GCSE maths formulas: which ones you need to know in 2026
If you're sitting GCSE Maths in 2026, you get a formula sheet in your exam. It covers the trickier formulas — things like the quadratic formula and the area of a trapezium. But it doesn't cover everything. There are plenty of essential formulas you're expected to know from memory, and those are the ones that catch people out.
This guide breaks down exactly what's on the sheet, what's not on the sheet, and how to make sure you're confident with all of them before exam day.
Over
30+
formulas and equations appear across the three GCSE Maths papers — knowing which ones to memorise is half the battle
What's the deal with the GCSE Maths formula sheet in 2026?
In 2026, Ofqual provides a formula sheet that is given to every student at the start of their GCSE Maths exam. This sheet lists a set of key formulas so you don't have to memorise them. It applies to all major exam boards — AQA, Edexcel, and OCR.
The formula sheet was introduced as a permanent feature after the COVID-era adjustments, and it's staying for 2026 exams. However, Ofqual has confirmed that the formula sheet will be phased out from 2028, so students starting their GCSE course in 2026 will need to memorise everything by the time they sit their exams.
For now, though, the sheet is your friend. The key thing is knowing what's on it (so you don't waste revision time memorising those) and what's not on it (so you focus your effort where it matters).
The GCSE Maths formula sheet is being removed from 2028 onwards. If you're in Year 10 in 2026, it's worth starting to memorise all the formulas now — you won't have the sheet when you sit your exams in 2028.
Which formulas are given on the sheet?
The formula sheet covers formulas that Ofqual considers harder to recall or less frequently used. You'll still need to understand how to use them — the sheet just means you don't have to memorise the exact formula. Here are the main formulas you'll find on the 2026 sheet.
| Topic | Formula | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Quadratic formula | x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a | Solving quadratic equations that don't factorise neatly |
| Circumference of a circle | C = πd or C = 2πr | Finding the distance around a circle |
| Area of a circle | A = πr² | Finding the space inside a circle |
| Area of a trapezium | A = ½(a + b)h | Finding the area of a trapezium using parallel sides and height |
| Pythagoras' theorem | a² + b² = c² | Finding a missing side in a right-angled triangle |
| Trigonometric ratios | sin θ = opp/hyp, cos θ = adj/hyp, tan θ = opp/adj | Finding missing sides or angles in right-angled triangles |
| Sine rule | a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C | Finding sides or angles in non-right-angled triangles |
| Cosine rule | a² = b² + c² − 2bc cos A | Finding a side or angle when you can't use the sine rule |
| Area of a triangle (trig) | A = ½ab sin C | Finding the area when you know two sides and the included angle |
| Volume of a prism | V = area of cross-section × length | Finding the volume of any prism |
| Volume of a cone | V = ⅓πr²h | Finding the volume of a cone |
| Volume of a sphere | V = ⁴⁄₃πr³ | Finding the volume of a sphere |
| Surface area of a sphere | A = 4πr² | Finding the total surface area of a sphere |
| Compound interest | Total = P × (1 + r/100)ⁿ | Calculating compound interest or repeated percentage change |
| Curved surface area of a cone | A = πrl | Finding the curved surface of a cone (not including the base) |
Which formulas do you need to memorise?
Everything not on the formula sheet is fair game — and examiners expect you to recall these instantly. These are the formulas that come up most often in GCSE Maths, and you'll use many of them multiple times across your three papers. The GCSE Maths exam expects students to recall approximately 20 formulas from memory without any reference sheet.
Don't let the length of this list put you off. Most of these are straightforward once you've practised using them a few times.
Algebra formulas to memorise
| Formula | What it means |
|---|---|
| y = mx + c | Equation of a straight line (m = gradient, c = y-intercept) |
| Gradient = change in y / change in x | Finding the slope between two points |
| (x + a)(x + b) = x² + (a+b)x + ab | Expanding double brackets |
| Difference of two squares: a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b) | Factorising expressions in this pattern |
| nth term (linear) = dn + (a − d) | Finding the nth term of a linear sequence (d = common difference, a = first term) |
Geometry and measures formulas to memorise
| Formula | What it means |
|---|---|
| Area of a rectangle = l × w | Length times width |
| Area of a triangle = ½ × b × h | Half base times height |
| Area of a parallelogram = b × h | Base times perpendicular height |
| Volume of a cuboid = l × w × h | Length times width times height |
| Volume of a cylinder = πr²h | Area of circular base times height |
| Surface area of a cylinder = 2πrh + 2πr² | Curved surface plus two circular ends |
| Speed = distance / time | The basic speed-distance-time relationship |
| Density = mass / volume | How tightly packed matter is |
| Pressure = force / area | Force spread over an area |
Probability and statistics formulas to memorise
| Formula | What it means |
|---|---|
| Probability = favourable outcomes / total outcomes | The basic probability formula |
| P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A and B) | Combined probability for overlapping events |
| P(not A) = 1 − P(A) | The probability of something not happening |
| Mean = sum of values / number of values | The average |
| Relative frequency = frequency / total trials | Estimating probability from experimental data |
Ratio and proportion formulas to memorise
| Formula | What it means |
|---|---|
| Percentage change = (change / original) × 100 | Finding the percentage increase or decrease |
| Direct proportion: y = kx | y increases at the same rate as x |
| Inverse proportion: y = k/x | y decreases as x increases |
How should you memorise GCSE Maths formulas?
The best way to memorise formulas is to use them, not just read them. Passive re-reading barely works — active recall is what locks formulas into your long-term memory.
Start by writing each formula out from memory. If you can't, check it, then try again five minutes later. This simple technique — called retrieval practice — is one of the most effective study methods backed by research.
Flashcards work brilliantly for formulas. Put the name of the formula on one side and the formula itself on the other. Test yourself regularly, and focus on the ones you keep getting wrong. Spaced repetition — revisiting cards at increasing intervals — makes this even more powerful.
Formula memorisation plan
A practical approach to locking in your GCSE Maths formulas before the exam.
- Group formulas by topic (algebra, geometry, statistics, etc.)
- Write each formula from memory — check and correct any mistakes
- Create flashcards with the formula name on one side and the formula on the other
- Test yourself daily using spaced repetition
- Practise exam questions that require each formula
- Get someone to quiz you verbally on random formulas
- Do a timed 'formula sprint' — write as many as you can in 3 minutes
How do you actually use the formula sheet in the exam?
Having a formula sheet doesn't mean you can ignore those formulas entirely. You still need to know when to use each one and how to substitute values correctly. Students who see the formula sheet for the first time in the exam often waste time figuring out which formula applies to which question.
The best approach is to practise with the formula sheet before the exam. Print a copy (your exam board's website will have the exact version) and use it while doing past papers. This way, you'll know exactly where each formula is and how to apply it under timed conditions.
A common mistake is spending ages hunting through the sheet during the exam. If you've practised with it beforehand, you'll know instantly where to look — or even have the formula memorised anyway, which saves you time.
Download and print your exam board's exact formula sheet (AQA, Edexcel, or OCR) and use it during every practice paper. Familiarity with the sheet's layout saves valuable time in the real exam.
What about higher tier vs foundation tier?
Both higher and foundation tier students receive the same formula sheet. However, higher tier students will encounter more complex applications of these formulas — for example, using the quadratic formula in context problems or applying trigonometry to 3D shapes.
Foundation tier students still need to memorise the formulas not on the sheet. The difference is mainly in how those formulas are tested. Foundation questions tend to be more direct ('find the area of this triangle'), while higher questions often require you to combine multiple formulas or work backwards from an answer.
Regardless of your tier, make sure you can confidently recall every formula in the 'memorise' tables above. These are non-negotiable for both tiers.
