Cambridge IGCSE

Additional Mathematics 0606

Extends IGCSE Mathematics with functions, logarithms, trigonometry, series and an introduction to calculus.

Exam year

Syllabus version: 2025–2027 syllabusChecked against the Cambridge syllabusExam year 2027 is covered by the 2025–2027 syllabus.

Subject review complete (20 Oct 2026). All 40 Additional Mathematics questions were re-solved and checked against the syllabus and Cambridge mark-scheme conventions, and their auto-marking was tested with correct and incorrect answers: 20 approved as written, 20 corrected.

Paper 1 Non-calculator50%
Paper 2 Calculator50%

Original questions40

Topics covered14/14

Papers2

Mock papers2

What is assessed

2 components. Question formats: short answer, structured.

Paper 1 Non-calculator

2 h80 marksWeighting 50%

Structured and unstructured questions on any part of the content, answered on the question paper without a calculator; all working must be shown.

What the paper looks like

About 10–12 questions, all compulsory, totalling 80 marks in 2 hours with no calculator. Short opening questions (sketching a cubic or modulus graph, remainder theorem, log laws) of 3–6 marks lead to multi-part questions and one or two longer unstructured problems of 7–10 marks, e.g. a circle and perpendicular-bisector problem. Answers are expected in exact form (fractions, surds, π, ln) and every algebraic step must be shown; “Show that” and “Hence” parts are common.

Short answerStructuredCalculators not allowed; List of formulas printed on page 2 (not every formula needed is given)

Checked against the Cambridge syllabus

Paper 2 Calculator

2 h80 marksWeighting 50%

Structured and unstructured questions on any part of the content; non-exact answers to 3 significant figures, angles in degrees to 1 decimal place.

What the paper looks like

About 11–12 questions, all compulsory, totalling 80 marks in 2 hours with a scientific calculator. Mixes routine parts (modulus equations, discriminant, permutations and combinations, binomial coefficients) with applied problems such as optimisation, connected rates, kinematics, linear forms of data and radian geometry with a diagram. Non-exact answers to 3 significant figures (1 decimal place for degrees); method must still be shown, as unsupported calculator answers earn little credit.

Short answerStructuredScientific calculator required; List of formulas printed on page 2 (not every formula needed is given)

Checked against the Cambridge syllabus

Assessment overview

From the 2025–2027 syllabus. Checked against the Cambridge syllabus

All candidates

Paper 1Paper 2

Both papers are compulsory; grades A* to E are available (no F or G).

Assessment objective	IGCSE weighting
AO1 Knowledge and understanding of mathematical techniques	45–55%
AO2 Analyse, interpret and communicate mathematically	45–55%

Changes in this syllabus version

Paper 1 became a non-calculator paper; a scientific calculator is still required for Paper 2. Both papers are 2 hours, 80 marks, 50% each.
Indices and surds removed as a separate topic (now assumed knowledge from IGCSE Mathematics) and a new topic, Coordinate geometry of the circle, added.
Learning outcomes reworded with notes and examples to show depth; other content added, removed or clarified within topics.
List of formulas, command words and assessment objective wording updated; a section on mathematical conventions added.
Mark schemes award more marks for working where appropriate; February 2024 update made minor amendments to the marking principles.

Command words used in Additional Mathematics papers (13)

Calculate: work something out from the facts, figures or information given
Describe: give the main points or features of something
Determine: establish an answer with certainty, usually with supporting working
Explain: give reasons or make relationships clear, saying why or how with evidence
Give: produce an answer from a given source or from memory
Plot: mark one or more points accurately on a graph
Show (that): set out structured working that leads to the result you have been given
Sketch: draw a freehand graph or diagram showing the key features such as intercepts and asymptotes
State: express clearly and briefly
Verify: confirm that a given statement or result is true
Work out: calculate from the information given, with or without a calculator
Write: give an answer in a particular form
Write down: give the answer without needing significant working

Examiner guidance from recent reports (14)

Functions. Apply composite functions right to left: fg(x) means do g first. When asked for an inverse, use correct notation f⁻¹(x) = … in terms of x, and state its domain from the range of f.

Quadratic functions. When completing the square with a leading coefficient other than 1, factor it out first and multiply back carefully. For a range on a restricted domain, check whether the vertex lies inside it before using end points.

Factors of polynomials. “Product of linear factors” means fully factorised with no constant term left over. When dividing by (2x − 5), use p(5/2) for the remainder, and show long division or equating coefficients rather than unsupported synthetic division.

Equations, inequalities and graphs. When sketching cubics, label every intercept on the axes and place turning points in the correct quadrants; a scale alone is not enough. Read inequalities from the sketch instead of attempting heavy algebra, and use ⩾ or ⩽ when the question does.

Simultaneous equations. Choose the easier substitution, usually from the linear equation, and find the second variable from that linear equation. Present answers as matched pairs.

Logarithmic and exponential functions. Turn a plain number into a log of the same base before combining logs. For equations such as aeᵏˣ + be⁻ᵏˣ = c, multiply through by the exponential and solve a quadratic, then check whether any negative root must be rejected.

Straight-line graphs. In linear-form questions identify exactly what is on each axis: with lg y against x the intercept is lg A, so A = 10^intercept, not e^intercept. Read a gradient from a given equation when one is provided rather than recomputing from rounded points.

Coordinate geometry of the circle. Find the centre and radius by completing the square in x and y. A tangent is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact; for intersection questions, substitute and use the discriminant.

Circular measure. Keep the calculator in radian mode and work to at least 4 significant figures before giving 3 significant figures. Do not confuse an arc length with the straight chord; label any extra diagram you draw.

Trigonometry. Rearrange carefully: for sin(2θ − π/3) = ½, find all angles for 2θ − π/3 over the adjusted range before solving for θ. Keep the argument on every trig function, never mix degrees with radians, and give every solution in the interval.

Permutations and combinations. Decide first whether order matters. Handle restrictions by fixing the restricted positions first, and split into clearly stated cases when one restriction affects another.

Series. In binomial terms put the whole of each term in brackets, e.g. (−1/(3y²))², so the coefficient and the sign are squared too. When “exact” is asked, leave answers as fractions, surds or logarithms rather than decimals.

Vectors in two dimensions. Write position vectors as initial position plus t times velocity, and remember distance is the magnitude of the difference of two position vectors. Use a clear diagram and correct vector notation throughout.

Calculus. Include +c in every indefinite integral and find it when a condition is given. For distance travelled, check whether the particle changes direction in the interval and split the integral there. “Hence” means use the previous result, e.g. reverse a derivative found earlier.

Topic map

Practice types

Free sample questions

FAQs

Are these official 0606 past-paper questions?

No. They are original questions written to match the Additional Mathematics syllabus topics. Official past papers are available to schools through Cambridge.

Why choose an exam year?

Cambridge updates syllabuses periodically. Your exam year selects the matching configuration so topics and components follow the right version.

Is a calculator allowed?

It depends on the paper. Each component card shows the calculator rule from this configuration.