Is statistics or mechanics harder?

Students usually find mechanics harder to start and statistics harder to get full marks on. Mechanics is a small number of methods (SUVAT, F = ma, moments, resolving) applied carefully; statistics has more definitions and more places to lose a mark for wording, especially in hypothesis test conclusions. The sheets give both the same treatment.

Do I need the large data set to use these?

Only for the sampling and large data set topic, which asks the kind of question Edexcel sets about it. Every other statistics sheet is self-contained. If you sit AQA or OCR, skip that one sheet and the rest still applies.

How much of the A-level is applied maths?

One third. Paper 3 of the full A-level (and Paper 2 at AS) is 100 marks, half statistics and half mechanics, and counts the same as each pure paper. A student who is strong on pure but neglects applied is capping their grade.

Can I just do the A2 topics in Year 13?

No. Paper 3 examines the AS applied topics as well as the A2 ones, and the A2 topics assume them: the normal distribution builds on the binomial, projectiles on constant acceleration, friction on Newton's laws. Revise the full list.

Free A-level maths · Statistics and Mechanics

A-level maths statistics and mechanics worksheets

Free A-level applied maths worksheets for Edexcel AS (8MA0) and A2 (9MA0): 12 statistics topics and 12 mechanics topics, each with original exam-style questions, an answers sheet and solutions written out by hand. Print them or answer online. No account needed.

Statistics and Mechanics share one paper: Paper 2 at AS, Paper 3 at A-level, Section A statistics and Section B mechanics. Students often leave the applied content until last and lose easy marks on it. This page lists the 24 applied topics from our A-level maths library, AS first and then A2, each with original exam-style questions, an answers sheet and a solutions sheet written by hand, including the diagrams and force arrows a mechanics solution needs.

The topics follow the Edexcel specification, including the large data set and the hypothesis tests Edexcel examines. AQA and OCR students will find the mechanics almost identical and most of the statistics the same, with the data set as the main difference.

All 24 statistics and mechanics topics

AS topics are examined on Paper 2 in Year 12 and again, alongside the A2 topics, on Paper 3 of the full A-level.

AS Statistics (Paper 2 Section A)

AS Mechanics (Paper 2 Section B)

A-level Statistics (Paper 3 Section A)

A-level Mechanics (Paper 3 Section B)

Open the A-level library My RAG sheet

How to use the worksheets

Print it. Every topic has three PDFs: the worksheet, an answers sheet and a solutions sheet with every line of working written out by hand, including the algebra that printed mark schemes usually skip. Print the worksheet first and keep the solutions back until the questions have been attempted.

Or answer online. Open the topic page, type each final answer into the box and check it. The page marks it straight away and keeps your best score in this browser. Score 80% or more and the topic is ticked as done on the A-level library.

Use the solutions properly. At A-level most marks are method marks, so compare your working line by line rather than just the final answer. If a line differs, cover the solution and redo the question from that point. If the method was fine but the algebra slipped, note the slip and move on; that is a different problem from not knowing the method.

Keep a RAG sheet. The A-level RAG sheet colours each topic red, amber or green from your scores, so you can see which topics still need work before a mock or the real papers.

Mechanics needs a diagram. Every mechanics solution here starts with the diagram: forces drawn, directions chosen, positive direction stated. Copy that habit on the worksheet before writing any equations; most lost mechanics marks come from a missing force or a sign error, not from the algebra.

Frequently asked questions

Is statistics or mechanics harder?: Students usually find mechanics harder to start and statistics harder to get full marks on. Mechanics is a small number of methods (SUVAT, F = ma, moments, resolving) applied carefully; statistics has more definitions and more places to lose a mark for wording, especially in hypothesis test conclusions. The sheets give both the same treatment.
Do I need the large data set to use these?: Only for the sampling and large data set topic, which asks the kind of question Edexcel sets about it. Every other statistics sheet is self-contained. If you sit AQA or OCR, skip that one sheet and the rest still applies.
How much of the A-level is applied maths?: One third. Paper 3 of the full A-level (and Paper 2 at AS) is 100 marks, half statistics and half mechanics, and counts the same as each pure paper. A student who is strong on pure but neglects applied is capping their grade.
Can I just do the A2 topics in Year 13?: No. Paper 3 examines the AS applied topics as well as the A2 ones, and the A2 topics assume them: the normal distribution builds on the binomial, projectiles on constant acceleration, friction on Newton's laws. Revise the full list.