Part A Mathematics and Philosophy Examination Conventions 2025-26

3. Part A Examination Papers

Part A consists of two core papers, A0 and A2, papers A3, A4, A5, and A8 relating to the long options and Paper ASO relating to the short options. Paper A2 is of 3 hours in duration, whilst the remaining papers are of 1.5 hours' duration. 

In all papers, each question is worth 25 marks and candidates may submit answers to as many questions as they wish. Details are given below of which questions count towards a candidate's total mark.

Each question  should be divided into two to four parts and an indication of the raw marks available for each part of each question should be given on the question paper.

Candidates are required to offer Papers A0 and A2 and also two papers from Papers A3, A4, A5, A8, A13 and ASO.

Paper A0 Linear Algebra

This core paper consists of three questions and the best two answers will count towards a candidate's total for the paper.

Paper A2 Metric Spaces and Complex Analysis

This core paper is divided into two sections; each section contains 3 questions and the best two questions of each section count towards a candidate’s total mark for the paper.

Long Option Papers

The long option papers consist of three questions and the best two answers will count towards a candidate's total for the paper. They examine the long options below:

• A3 Rings and Modules
• A4 Integration
• A5 Topology
• A8 Probability
• A13 Geometry

Paper ASO Short Options

This paper will contain one question on each of the short options below. The best two answers will count towards a candidate's total for the paper.

• Number Theory,
• Group Theory,
• Integral Transforms,
• Calculus of Variations,
• Graph Theory,
• Mathematical Modelling in Biology.