Edexcel International A Level Maths is Pearson's advanced mathematics qualification for international students. It is modular: instead of sitting everything at the end, you build up six unit results across exam series, then combine them into one grade.
That flexibility is useful, but it comes with rules students often miss — which units you can combine, how UMS marks work, what A* actually requires and why a "cash-in" entry matters. This guide explains all of it, then shows you how to study for it.
The essentials
- Full IAL Mathematics = six units: Pure P1, P2, P3 and P4, plus an approved pair of applied units.
- International AS = three units: P1, P2 and one of S1, M1 or D1.
- Every unit exam is 1 hour 30 minutes, 75 marks, calculator allowed, no coursework.
- Grades come from UMS marks (100 per unit). A* needs 480/600 overall and 180/200 across P3 and P4 combined.
- Resits: in IAL Maths, your best result from any attempt at a unit counts.
- No grade is issued until your centre makes a cash-in entry.
What does IAL mean?
IAL stands for International Advanced Level. You will see the same qualification called Edexcel IAL Maths, Edexcel International A Level Mathematics or Pearson Edexcel IAL Mathematics. Its qualification code is YMA01 (the International AS is XMA01).
It is designed for international learners and usually follows an International GCSE, GCSE or equivalent maths course. Pearson sets no formal entry requirement, but says the students who benefit most are likely to have a qualification such as International GCSE Mathematics.
Watch out
"International A Level Maths" alone is ambiguous — Cambridge also offers international A Levels in maths. Check the awarding body and qualification code before you choose textbooks, tuition or past papers. Our Cambridge vs Edexcel A Levels guide compares the two boards.
Edexcel IAL Maths at a glance
| Feature | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Full IAL Mathematics | Six units |
| Compulsory Pure units | P1, P2, P3 and P4 |
| Other two units | An approved pair of applied units |
| International AS Mathematics | P1, P2 and one of S1, M1 or D1 |
| Exam length | 1 hour 30 minutes per unit |
| Marks | 75 raw marks per unit |
| Assessment | Written exams only; no coursework |
| Exam series | January, June and October (D1 is January and June only) |
| Calculators | Allowed, within the exam rules |
| Current specification | 2018 specification (first teaching September 2018) |
These details are for the Mathematics qualification. Pearson's Further Mathematics and Pure Mathematics are separate qualifications with their own unit rules.
How does the modular structure work?
A unit is a section of the course with its own exam — P1 is Pure Mathematics 1, S1 is Statistics 1, and so on. You can sit units in the same series or spread them out, and your results are banked until you combine them into a grade.
Example
One common two-year route:
- Year 1 (International AS): P1, P2 and S1
- Year 2: P3, P4 and M1
- Full IAL Mathematics: P1, P2, P3, P4, S1 and M1
This is an illustration, not a required timetable. Confirm your plan with your school or exam centre.
Remember
modular does not mean earlier topics stop mattering. Later Pure units build on earlier skills, so weak algebra in P1 makes P3 and P4 calculus and trigonometry much harder.
IAS, A2 and the full IAL: what's the difference?
- International AS (IAS) is the three-unit qualification: P1, P2 and one of S1, M1 or D1.
- A2 is the informal name for the more advanced stage of study, usually the second year.
- The full IAL is all six required units. The units you used for IAS also count towards the full IAL, so you do not start again from zero.
| What you have | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| P1 and P2 only | Two unit results — not a qualification yet |
| P1 + P2 + S1, M1 or D1 | The units needed for IAS Mathematics |
| P1–P4 + an approved applied pair | The units needed for full IAL Mathematics |
Which applied unit combinations are allowed?
For full IAL Mathematics, everyone takes P1, P2, P3 and P4. Pearson allows five applied pairs:
| Applied pair | Route |
|---|---|
| S1 + S2 | Statistics |
| M1 + M2 | Mechanics |
| S1 + M1 | Statistics and Mechanics |
| S1 + D1 | Statistics and Decision Mathematics |
| M1 + D1 | Mechanics and Decision Mathematics |
You cannot pick any two applied units. S2 + M2, for example, is not an approved pair for Mathematics.
Check
before buying resources or entering exams, write down your exact six units and ask your centre to confirm the combination.
How should you choose your applied units?
Start with what your school teaches and what your exam centre offers. Then think about your interests and future course:
- Statistics suits you if you enjoy data, probability and interpreting numbers.
- Mechanics suits you if you enjoy physics and modelling motion and forces.
- Decision Mathematics suits you if you enjoy algorithms and structured problem-solving.
These are reasons to explore a route, not admissions guarantees, so check the requirements of your intended degree. If you can, try sample questions from each before deciding — a route that suits a friend may not suit you.
What is in each unit?
Here is what each unit covers, summarised from Pearson's specification:
| Unit | Code | Content |
|---|---|---|
| P1 Pure 1 | WMA11 | Algebra and functions; coordinate geometry; trigonometry; differentiation; integration |
| P2 Pure 2 | WMA12 | Proof; algebra and functions; coordinate geometry; sequences and series; exponentials and logarithms; trigonometry; differentiation; integration |
| P3 Pure 3 | WMA13 | Algebra and functions; trigonometry; exponentials and logarithms; differentiation; integration; numerical methods |
| P4 Pure 4 | WMA14 | Proof; algebra and functions; coordinate geometry; binomial expansion; differentiation; integration; vectors |
| S1 Statistics 1 | WST01 | Data representation; probability; correlation and regression; discrete random variables and distributions; the Normal distribution |
| S2 Statistics 2 | WST02 | Binomial and Poisson distributions; continuous random variables and distributions; samples; hypothesis tests |
| M1 Mechanics 1 | WME01 | Modelling; vectors; kinematics and dynamics of a particle; statics of a particle; moments |
| M2 Mechanics 2 | WME02 | Kinematics in a line or plane; centres of mass; work and energy; collisions; statics of rigid bodies |
| D1 Decision 1 | WDM11 | Algorithms; algorithms on graphs; critical path analysis; linear programming |
Use the unit code, exam series and paper version when you download a paper and its mark scheme — a general "Edexcel A Level Maths" label is not enough. You can find IAL Maths papers on Starley's Edexcel International A Level Mathematics past papers page.
P1: build the foundation
P1 is often about combining familiar skills. A tangent question, for example, may need you to:
- differentiate the curve;
- find the gradient at a given point;
- write the equation of a straight line.
Your aim in P1 is to make each of those basic steps completely reliable.
P2: develop your reasoning
P2 adds proof, sequences and series, and exponentials and logarithms. You increasingly have to justify steps and choose the right method. Solving an equation with an unknown power, for instance, means recognising when logarithms are the tool to use.
P3 and P4: move to more advanced work
P3 and P4 extend your algebra, trigonometry and calculus, and add numerical methods, the binomial expansion and vectors. Prepare by keeping earlier skills sharp: fluent rearranging, fractions and trigonometry leave you more attention for the new mathematics.
Tip
use the official specification as your topic checklist. Pearson writes exam questions from the specification, not from any particular textbook.
How is IAL Maths different from Edexcel A Level Maths in England?
| Question | Edexcel IAL Maths | Edexcel A Level Maths (England) |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Modular | Linear |
| When are exams taken? | Units can be spread across series | All A Level exams at the end of the course |
| Do AS results count? | Yes, the IAS units count towards the IAL | No, the separate AS does not count |
| Same content? | Its own specification | Its own specification |
They are different qualifications, and their papers are not interchangeable. UK A Level explanations can help with shared topics, but your IAL specification decides what you need to cover.
How is Edexcel IAL Maths graded?
You need to tell raw marks from UMS marks:
- Raw marks are the marks you score on the paper (out of 75).
- UMS marks (Uniform Mark Scale) convert raw marks to a common scale (out of 100 per unit), so results from different series can be combined fairly.
Each unit is graded on UMS: 80 = A, 70 = B, 60 = C, 50 = D, 40 = E. Your qualification grade comes from your UMS total:
| Grade | IAS Mathematics (out of 300) | Full IAL Mathematics (out of 600) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 240 | 480 |
| B | 210 | 420 |
| C | 180 | 360 |
| D | 150 | 300 |
| E | 120 | 240 |
Below the E threshold, the result is U (unclassified). The IAS is graded A–E; the full IAL is graded A*–E.
Watch out
80 UMS does not mean 80% of the raw marks. Raw-to-UMS conversion changes every series, so when you mark a practice paper, use the grade boundaries for that exact unit and series.
How do you get an A* in IAL Maths?
For IAL Mathematics, Pearson awards A* when you achieve both:
- at least 480 UMS out of 600 overall (a grade A); and
- at least 180 UMS out of 200 across P3 and P4 combined.
| Overall UMS | P3 | P4 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 92 | 90 | A*: 182 across P3 and P4, and an A overall |
| 540 | 88 | 89 | A: P3 + P4 is only 177 |
| 475 | 95 | 95 | B: overall total is below 480 |
You do not need 90 in each of P3 and P4 — only 180 between them. If you are aiming for A*, protect your overall total while giving P3 and P4 particular attention.
Your turn
A student has 520 UMS overall, with 84 in P3 and 95 in P4. What grade do they get? Would 96 in P4 change it?
AnswerShow answerHide answer
P3 + P4 = 84 + 95 = 179, just short of 180, so the result is an A despite the strong overall total. With 96 in P4, P3 + P4 = 180 and the overall total rises to 521, so they would get an A*.
What does "cash-in" mean?
Cash-in is the entry that asks Pearson to combine your unit results into a qualification grade. Sitting unit exams and getting unit results is not the same as receiving an IAS or IAL — Pearson cannot issue a grade until the cash-in entry is made.
Copy this message
"Have I been entered for the correct Mathematics cash-in (XMA01 for IAS or YMA01 for the full IAL), as well as my individual unit exams?"
If you also take Further Mathematics, ask your exams officer to check the unit allocation and every cash-in. To receive both full IAL Mathematics and full IAL Further Mathematics, you need 12 different units — a unit used for one qualification cannot be reused for the other.
Can you resit individual units?
Yes, any unit can be resat. For the IAL Mathematics suite, Pearson counts your best result from any attempt at that unit. (Most other IAL subjects use only the better of your two most recent attempts, so do not assume a friend's rules apply to you.)
Once a Mathematics grade has been certificated, the units used are "locked" to it. If you resit one of them, you must be re-entered for the cash-in as well, so your grade is recalculated using all your best results.
Before entering a resit:
- Identify what will change in your preparation — repeating the same routine often repeats the same mistakes.
- Check the fee and the entry deadline.
- Check the result will arrive in time for your university application.
Who can take Edexcel IAL Maths?
You can study through a school, an online provider or independently, as long as you sit the exams through an approved centre. If you are studying privately, secure an exam centre early: tuition and exam registration are separate arrangements.
Ask your exam centre
- Do you accept private candidates?
- Can I enter every unit in my chosen route?
- Which exam series do you run?
- What are the fees and entry deadlines?
- Will you make my cash-in entry?
- How will I receive results and request post-results services?
What skills do you need before you start?
Check your school's entry requirements, then focus on mathematical readiness. You should be comfortable with:
- expanding and factorising;
- algebraic fractions and the laws of indices;
- rearranging formulae;
- linear, simultaneous and quadratic equations;
- straight-line graphs;
- basic trigonometry;
- setting out working clearly, step by step.
Try questions on these without notes. If you keep getting stuck, strengthen them before adding new topics. A good GCSE or International GCSE grade is encouraging, but it does not remove the need to fix weak areas.
Is Edexcel IAL Maths hard?
It can be, because you must choose methods, connect topics and complete several steps accurately. There is a big difference between:
- understanding a solution while someone explains it;
- reproducing it straight afterwards;
- solving a different question on your own a few days later.
Only the third is a real test of exam readiness. If you struggle, find exactly where things break down:
| What happens | What to work on |
|---|---|
| You cannot start | Recognising the mathematical structure |
| You choose the wrong method | Comparing when different methods apply |
| You know the method but make errors | Algebra and calculation accuracy |
| You solve it slowly | Fluency with routine steps |
| You struggle only in timed conditions | Timed mixed practice |
That gives you a far more useful next step than deciding you are "bad at maths".
How to study for Edexcel IAL Maths
1. Build a checklist for your actual units
List the topics from the specification for your six units. Mark each one:
- Needs teaching: you cannot explain or use it yet.
- Needs practice: you understand it but still make mistakes.
- Secure: you can solve unfamiliar questions on your own.
Pearson's past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports show the depth required.
2. Learn a method, then practise without the model
After studying a worked example, close it and try a similar question. Check your reasoning as well as your answer. If you copied a step without knowing why it was needed, go back to it.
3. Move from topic practice to mixed practice
Topic worksheets tell you which method to use; exams expect you to recognise it yourself. Once you have learned a topic, mix it with earlier ones — straight lines, differentiation and integration together, for example — so you have to decide what each question needs.
4. Show the steps that explain your method
Write enough for someone else to follow your reasoning: the equation you are solving, the substitution or rearrangement, each connecting step, and the final answer in the form asked for.
Watch out
when a question says "show that", work towards the given result through valid steps. Writing the answer you were given earns nothing on its own.
5. Use past papers to diagnose problems
After marking a paper, record the cause of each important error:
| Topic | Error | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Trigonometric equation | Missed a solution in the interval | Practise finding every valid solution |
| Integration | Lost a negative sign | Redo the algebra and check by differentiating |
| Coordinate geometry | Used the wrong relationship | Review what the gradient information tells you |
| Multi-step question | Could not find a starting point | Practise listing what each given fact lets you calculate |
Then redo the question later without looking at the solution. A corrected answer in your notes only helps if you can reproduce the reasoning yourself.
6. Practise your pacing
Rule
90 minutes ÷ 75 marks = 1.2 minutes per mark
Use this as a rough guide — some questions will be quicker, others slower. If you are stuck, move on and come back. Practise full papers with time left to check signs, substitutions, solution intervals and the form of each answer. Our guide to making an A Level revision timetable can help you plan regular practice.
Do universities recognise Edexcel IAL Maths?
Pearson Edexcel International A Levels are widely accepted by universities. The University of Cambridge, for example, tells applicants taking International A Levels to use its standard A Level requirements.
But recognition does not guarantee admission to a particular course. For each course on your shortlist, check:
- that Pearson Edexcel IAL is accepted;
- the required Mathematics grade;
- any required subject combination;
- whether Further Mathematics is required or recommended;
- any admissions tests;
- any rules about resits or when qualifications must be completed.
Should you choose Edexcel IAL Maths?
It is worth considering if you enjoy mathematical problem-solving, need advanced maths for your intended degree, or value spreading your exams across series. Before deciding, make sure you can answer:
- What is my exact six-unit combination?
- Who will teach me each unit?
- Where and when will I sit the exams?
- What grades and subjects do my target degrees require?
- What is my plan for regular independent practice?
Those answers will make your decision clearer than choosing a course just because it is flexible. For broader advice, see how to choose your A Levels.
Frequently asked questions
Are P1 and P2 enough for AS Maths?
No. IAS Mathematics needs P1, P2 and one of S1, M1 or D1.
Is P1–P4 the complete IAL Mathematics qualification?
No. You also need two applied units that form an approved pair.
Do my AS units count towards the full IAL?
Yes. Your eligible IAS unit results count towards the full six-unit qualification.
Do I have to take Mechanics?
No. S1 + S2 and S1 + D1 are both approved pairs without Mechanics.
Can I get an A* at AS?
No. The IAS is graded A–E. A* is only available for the full IAL.
Is Further Mathematics the same qualification?
No. Further Mathematics is a separate qualification with its own unit requirements. If you take both full IAL Mathematics and full IAL Further Mathematics, you need 12 different units.
Can I study independently?
Yes, but you need an exam centre that accepts you, a valid unit plan, and a way to get help when your understanding stalls.
Does studying P1 and P2 prepare me for everything?
It builds an important Pure foundation. You still need to prepare for your applied units — and, for the full IAL, for P3 and P4.