Skip to main content

← A-LEVEL-OCR

England · OCR2026

OCR A-Level Mathematics A (H240): complete guide to Pure, Statistics and Mechanics and the three papers

A complete guide to OCR A-Level Mathematics A (specification H240). Covers the three content strands (Pure mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics), how the three written papers are structured and marked, the three overarching themes, the pre-release large data set, the calculator and formulae provision, and how to study each strand for top grades.

Browse guides →Syllabus dot points (30)

OCR A-Level Mathematics A (specification H240) is a two-year linear course assessed by three written papers at the end of Year 13. There is no coursework. This page is the index: below is a map of the three content strands, the three overarching themes, the exam structure, and how to study each strand.

The three content strands

The specification has three strands. Pure mathematics is about two thirds of the course and appears on all three papers; Statistics and Mechanics are the applied strands and sit alongside pure in Papers 2 and 3.

Pure mathematics
Proof, algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, numerical methods and vectors. This is the foundation that the applied strands build on.
Statistics
Statistical sampling, data presentation and interpretation, probability, the binomial and Normal distributions, and hypothesis testing, all grounded in a pre-release large data set.
Mechanics
Quantities and units, kinematics (including motion under gravity and projectiles), forces and Newton's laws (including friction), and moments, applying pure techniques to motion and forces.

The three overarching themes

Three themes run through every strand and are assessed throughout:

  • OT1 Mathematical argument, language and proof. Constructing rigorous, well-laid-out reasoning, using correct notation and set language, and forming logical deductions.
  • OT2 Mathematical problem solving. Translating unfamiliar, often unstructured problems into mathematics, solving them in steps, and interpreting the result in context.
  • OT3 Mathematical modelling. Representing real situations with mathematics, stating and evaluating assumptions, and refining models against outcomes.

Exam structure

OCR A-Level Mathematics A is assessed by three written papers, all sat at the end of the course. A calculator is allowed in every paper and the formulae are printed on pages 2 and 3 of each question paper.

  • Paper 1 Pure Mathematics (01). 2 hours, 100 marks, a third of the A-level. Pure content only.
  • Paper 2 Pure Mathematics and Statistics (02). 2 hours, 100 marks, a third. A Pure section and a Statistics section, roughly 50 marks each.
  • Paper 3 Pure Mathematics and Mechanics (03). 2 hours, 100 marks, a third. A Pure section and a Mechanics section, roughly 50 marks each.

Each paper has a gradient of difficulty, a mix of short and longer compulsory questions, and synoptic and extended-response items.

How to study OCR Mathematics A

Mathematics rewards fluent technique, precise reasoning and clear working.

  1. Work from the specification statements. Each numbered point is a checklist; questions are written from them.
  2. Master algebra and calculus first. They underpin every strand, so weak algebra leaks marks everywhere.
  3. Show full working. Method marks are secure even when a final answer slips, so set out every step.
  4. Learn standard results. Derivatives, integrals and trigonometric identities should be instant recall.
  5. Practise the large data set and calculator technique. Familiarity with the data set and confident calculator use for statistics save time and marks.

The three strands, dot point by dot point

Each strand has specification-statement-level answer pages with worked exam questions and cross-links. The Pure content is split into three modules: start with the Pure foundations overview, the Pure advanced overview and the Pure calculus overview, then the Statistics overview and the Mechanics overview.

For the official specification

OCR publishes the full specification (H240), past papers, mark schemes and the large data set at ocr.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and OCR's own past papers, because question style is board-specific.

Maths guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

See all →

Maths practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The A-LEVEL-OCR system, explained

See all →

Common questions about Maths

How is OCR A-Level Mathematics A (H240) structured?
OCR A-Level Mathematics A is a two-year linear course assessed by three written papers at the end of Year 13. The content has three strands: Pure mathematics, which is about two thirds of the course, plus the two applied strands of Statistics and Mechanics. Three overarching themes (mathematical argument and proof, problem solving, and mathematical modelling) run through every strand. There is no coursework, but you work with a pre-release large data set in the Statistics content. A calculator is allowed in all papers and the formulae are printed in each question paper.
What are the three OCR A-Level Mathematics A papers?
Paper 1 (Pure Mathematics) is 100 marks in 2 hours and assesses Pure only. Paper 2 (Pure Mathematics and Statistics) is 100 marks in 2 hours, with a Pure section and a Statistics section of roughly 50 marks each. Paper 3 (Pure Mathematics and Mechanics) is 100 marks in 2 hours, with a Pure section and a Mechanics section of roughly 50 marks each. Each paper is worth a third of the A-level, allows a calculator, and prints its formulae on pages 2 and 3.
What is the large data set in OCR A-Level Mathematics A?
OCR provides a single pre-release large data set that lasts the life of the qualification. You explore it during the course so that you are familiar with its variables, units, structure and any gaps. Statistics questions in Paper 2 may assume that familiarity and may quote extracts or summary statistics from it, but you do not take a full printout into the exam and you are not expected to recall specific values. Working with the data set builds the real-data judgement the Statistics questions reward.
How much of OCR A-Level Mathematics A is Pure mathematics?
Pure mathematics is roughly two thirds of the qualification and appears on all three papers: it fills Paper 1 and forms a section of Papers 2 and 3. It develops proof, algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, numerical methods and vectors. Because the applied strands rely on pure techniques, strong pure skills lift marks across the whole course.
How should I structure my OCR A-Level Mathematics A revision?
Work strand by strand against the specification, mastering algebra and calculus first because they underpin everything, then trigonometry and the rest of pure, then Statistics and Mechanics. Drill each technique until it is automatic, show full working so method marks are secure, and learn standard results such as derivatives, integrals and identities by heart. Practise full timed papers, get familiar with the large data set, and rehearse calculator technique for statistics.
How does OCR A-Level Mathematics A compare to other exam boards?
All A-Level Mathematics specifications (OCR, AQA, Edexcel) follow the same compulsory core content set nationally, so Pure, Statistics and Mechanics are broadly the same everywhere, and there is no optional applied choice. OCR's distinctive features are its paper split (Pure alone in Paper 1, Pure with Statistics in Paper 2, Pure with Mechanics in Paper 3), its own pre-release large data set, and its own past papers and question styles. Always revise from the current OCR specification (H240) and OCR past papers.