Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Mathematics (0980)

The specification at a glance

Syllabus code

0980

Awarding body

Cambridge Assessment International Education

Syllabus version

2025–2027

Core papers

Paper 1 (non-calculator) + Paper 3 (calculator)

Core paper format

1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50% each

Extended papers

Paper 2 (non-calculator) + Paper 4 (calculator)

Extended paper format

2 hours, 100 marks, 50% each

Core grades

5–1

Extended grades

9–3

Exam series

June; November

01

What actually differs from 0580

Only the grading scale. The papers, durations, mark totals, content and assessment objectives are the same as Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 — a student preparing for one is preparing for the other.

What changes is the certificate. 0980 reports 9 to 1, which reads directly against English GCSE grades; 0580 reports A* to G. Schools choose between them for reasons that have nothing to do with difficulty, and students frequently do not know which they are entered for.

• Core route — Papers 1 and 3, graded 5 to 1 (0580 equivalent: C to G)
• Extended route — Papers 2 and 4, graded 9 to 3 (0580 equivalent: A* to E)

02

Which route to enter

Cambridge frames the routes by target grade: Core content is intended for learners targeting grades 4 to 1, and Extended for learners targeting 9 to 5. Entry to Core is advised for a candidate expected to achieve a grade 4 or below, and to Extended for one expected to achieve a grade 5 or above.

The cap is the point to be clear about. Core tops out at grade 5. A student who needs a 6 or above must be entered for Extended, and that decision is made at entry rather than in the exam hall.

03

Assessment objectives

As on 0580, Cambridge uses two assessment objectives rather than the three used by the English GCSE boards. There is no AO3.

The weighting shifts between routes in the same way: Core is technique-weighted, Extended is analysis-weighted.

• AO1 — knowledge and understanding of mathematical techniques: 60–70% Core, 40–50% Extended
• AO2 — analyse, interpret and communicate mathematically: 30–40% Core, 50–60% Extended

04

How we prepare students for 0980

Preparation is identical to 0580 and we teach them together. The one place we treat them separately is target-setting: a student working to a 9-1 scale should be given targets on that scale, not converted from letters halfway through the year.

Because 0980 and 0580 share past papers, there is no shortage of practice material — the constraint is the same as everywhere else, which is whether a student's written reasoning would earn the AO2 marks.