Getting ready to teach - Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024 - Key syllabus and assessment updates

Oct 23, 2026

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Guidance for teachers on updated Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024, explaining how the course remains structured and clearer by reviewing syllabuses and aligning learning objectives. The update adds topics such as surds, exponential growth and decay, composite functions, and alternative segment theorem, while removing areas including loci and matrices. It also describes assessment changes, balancing Paper 1 and Paper 2 with consistent durations, marks, and calculator rules, and lists available support resources via the School Support Hub.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Changes to content

Additions

Removals

Changes to assessment

Paper balance and calculator rules

Impact on teaching

Formula sheet and support

Getting ready to teach Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024 We review our syllabuses regularly to make sure they continue to meet the needs of our schools. To make it easier for teachers and students who use more than one syllabus, we have improved accessibility and clarity by considering our Cambridge Upper Secondary Mathematics suite as a whole. In updating our Cambridge O Level Mathematics courses, we have worked with experienced maths teachers and subject experts to make them well structured and easier to understand, while keeping familiar features that teachers and schools value. We have focused on the breadth and depth of the content to cover fundamental mathematical knowledge and preparing students for the demands of the next stage of learning, if they choose to progress to further study. We have added: • Surds (whole sub-topic) • Exponential growth and decay (whole sub-topic) • Recurring decimal notation and conversion • Expanding more than two brackets • Finding roots graphically • Draw and interpret graphs for exponential growth and decay • Composite functions • Recognising and sketching graphs (up to quadratic) • Knowing the alternate segment theorem for circles. Most additions represent a formalisation or extension of skills already in the syllabus, rather than completely new material. Changes to content We have: • updated the wording of the learning objectives to align with other Cambridge Upper Secondary Mathematics qualifications • updated the Notes/Examples column to make the depth of teaching and learning required clearer • introduced a new section – Presentation of responses – which gives guidance on mathematical conventions to help students communicate clearly. We are using consistent learning objectives where appropriate across our Cambridge Upper Secondary Mathematics syllabuses to support teachers who deliver more than one course within the suite. We have updated the aims and assessment objectives. The wording has been updated but the meaning is the same. The new syllabus will also include details of how it helps students develop the Cambridge learner attributes – confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged. We have balanced the amount of content added with content removed (in terms of teaching time). The revised subject content reinforces the learning of fundamental mathematical topics and supports overall progression to the next level of study. We have removed: • Loci (whole sub-topic) • Matrices (whole sub-topic) • Proper subsets • Increasing and decreasing a quantity by a given ratio • Showing that two shapes are congruent (knowledge of congruence itself is still in the syllabus) • Constructions of simple shapes and bisectors (construction of a triangle is still in the syllabus) . Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024 Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024 Changes to assessment We have balanced the two papers: The duration, total number of marks, weighting and style will be the same: | | | | --- | --- | | Paper 1 Paper 2
(non-calculator) (calculator)
Duration 2 hours 2 hours Total marks 100 marks 100 marks Item types Structured and
unstructured questions Structured and
unstructured questions Other information Calculator not allowed Externally assessed AO1: 40–50%
AO2: 50–60% Calculator required
Externally assessed
AO1: 40–50%
AO2: 50–60% | | How does this affect teaching? • The teaching time is not affected by these changes. • Teachers need to update their scheme of work to reflect changes in content. They should look at the Notes/Example column in the syllabus for new detail. • Teachers should become familiar with equally balanced papers and updated mark schemes. • Learners will need to practise: – selecting the correct formula from the formula sheet and knowing when to use them – working with a range of different question types across Paper 1 and

FAQs

What content is added to the updated Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D) 4024?

The update adds topics such as surds, exponential growth and decay, recurring decimal notation, expanding more than two brackets, roots found graphically, drawing and interpreting exponential graphs, composite functions, sketching graphs up to quadratic, and the alternate segment theorem for circles.

Which topics are removed from the syllabus in this update?

The syllabus removes loci and matrices, plus other items including proper subsets, increasing/decreasing a quantity by a given ratio, proving congruence of two shapes, and constructions of simple shapes and bisectors (while some related basics remain).

How do the assessment changes affect teaching and learners?

The two papers remain balanced with the same duration, total marks, weighting, and paper item types, but teachers must update their schemes of work and become familiar with updated mark schemes. Learners need practice selecting correct formulas from the formula sheet and working across the different question types on both papers, while knowing calculator requirements for each paper.

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by hdkawk