The overlap zone at grades 4–5 means Foundation students aiming for grade 5 should practise Higher-tier questions in these areas. OCR provides a formulae sheet with each paper, but students are expected to memorise key results including the quadratic formula, Pythagoras' theorem, trigonometric ratios, area of a trapezium, and the rules for transforming functions. Examiners consistently report that students who rely on the formulae sheet lose time looking up results that should be instant recall. Grade boundaries vary substantially between series — a grade 7 on Higher tier might require 55% one year and 62% the next — so working through papers from multiple years gives a clearer picture of the standard expected.

Exam Paper Structure

Paper 1 (Foundation)No calculator

Non-calculator

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 33% of grade

NumberAlgebraRatio and proportionGeometry and measuresProbabilityStatistics

Paper 2 (Foundation)Calculator ✓

Calculator

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 33% of grade

NumberAlgebraRatio and proportionGeometry and measuresProbabilityStatistics

Paper 3 (Foundation)Calculator ✓

Calculator

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 34% of grade

NumberAlgebraRatio and proportionGeometry and measuresProbabilityStatistics

Paper 4 (Higher)No calculator

Non-calculator

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 33% of grade

NumberAlgebraRatio and proportionGeometry and measuresProbabilityStatistics

Paper 5 (Higher)Calculator ✓

Calculator

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 33% of grade

NumberAlgebraRatio and proportionGeometry and measuresProbabilityStatistics

Paper 6 (Higher)Calculator ✓

Calculator

⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 100 marks📊 34% of grade

NumberAlgebraRatio and proportionGeometry and measuresProbabilityStatistics

Key Information

Exam Board	OCR
Specification Code	J560
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	9–1
Assessment Type	6 written exams (3 per tier, no coursework)
Tiers	Foundation (Papers 1–3, grades 1–5) and Higher (Papers 4–6, grades 4–9)
Number Of Papers	6 (3 per tier)
Exam Duration	1 hour 30 minutes per paper
Total Marks	300 per tier (100 per paper)
Calculator Status	Papers 1 & 4: Non-calculator. Papers 2, 3, 5, 6: Calculator allowed
Total Resources	249

Key Topics in Mathematics (9-1)

Topics you need to know

Number and arithmetic operationsAlgebra — equations, sequences and graphsRatio, proportion and rates of changeGeometry and measures — angles, area, volumeTrigonometry and PythagorasProbability and statistics

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Calculate	Work out the numerical value, showing all working
Show that	Provide all steps to verify the given statement is true
Prove	Show algebraically that a statement is always true
Sketch	Draw a graph showing key features with labelled axes — not plotted values
Describe	State a transformation or mathematical feature precisely using correct terminology
Simplify	Write an expression in its most reduced form
Factorise	Write an expression as a product of its factors
Expand	Multiply out brackets, collecting like terms
Hence	Use your previous answer to find the next result

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade 9	76–86%
Grade 8	64–75%
Grade 7	52–63%
Grade 6	43–51%
Grade 5	35–42%
Grade 4	26–34%

⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries (Papers 4–6, 300 total marks). Actual boundaries vary by series — check OCR's website.

How to Tackle OCR Maths Past Papers When You Have Six Papers to Navigate

OCR's six-paper layout means each paper covers a narrower slice of the specification than its three-paper competitors, so targeted revision is more effective. Start by identifying which paper numbers cover your weakest topics using the topic grid OCR publishes alongside each series. If you struggle with geometry, focus first on the papers where it is most heavily weighted before moving to full mock runs. The non-calculator paper (Paper 1 for Foundation, Paper 4 for Higher) consistently catches students who cannot handle arithmetic fluently. Practise long multiplication, division of decimals, and fraction operations without reaching for a calculator. OCR examiners report that many students leave non-calculator questions incomplete simply because they run out of time on basic number work. Use the mark schemes actively: OCR awards method marks (M), accuracy marks (A), and marks for interpreting or communicating (B). If your final answer is wrong but your method is sound, you may still collect 3 of the 4 marks. Conversely, writing only the answer with no working throws away all method marks. This makes showing working not optional but strategic. Once you are comfortable with individual topics, do at least three full timed runs per tier — that is nine hours of exam practice — to build stamina and time management.

More OCR GCSE Subjects

Explore other GCSE subjects from OCR

Related Past Papers

Gateway Science Suite

OCRGCSE500 papers

Computer Science (9-1)

Pearson EdexcelGCSE169 papers

AI-Powered Revision

Meet your AI Tutor

Get clear explanations, worked examples, and step-by-step guidance on any GCSE Mathematics (9-1) topic. Your personal AI tutor, free to try.

Try AI Tutor — Free Browse more past papers

✓ No credit card required✓ Covers all OCR topics✓ Instant answers

OCR GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download Past Papers

June 2023

November 2023

June 2022

November 2022

November 2021

November 2020

June 2019

November 2019

June 2018

November 2018

June 2017

November 2017

OCR GCSE Maths (J560): Six Papers, Two Tiers, and the Formulae You Must Know

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Mathematics (9-1)

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

How to Tackle OCR Maths Past Papers When You Have Six Papers to Navigate

More OCR GCSE Subjects

Gateway Science Suite

Twenty First Century Science Suite

Mathematics

History

History B (Schools History Project) (9-1)

Physics

Chemistry

Geography

History A (Explaining the Modern World) (9-1)

Biology

Religious Studies (9-1)

Classical Greek (9-1)

Classical Civilisation (9-1)

Latin (9-1)

English Language (9-1)

English Language

Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (9-1)

Geography A (Geographical Themes) (9-1)

English Literature (9-1)

English Literature

Citizenship Studies (9-1)

Ancient History (9-1)

Physical Education (9-1)

Economics (9-1)

Business (9-1)

Business

Psychology (9-1)

Design and Technology (9-1)

Music (9-1)

Drama (9-1)

Drama

Food Preparation and Nutrition (9-1)

Computer Science (9-1)

Computer Science

Media Studies (9-1)

Art and Design (9-1)

Geography B (9-1)

Related Past Papers

Meet your AI Tutor