Higher Maths
Higher Maths is assessed by two exam papers worth 120 marks in total, with no coursework. In 2027 both papers are sat on the morning of Friday 14 May.
- Paper 1 Non-calculator09:00 to 10:15
- Paper 210:45 to 12:15
What grade is my mark?
Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.
How the A and C boundaries have moved
Boundaries as a share of the total marks. A lower line means the papers were judged harder that year. Qualifications Scotland publishes boundaries from 2022 in this format.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 120 | 83 | 70 | 58 | 45 |
| 2025 | 120 | 86 | 73 | 60 | 47 |
| 2024 | 120 | 84 | 71 | 59 | 46 |
| 2023 | 120 | 84 | 70 | 57 | 43 |
| 2022 | 120 | 84 | 70 | 57 | 43 |
How the Higher Maths exam works
Higher Maths is assessed by two question papers and nothing else. There is no coursework, so the whole grade rests on 120 marks sat on one morning.
Paper 1 is non-calculator. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and is worth 55 marks. Paper 2 allows a calculator, lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 65 marks.
In 2027 both papers are on Friday 14 May. Paper 1 runs from 9am to 10:15am and Paper 2 from 10:45am to 12:15pm.
Each paper prints a formulae list. It covers the circle equation, the scalar product, and the addition and double angle formulae. It also gives derivatives and integrals of sine and cosine. Anything else, such as the laws of logarithms or the chain rule, has to be learned.
What the course covers
The course specification groups the content into four skill areas. Algebraic and trigonometric skills include functions, inverses, logarithms and the wave function. Calculus skills include differentiation, integration, optimisation and area. Geometric skills include the straight line, the circle and vectors.
Reasoning skills run through all of them. You need to choose a method, then explain what your answer means in context.
What markers reward
Marks are awarded for each step, not just the final answer. A correct answer with no working can score less than a wrong answer with clear working. Markers follow the marking instructions closely, so set out each line of algebra in order.
The 2025 course report picked out these common errors:
- applying only one transformation when a graph question needed two
- not taking out a common factor of cos x before solving a trig equation
- slips when evaluating a final logarithm
- chain rule mistakes, such as mishandling a constant term
- numerical errors when completing a nature table
The same report asked centres to keep practising fractions and negative numbers. It also stressed using brackets when substituting negative values into formulae.
Using past papers well
Start with questions sorted by topic, then move to full papers under timed conditions. Do Paper 1 without a calculator, even at home. After each paper, mark it yourself against the marking instructions.
Note why each mark was lost. Was it the method, an arithmetic slip, or missing working? Patterns show you what to revise next.
Grade boundaries show how hard a paper turned out. In 2025 an A needed 86 out of 120, a B needed 73 and a C needed 60. Boundaries change every year, so treat these as a guide only.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Do one full Paper 1 each week without a calculator, timed at 1 hour 15 minutes
- Learn every formula that is not on the formulae list, including the laws of logarithms
- Practise sketching graphs after two transformations, such as y = 2f(x + 1)
- Solve trig equations that need a common factor taken out before you split them
- Drill the chain rule on expressions with powers, roots and constants
- Complete nature tables for stationary points and check each value of the derivative
- Practise the wave function until you can find k and a without notes
- Revise fractions and negative numbers for the non-calculator paper
- Mark every past paper with the marking instructions and log the marks you dropped
- Set out each line of working so that every method mark is visible
Quick answers
- Is Higher Maths Paper 1 non-calculator?
Yes. Paper 1 is non-calculator. It lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and is worth 55 marks. Calculators are allowed in Paper 2, which lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 65 marks.
- When is the Higher Maths exam in 2027?
Friday 14 May 2027. Paper 1 runs from 9am to 10:15am. Paper 2 runs from 10:45am to 12:15pm.
- Is there coursework in Higher Maths?
No. The grade is based only on the two question papers, worth 120 marks in total.
- Which formulae are given in the Higher Maths exam?
Each paper has a formulae list. It covers the circle equation, the scalar product, and the trig addition and double angle formulae. It also lists derivatives and integrals of sine and cosine.