AQA GCSE Maths Topics: Complete Foundation & Higher Checklist (2025)

The AQA GCSE Mathematics specification (code 8300) covers five main topic areas: Number, Algebra, Ratio & Proportion, Geometry & Measures, and Statistics & Probability. Both Foundation and Higher tiers share much of the same content, but Higher includes additional material that goes up to grade 9.

This checklist covers every topic you need to know. Use it to track your revision — tick off a topic only when you can answer exam questions on it correctly, not just when you have read your notes.

Number

• Place value, ordering and rounding (F+H)
• Fractions — simplifying, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing (F+H)
• Percentages — of amounts, increase/decrease, reverse percentages (F+H)
• Compound interest and depreciation (F+H)
• Ratio and proportion — simplifying, sharing, direct and inverse (F+H)
• Powers, roots and indices (F+H)
• Standard form — converting and calculating (F+H)
• Bounds and error intervals (F+H)
• Surds — simplifying and rationalising the denominator (H only)
• Prime factorisation, HCF and LCM (F+H)

Algebra

• Simplifying expressions and collecting like terms (F+H)
• Expanding single and double brackets (F+H)
• Factorising — common factors and quadratics (F+H)
• Solving linear equations (F+H)
• Forming and solving equations from word problems (F+H)
• Inequalities — solving and representing on a number line (F+H)
• Sequences — nth term of linear and quadratic sequences (F+H)
• Straight-line graphs — y = mx + c, gradient, intercept (F+H)
• Simultaneous equations — elimination and substitution (H)
• Quadratic equations — factorising, formula, completing the square (H)
• Algebraic fractions (H)
• Functions — composite and inverse (H)
• Iteration (H)

Geometry & Measures

• Angle facts — on a line, at a point, in triangles and polygons (F+H)
• Parallel lines — alternate, corresponding and co-interior angles (F+H)
• Pythagoras' theorem (F+H)
• Trigonometry — SOH CAH TOA, finding sides and angles (F+H)
• Area and perimeter of 2D shapes including circles (F+H)
• Volume and surface area of 3D shapes (F+H)
• Transformations — reflection, rotation, translation, enlargement (F+H)
• Bearings (F+H)
• Loci and constructions (F+H)
• Circle theorems (H)
• Vectors (H)
• Sine rule and cosine rule (H)
• 3D trigonometry and Pythagoras (H)
• Congruence and similarity (F+H)

Statistics & Probability

• Mean, median, mode and range from lists and tables (F+H)
• Bar charts, pie charts and pictograms (F+H)
• Scatter graphs and correlation (F+H)
• Frequency tables and grouped data (F+H)
• Cumulative frequency and box plots (F+H)
• Histograms with unequal class widths (H)
• Basic probability — calculating, listing outcomes (F+H)
• Tree diagrams — independent and dependent events (F+H)
• Conditional probability and Venn diagrams (H)

How to use this checklist

1. 1Print or copy the checklist
2. 2Rate each topic: Red (can't do), Amber (sometimes), Green (confident)
3. 3Revise Red topics first — they offer the highest mark gains
4. 4Practise Amber topics until they turn Green
5. 5Return to Green topics weekly to maintain them