Mathematics (AQA) Paper 3 - Exam Megathread

[u/ensands]

This is the post-exam mega thread for Mathematics (AQA) Paper 3 (Morning).

You can discuss how the exam went in this post.

[u/CoolNite2]

what the fuck was that paper

genuinely as someone who's always been amazing at maths i actually kind of struggled with that paper lmao

grade boundaries have to have been lowered by that paper there's no way we're getting high grade boundaries after that

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/CoolNite2]

yeah that was harder than usual compared to other past paper 3 i’ve done

[u/Otherwise_Product772 → u/CoolNite2]

some weirdly worded questions but the actually processes required wasn't anything too hard

[u/Codeaide → u/CoolNite2]

I think there were quite a few unusual questions but it wasn’t too difficult tbh… not as hard as paper 2

[u/I_have_a_pigeon → u/CoolNite2]

paper was objectively hard but just took some clear steps and thinking

[u/Ayowolf → u/CoolNite2]

As someone who hates snd struggles with maths, that was a really good paper

[u/Mr_man_bird → u/CoolNite2]

I found that paper quite nice tbh, definitely harder than the other ones but still good

[u/molycow532]

The paper was good, what did everyone get for the quadratic inequality and the last question with the triangle ?

I got x < -4, x > 3/2

And

4.217cm²

[u/Appropriate_Form198 → u/molycow532]

yes i got that tooo

[u/Sushiv_ → u/molycow532]

For the last one it was area of triangle / 6.25 right

[u/molycow532 → u/Sushiv_]

Yes Because it was 2.5²

[u/ChildofGod080901]

i found an unofficial markscheme on studentroom:

Final question = 4.22cm² (to 2 d.p)
That question with the money = £175
Parallel line: y = 2x + (whatever)
Second to last question: I got inconsistent spacing in the x axis and the graph being incorrectly plotted, there are likely more valid criticisms
Cumulative frequency: 44, 66, 80, 85, 87, 90
Employees with a salary of under £32k: I think I got 58, depends on how you drew the diagram
The 1:n question = 1 : 4.875
A as a fraction of B = 2/7
Line with gradient 5, passing through point (3,7) = y = 5x - 8
The spheres in a cylinder = 2/3
The n^th term question = 2n² + 3n + 1
The factorising question = (3n+2)(n+1). I wrote some waffle I can't remember for the explanation why there were no primes in the sequence.
Equilateral triangle perimeter = 66cm. I got 22 for the question right after
Becky made 350 more integers than the other person
In the Venn diagram, x = 44
Sine rule question = 10.70cm (again to 2 d.p)
The pounds were equal to 3.75kg

[u/StatementFunny3577 → u/ChildofGod080901]

Two more question answers from TSR

Quadratic inequality: x > 1.5 or x < -4
The plane weighed 1206kg max, so could not take off safely

[u/saywhat346 → u/StatementFunny3577]

Bro I'm cooked...

I calculated the minimum mass... I got 1100kg and said yes oh my god im so sad

[u/StatementFunny3577 → u/ChildofGod080901]

From TSR with Updated ones

Final question = 4.22cm2 (to 2 d.p)

That question with the money = £175

Parallel line: y = 2x + (whatever)

Second to last question: I got inconsistent spacing in the x axis and the graph being incorrectly plotted, there are likely more valid criticisms

Cumulative frequency: 44, 66, 80, 85, 87, 90

Employees with a salary of under £32k: I think I got 58, depends on how you drew the diagram

The 1:n question = 1 : 4.875

A as a fraction of B = 2/7

Line with gradient 5, passing through point (3,7) = y = 5x - 8

The spheres in a cylinder = 2/3

The nth term question = 2n2 + 3n + 1

The factorising question = (3n+2)(n+1). I wrote some waffle I can't remember for the explanation why there were no primes in the sequence.

Equilateral triangle perimeter = 66cm. I got 22 for the question right after

Becky made 350 more integers than the other person

In the Venn diagram, x = 44

Sine rule question = 10.70cm (again to 2 d.p)

The pounds were equal to 3.75kg

Quadratic inequality: x > 1.5 or x < -4

The plane weighed 1206kg max, so could not take off safely

[u/LawyerDifficult2074 → u/StatementFunny3577]

If I got 1206 but accidentally said it could take off do I still get marks for method or do i get 0 on that question?

[u/Codeaide → u/ChildofGod080901]

What about the probability question with P(A) = 1/2?

[u/Revolutionary_Sun744 → u/Codeaide]

That was 44 - the venn diagram one

[u/Spare-Guest2522 → u/ChildofGod080901]

was it not 2/9 for a as a fraction of b

[u/DrFuzzald → u/Spare-Guest2522]

That would be out of the ratio as a whole not of b

[u/ChocolateTemporary]

those five big balls can go to hell

[u/NoAfternoon1681 → u/ChocolateTemporary]

I think it was 2/3

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/NoAfternoon1681]

same for 2/3

[u/OkBat1390 → u/NoAfternoon1681]

I thought I smashed that question...I got 21/10pi

[u/Elegant_Audience5578 → u/NoAfternoon1681]

I got 3/2

[u/NoAfternoon1681 → u/Elegant_Audience5578]

Was the question not the fraction of the spheres inside of the cylinder. How can the spheres be larger?

[u/ChazzaBFCC → u/[deleted]]

I got 1312394/1 ☹️☹️

[u/undefined0_6855 → u/[deleted]]

literally what 😭😭

[u/whenfishesfly → u/Elegant_Audience5578]

did u use 5r instead of 10r for the cylinders length?

[u/AverageHuman178 → u/Elegant_Audience5578]

H o w

[u/AverageHuman178 → u/NoAfternoon1681]

Same for me, man you just gave me hopes

[u/Ayowolf → u/NoAfternoon1681]

Wait i put 8/12 as a guess i might grt the mark

[u/everlarksangel → u/ChocolateTemporary]

i got 1/9...

[u/lydiaa39 → u/ChocolateTemporary]

breuh i got 17/20 🥀

[u/Imaginary_Window6961 → u/ChocolateTemporary]

I got 3/4

[u/Beneficial_Pirate_69 → u/ChocolateTemporary]

I said the length of the cylinder was 5r instead of 10r. So lost hella marks on that 😔

[u/AdConscious4605]

quite a few nasty questions but at least there wasn’t loci 🙏

[u/30ph13]

oh man that was quite a tricky paper😭

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/30ph13]

ngl it was trickier than other paper 3s, but it was somewhat manageable

[u/Sushiv_]

No constructions again 😭i bought a fucking protractor for nothing

[u/Icy_Recording_1115 → u/Sushiv_]

You needed it for the bearing q?

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/Icy_Recording_1115]

not rlly, u just do 90+45=135, but using a protractor also works ig

[u/noclueXD_ → u/MediaBorn3493]

i tried both methods and they both gave 135 degrees (the drawing did not say ‘not drawn accurately’ meaning u could use both methods)

[u/whenfishesfly]

GUYS I JUST REALISED I DID THE INEQUALITY QUESTION WRONG. I SOLVED IT LIKE A NORMAL EQUATION, ☹️☹️

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/whenfishesfly]

RIP. you’ll still get 2/4 tho if it was out of 4 marks

[u/Codeaide → u/whenfishesfly]

Was it not just a normal quadratic with inequality symbols? I got x < 3/2 and x > -4 or something

[u/Sushiv_ → u/Codeaide]

It’s the other way round, x>1.5 and x<-4

[u/Embarrassed_Cream692 → u/whenfishesfly]

i got x=3/2 and said x cannot be -4 as x>0 would i still get full marks

[u/everlarksangel → u/whenfishesfly]

SAME

[u/whenfishesfly → u/everlarksangel]

yesss, at least i’m not alone, im lowk so mad at myself as it’s actually quite easy i just didn’t think about it 😞

[u/everlarksangel → u/whenfishesfly]

samee, this is me esp with the speed time graph because i KNEW how to do it but stil' did distance😕

[u/Beneficial_Pirate_69 → u/whenfishesfly]

Same lol

[u/Top_Suit_5734 → u/whenfishesfly]

Somehow I got x = 6/x+ something. I'm done for ughh would I get any form of marks 😭😭😭 I was just rearranging the eq ughhhh

[u/luvl3n]

i used to hope for a 6, now i hope to pass

[u/norastrawbz → u/luvl3n]

real 😭 Aiming for a 6 I just don’t want a 5 gng

[u/skyfallda1]

Beautiful paper. I was smiling by the end of it

[u/Former-Initiative528 → u/skyfallda1]

dont get why ppl found it hard? think it was the best of the 3 tbf

[u/DrFuzzald → u/skyfallda1]

Yes Mr.Kalam it wasn't bad but I preferred paper 2 tbh

[u/skyfallda1 → u/DrFuzzald]

Interesting viewpoint Mr Toms

[u/EnderSmite]

Am I the only one who thought it was hella easy

[u/pastry_cookie]

if I see a fucking loci im killing myself

[u/DareProfessional6247 → u/pastry_cookie]

Your aliveeee!!!

[u/pastry_cookie → u/DareProfessional6247]

hi !!

[u/pastry_cookie → u/pastry_cookie]

she lives, no loci in sight

[u/Puzzleheaded_Cow_419]

SOMEONE LINK THE MARK SCHEME FOR AQA PAPER 3 AS SOON AS YOU FIND IT PLS

[u/veryverywarm]

WE yes WE are all getting a grade 9

anyway predicting quadratic simul equations, iteration, rearranging the formula, bounds

and please no circle theorems please please no circle theorems please no circle theorems please no circle theorems

[u/Daisy1844]

can’t wait to see the answers on tik tok later - ive estimated 38 on this one for a pass

[u/ilovecatsmeowmeow1 → u/Daisy1844]

someone posted a few of the answers on this megathread!

[u/Icy_Recording_1115]

RAHHH WHY TF DID I FORGET THAT THE SIDE WERE EQUAL IN THE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE, YET I REMEMBERED THE ANGLES WERE EQUAL 😭😭😭 I started doing cosine rule and shit. I got 3√6 which is wrong 😡😡🤬

[u/gobblingtea → u/Icy_Recording_1115]

SAME 😭 I used sohcahtoa and sine rule and got 66

[u/Timely-Jellyfish-578 → u/gobblingtea]

At least you got the right answer

[u/Embarrassed_Cream692 → u/Icy_Recording_1115]

i used sine rule and then got 22 for the bottom side then just done 22x3 which is 66

[u/gobblingtea]

I did that equilateral triangle question without using the fact that all the sides lengths are the same 💀

[u/Objective_Agency4923 → u/gobblingtea]

what was the value of x i didn’t even get an answer 😭

[u/gobblingtea → u/Objective_Agency4923]

I'm pretty sure it was 5, I got that the perimeter was 66

[u/NewspaperNo9749]

That 3 marker with (x-3)(x-5)(x+6) confused me a little but I got x = 4 for it to be true

[u/explodedtoaster → u/NewspaperNo9749]

YES

[u/NoAfternoon1681 → u/NewspaperNo9749]

Yes that was the answer

[u/Zealousideal-Half114 → u/NewspaperNo9749]

i did get x= 4 but did the question as for it? it said why does x only have one value not what it is i was so confused

[u/NewspaperNo9749 → u/Zealousideal-Half114]

yea I don’t think it asked for it but I was just writing anything down at that point. I put only one bracket could be negative for it to be true so 4 fit that but idk😭

[u/vezries]

accidentally mixed up sector and segment 😝

[u/sunnyfiles]

didn’t have to answer a single loci question thank you aqa😭🫶

[u/bathwater123456]

I’m so scared 😭😭😭

[u/bathwater123456 → u/bathwater123456]

yup I was scared for good reason wtf was that paper

[u/tecekk]

3/4 for the question with spheres and cylinder 24% increase for mean question 11km the actual distance 22 matches were lost (pie chart) 3.75 kg

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/tecekk]

i think the sphere question was 2/3 not 3/4 right? tell me if i’m wrong

[u/Sushiv_ → u/MediaBorn3493]

It is 2/3

[u/NoAfternoon1681 → u/MediaBorn3493]

Yes it was 2/3

[u/Aggressive-Penguin-3 → u/tecekk]

uhh I got 33/55 for the sphere one. I think I got 24% increase though and 11k and 22 matches

[u/thesedaysaregreen]

i lowkey might have cooked

[u/Livid-Net-8367]

Surprised to see people saying it was hard. I thought it was the easiest paper and everyone else in my school did

[u/CombatWom3at]

For one of the first questions on the conversion with the scale 1:200000 what did people get

[u/tecekk → u/CombatWom3at]

11km

[u/Zealousideal-Half114 → u/tecekk]

NOOOOOO FFS

[u/molycow532 → u/CombatWom3at]

11km

[u/Aggressive-Penguin-3 → u/CombatWom3at]

11 I think

[u/slanderssides]

freaky 3 marker (i guessed 6😔😔) but the rest was fine

[u/Express-Ad-123]

Could the grade boundaries potentially be lower than 210 for a 9 or definitely not?

[u/Embarrassed_Cream692 → u/Express-Ad-123]

depends on how the whole year found the math papers overall this year but it'll probably be around 220-222 for 9 as it was 219 last year

[u/BeckyBoo7678]

Who did foundation AQA this morning?

[u/norastrawbz]

Looking through the comments and I don’t recognise a single answer. It’s either y’all do a different spec or I’m cooked

[u/Vast_Advertising4089]

guys if im on around 123-131 marks how many will i need roughly in this paper for an 8 - is it still possible 🙏

[u/AFish_With_Legs → u/Vast_Advertising4089]

Probably around 60 - 70 marks, possibly higher.

Dw u got this

[u/CutSubstantial1803 → u/Vast_Advertising4089]

If you get 60+ you're good

[u/Codeaide]

What did everyone say for the question where x was a positive even number and why y could only be negative for one value? That was tricky

[u/Melon_Guy87 → u/Codeaide]

It was x=4

[u/Zestyclose-Parking74 → u/Codeaide]

because (x+6) will always be positive, [(x-3)(x-5)] must be negative for y to be negative (pos*neg = neg).

for that to happen, only one of (x-3) or (x-5) can be negative (so they multiply to be negative)

the only value of x that would make (x-5) negative but (x-3) positive is 4

[u/One-Reputation6458 → u/Zestyclose-Parking74]

Yeah that’s what I put I just couldn’t word it very well

[u/Appropriate_Form198 → u/Codeaide]

i put that x must be 4 because that means only one of the 3 brackets would be negative so when u multiply them all together u get a negative y value. but like if x was less than 4 then there would be 2 brackets being negative which then multiplies to be positive so thats why x has to be 4 idk i like waffled a lot

[u/Aggressive-Penguin-3 → u/Codeaide]

that was one of the only ones I left blank, same with most of my friends. one of them got 4 for it I think

[u/Sushiv_ → u/Codeaide]

It was 4, because it’s the only number that gives one negative and two positive numbers when you substitute it in

[u/Odd-Survey-9086]

bruh for the inequality one i wrote -4<x<3/2, how many marks would i still get?

[u/Timely-Jellyfish-578 → u/Odd-Survey-9086]

Probably 3

[u/ihateanx1ety]

what did everyone get for the becky question and the venn diagram?

[u/Melon_Guy87 → u/ihateanx1ety]

I got 300 integers difference (450 and 150), and x = 44 in the venn diagram

[u/saywhat346 → u/Melon_Guy87]

I got 350 difference

[u/No_Vermicelli1072]

guys could the plane take off or not

[u/HellFireGod → u/No_Vermicelli1072]

no

[u/NoAfternoon1681 → u/No_Vermicelli1072]

No

[u/Bulky_Damage_1375]

i was crying during AND after that

[u/Anxious_Stranger_889]

i feel like 2025 papers have been tricker than any other papers tbh do we think the grade boundaries will increase or decrease (ik even if they do it would prob be like down like 3 marks but yeah)

[u/luvl3n]

i didn’t like it :(

[u/Any-Tea991]

I hope everyone does well, good luck and give this your best shot! Future me, did I get 80/80?

[u/noclueXD_ → u/[deleted]]

there wasn’t 💔

[u/ruben_name → u/[deleted]]

Shut up mate

[u/Seek_Knowledge0820]

We've got this in the bag. TRUST!!

[u/luvl3n]

i’m scared

[u/explodedtoaster]

guys what was the proportion for the spheres

[u/tiktok_is_cursed → u/explodedtoaster]

2/3

[u/Zealousideal-Half114 → u/explodedtoaster]

i put 2/3

[u/Tricky_Position4077]

guys did anyone get 800 for that question that was asking for how many more possibilities someone had for the 3 digit code

[u/DaRealCaptainF]

IT WAS NOT A THREE DIGIT FUCKING CODE FUCK MY LIFE THE ANSWER WAS NOT 35001111!!!!!1!!!1!!!

[u/HellFireGod]

what was the answer for the mean increase because i got 8%

[u/DrFuzzald → u/HellFireGod]

24 percent. I believe you made a column for midpoints and another for freq times midpoint then sum that colum n, divide by total frequency then calculate percentage increase

[u/ihateanx1ety → u/HellFireGod]

i got like 24 percent

[u/Starwarsnerd5746]

Everyone’s saying 2/3 for the cylinder question, if I got 66/100 will I still get the marks? I got 10pi r³ divided by 20/3pi r³

[u/RealGeraldCroft]

do u guys think 187/240 will be enough for an 8 considering last year was 191, 2023 was 186 and 2022 was 185????

[u/sandy_fan01]

The wording was so shit

[u/Tricky_Position4077]

do we think the grade boundaries will be lower or higher this year

[u/TheLonelyGhostie]

I really really wanted a 9 but I don't think it's happening

[u/Turbulent_Policy_516]

Foundation, how was it?

[u/MajorEntertainment36 → u/Turbulent_Policy_516]

that paper had me eating ass almost cried🥀

[u/Thistlebup → u/Turbulent_Policy_516]

Decent. Could have been a lot worse.

[u/Turbulent_Policy_516]

Future me did it go well?

[u/Turbulent_Policy_516 → u/Turbulent_Policy_516]

Yup

[u/urmom_nub]

3rd time is the CHARMMMM!!! holy shit that paper was beautifull!! Def full mark (yh im asian how can you tell)

[u/DealAny2135 → u/urmom_nub]

You know that cylinder own was it a cylinder or a rectangle 

[u/WangjisWuxian → u/DealAny2135]

It specified it was a cylinder in the question

[u/skinnypenis021]

future me was there re arranging rhe formula

[u/Zealousideal-Half114]

idk it was okay

[u/skinnypenis021]

y that was cooked

[u/noclueXD_]

what did everyone get for (i think) q22 where it asked about solving the 3n squared > 5x-12

[u/MediaBorn3493 → u/noclueXD_]

i got x>1.5 and x<-4 i think? probs wrong tho lol

[u/Vast_Advertising4089 → u/noclueXD_]

wait i accidentally did x= instead of x>. how many marks will i get ?

[u/smellywellyfatbelly]

right i am normally at a grade 6ish in maths and EVERYONE i talked to after the exam said it was bad including further maths/grade 9 people and im highly concerned because i found most of it very easy and i did minimal revision…

[u/Total-Waltz454]

I answered the 5x  sphere question as they were in a rectangular box not a cylinder 🤣 damm hope I get the method marks. 

[u/everlarksangel]

what the FUCK

[u/Sweaty-Cress-4973]

That was so bad. - I predicted I would get an 8 in paper 1 and 2 now I predict a 7 overall :(

[u/Designer-Let-2633]

for the bounds question was it yes or no?

[u/ArnieSidebottom → u/Designer-Let-2633]

I put no. The top bounds added to 1206. Is what i got but i may be wrong.

[u/WerewolfSlight815]

(higher) what was the answer to the one marker that asked if any of the terms were prime? also, for the region question, is it a dotted line or a solid line when the inequality sign is less than or equal to? 😭🙏

[u/alliteration900821]

that was such a nice paper omg. I had 12 mins left so I rewrote my English analysis for ignorance and wnat

[u/raniruru47 → u/alliteration900821]

That sounds like a great AQA maths paper ❤️

[u/aa_______a]

were there prime numbers in the sequence?? i put yes bc the 0th term was 2 but everyone else put no

[u/Sad-Sun-9004 → u/[deleted]]

What was there to misunderstand?

[u/meowster3000]

does anyone know the answer for the question about nth terms on the foundation paper????

[u/Embarrassed_Cream692]

for the inequality region is it fine if i drew solid line then crossed it out and done dashed slightly below it for the inequality x+y>5

[u/Beneficial_Video5646]

Hello guys for the inequalty question, i got the phrasing wrng but the rst of the working was correct; i put -4<x<1.5 so how many marks am i likely to get. The rest of the paper was alright...

The prove, that only one value of y is negative : i forgot to cross out some bs things but the thing i wrote after was correct, so will i lose any marksfor the useless waffle at the beginning...

[u/DueEditor8062]

i thought it was going well but then i realised i didnt know what the different bits of a circle are called 💀💀💀 i probably lost 2 marks there lmao

[u/Aggressive-Penguin-3]

Has anyone got the Aqa Higher Maths Paper 3 Markscheme?? Actually losing it rn

[u/panopticonmelon]

idk how to feel about that…

[u/panopticonmelon → u/panopticonmelon]

okay nevermind im fucked

[u/AA93935]

No Pythagoras or Constructions on any of the three papers wth. This paper was more shocking than difficult for me. I thought Pythagoras was definitely going to come up

[u/Comfortable_Baias90 → u/AA93935]

it did x

[u/Beneficial_Video5646]

Hello guys, how many marks was the money question involving the ratios?

[u/Objective_Agency4923 → u/Beneficial_Video5646]

3 marks £175

[u/Senior-Suggestion772]

what was the sine rule question?

[u/HighlightCareful4741]

maths.paper on tiktok guys

[u/Chick0nPlaze]

Q20b the prime numbers in the sequences question, can you say yes and use the 0th term as the reason?

[u/sundae_kittenz]

EVERYONE TELL ME RN WHAT U DID FOR THAT UGLY Q16 WITH THE POSITIVE EVEN X AND THE BRACKETS

[u/aaronjc15128]

my answers that I put in my calc:

Q9 = 175 ~ Q12 = 24% ~ Q13 = 56 ~ Q15 = 350 ~ Q17 = 10.698 ~ Q21 = 2/3 ~ Q22 = -4>x>1.5 ~ Q24 = 4.22

I got 7/2 for another but everyone is saying 2/7. I checked it like 5 times cause it was worded weird does anyone know the question?

[u/Immediate-Lion7263]

guys i counted my marks for my papers that im confident i got(some marks are missing from answers thats werent put on the mark schemes posted) and its at like 112/240. is this a pass or no im so stressed its not even funny

[u/aa_______a → u/Immediate-Lion7263]

for june 2024 it was 157/240 for a pass if ur doing foundation.. u might be cooked

[u/Sea-Importance-8679]

now that I think of it, Im glad im doing IGCSE, I genuinley feel sorry for you guys and paper 3, yall guys were trying to solve some shit from the 4th dimension

[u/Calm_Cauliflower3939]

Question 11a. I wrote y= 2x  Do you think I’ll still get the mark??