How long are the GCSE Maths papers? (Edexcel and AQA)
That's the short version. Here's what it means for how you use the time.
The three papers at a glance
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Marks | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Calculator | No | Yes | Yes |
| Share of your grade | One third | One third | One third |
Each paper is sat on a different day, so you won't sit all three at once. You must sit all three at the same tier, Foundation or Higher, in the same exam series.
Your grade comes from your total across all three papers. The papers aren't graded one by one. So a weaker paper doesn't sink you, and a stronger paper can lift you.
How much time per mark?
Ninety minutes for 80 marks works out at about 67 seconds a mark. That's my own arithmetic, not a figure from the exam boards, but it's a useful guide.
- A 1-mark question: about a minute.
- A 2-mark question: about two minutes.
- A 4-mark question: about four and a half minutes.
- A 5-mark question: about five and a half minutes.
The early questions are usually quicker, so you bank time for the longer ones at the end.
How to spend the 90 minutes
Here's the plan I'd give a student.
1. Start from question 1. AQA describes its papers as getting more demanding as they go, so work through in order. You'll build up speed and confidence first.
2. Don't get stuck. If you've spent more than your time on a question, write down what you know and move on. Come back at the end. Showing your working can earn method marks, so don't leave a blank.
3. Keep a few minutes at the end. Use them to go back to anything you skipped, and to check units, rounding and whether you answered what was asked.
4. Show every step. The marks are in the working. The front of the paper says to show all your working, and I'd treat that as an instruction.
Here's a full Edexcel Paper 1 Higher, worked through live, so you can see the pacing:
Calculator and no calculator
Paper 1 doesn't allow a calculator, so practise your arithmetic, fractions and percentages without one. Papers 2 and 3 do, so check your calculator is in the right mode and has working batteries.
Bring a ruler, a protractor and a pair of compasses to every paper. The front of the Edexcel Paper 1 lists these, plus pens, a pencil and an eraser, and says tracing paper may be used. Check the front of your own paper in case your board's list differs.
Formulae sheets are provided with the GCSE Maths papers in 2027, so you don't need to memorise the usual formulae. You'll still need to know when to use each one, so practise with the sheet.
Practise in real time
The best way to learn your pace is to do a full paper in 90 minutes, on your own, without stopping. Then mark it. My past papers page has every Edexcel and AQA paper with its mark scheme, and the past paper tracker keeps your scores in one place.
Here's my Paper 3 debrief from the summer, where I talk through the paper afterwards:
Questions people also ask
How long is GCSE Maths Paper 1?
1 hour 30 minutes, with 80 marks. It's the non-calculator paper, for both Edexcel and AQA and at both tiers.
How many marks is each GCSE Maths paper?
80 marks each, so 240 marks in total across the three papers. Your grade is worked out from that total, not paper by paper.
Is Foundation shorter than Higher?
No. Foundation and Higher papers are both 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks. The questions differ, but the time and marks don't.