15,000 UK students struggle with one A-Level Maths paper, sign petition

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for a review of an A-Level Mathematics exam after students claimed the paper was much harder than previous years.

The petition was launched after candidates sat Pearson Edexcel's Mathematics Paper 1 on June 3. Soon after the exam, students took to social media, saying the paper was significantly more difficult than the past papers they had used during their preparation.

According to the Change.org petition, the pure mathematics paper required “multiple layers of reasoning”, “extended algebraic manipulation”, and “unfamiliar approaches”. The petition argues that these features made the exam especially difficult for lower-achieving students and has called for grade boundaries to reflect the paper's difficulty.

“Many students have dedicated countless hours over two years to preparing for these examinations,” the petition said.

“They have attended lessons, completed extensive independent study, worked through past papers, attended revision sessions, and made considerable personal sacrifices in pursuit of their academic goals.”

It added, “These students deserve confidence that their grades will reflect their mathematical ability rather than the unusual difficulty of a single examination paper.”

England’s exams regulator, Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), said it is aware of the concerns and will be “closely monitoring” Pearson’s approach to marking the exam.

“Our priority is students and ensuring their grades are a reliable indication of what they know, understand and can do,” the regulator told the Press Association.

Responding to the criticism, Pearson spokesperson Caroline Darrington said the exam board remains committed to providing a fair exam experience.

“Every paper is developed with input from experienced senior examiners and rigorously checked to ensure it reflects the course and meets required standards,” she said, reported The Independent.

Darrington added that if an exam paper is found to be more difficult than previous years, grade boundaries are adjusted accordingly.

“When setting grade boundaries, we review a range of evidence, including statistical data and expert judgment,” she said. “This process ensures students receive results that fairly reflect their performance and are comparable across exam series.”

The controversy comes as Ofqual has also warned about the growing use of technology in exam malpractice. The regulator said cheating involving mobile phones and smart devices has been the most common form of malpractice in summer exam series since 2018.

Speaking on Ofqual’s podcast, chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham said students could potentially use a range of smart devices, including smartwatches and advanced smart glasses, to cheat during exams.

“There are of course other devices, there are smart watches and smart all sorts of things,” Sir Ian said.

“There might be smart spectacles next… that will play text across the inside of the lens that only the student can see.”

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