Students Face ‘Impossible’ GCSE Maths Questions in Mock Exams

As Year 11 students across the UK navigate their mock examinations, a growing concern has emerged regarding the complexity of GCSE maths questions. Many students, teachers, and parents are expressing confusion over what they describe as “impossible” questions, particularly those appearing in recent papers.

Lindsey Wright, head of maths education at Tutors Valley, noted that the most challenging aspects often arise in the final one or two questions of the exam. These questions demand a combination of skills, compelling students to rethink their revision strategies. “These last questions often require applying multiple topics at once,” Wright explained. “Students who haven’t practised layered problem-solving can freeze, even if they know all the underlying content.”

Feedback from students echoes this observation. On the online platform Reddit, one user articulated frustration, stating, “This kind of question sucks because it’s not something you’ve been taught to solve; you just have to pray that your pattern recognition kicks in, which isn’t fair because it varies a lot from person to person.”

One particularly challenging question emerged from the Edexcel June 2022 Paper 1: Non-Calculator, which asked students to calculate the area of two shaded regions. This problem required the application of four different skills within a single question. The difficulty of this question has been widely acknowledged by students, with some claiming that even the top performers in their class were unable to solve it. As one student noted on Reddit, “The three smartest kids in my year didn’t know how to do it; no one does.”

The issue extends beyond mere anecdotal evidence. As Wright pointed out, these final questions are not about rote memorization; instead, they are designed to assess high-level problem-solving and exam technique. Students who have not practised such complex problems risk losing crucial marks, which can significantly impact their final grades. “These last few questions can make the difference between achieving a Grade 7 and a Grade 8, or worse, missing a key threshold,” she stated.

With mock examinations currently taking place, Wright emphasizes the need for students to focus on high-yield, complex problem-solving. “In mock season, what truly differentiates the strongest students isn’t how many easy questions they get right; it’s how they handle the final two questions that everyone dreads,” she added. “Being prepared for those last few marks can make all the difference between reaching your target grade and missing it completely.”

As students continue to prepare for their exams, the emphasis on developing problem-solving skills and strategies for tackling difficult questions is more critical than ever. How students approach these challenging aspects of the GCSE maths exam could very well shape their academic futures.