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What is STEP?
STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper) is a mathematics exam used primarily as a condition of offers for Cambridge Mathematics and related courses. Warwick, Bath, and a small number of other universities also include STEP grades in their conditional offers.
Unlike the MAT (which is sat before applying), STEP is sat in June alongside A-Levels, and its grade becomes a condition of your university offer. STEP 2 and STEP 3 are the relevant papers (STEP 1 was discontinued in 2020).
2026 STEP dates: STEP 2 and STEP 3 are typically held in late June 2026, during the A-Level examination period. You register through your school. Cambridge typically requires a Grade 1 in STEP 2, or Grade 1 in both STEP 2 and STEP 3 for Mathematics.
Grade Boundaries & Requirements
S
Outstanding — top ~5%. Very strong offer fulfilment.
1
Merit — typically required by Cambridge. Usually ~45–60/120.
2
Satisfactory — accepted by Warwick and some others.
3/U
Not adequate for most university conditions.
Grade boundaries vary by paper and year, but Grade 1 on STEP 2 is typically achievable by correctly solving 3–4 questions fully, or 5+ questions partially. The key is that you only attempt the questions you are most comfortable with.
| Feature | STEP 2 | STEP 3 |
|---|
| Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Questions available | 12 (Section A: 8 pure, Section B: 2 mechanics, Section C: 2 stats) | 12 (same structure) |
| Questions to answer | Up to 6 (best 6 count) | Up to 6 (best 6 count) |
| Marks | 20 per question, total 120 | 20 per question, total 120 |
| Difficulty | Hard A-Level / Beyond A-Level | Significantly beyond A-Level |
Strategic question selection is critical. You have 12 questions but only need to attempt 6. Before starting, scan all 12 questions and identify the 6 you are most likely to make progress on. Never attempt a question just because it looks straightforward in part (i) — read all parts before committing.
Topic Coverage
STEP 2 covers the full A-Level (AS + A2) curriculum. STEP 3 extends beyond A-Level into topics such as further complex numbers, hyperbolic functions, differential equations, and matrix transformations.
Most STEP 2 questions that students find approachable fall in these areas:
- Integration — often by substitution, by parts, reduction formulae, or combinations. Very frequently appears in STEP 2.
- Differentiation and applications — implicit, parametric, rates of change, turning points.
- Proof and algebraic manipulation — binomial theorem, inequalities, partial fractions applied in creative ways.
- Coordinate geometry — circles, ellipses, tangent and normal problems.
- Differential equations — first order, separable variables. Reliable marks if practiced.
- Sequences and series — convergence, sum of series, mathematical induction.
How STEP Differs from A-Level
STEP questions test your ability to apply standard techniques in non-standard ways. A typical STEP question:
- Opens with a guided part that introduces the technique (part (i))
- Requires you to apply or extend the technique to a harder variant (part (ii))
- Ends with a "hence or otherwise" part that rewards students who correctly apply earlier results (part (iii))
The most common STEP mistake: Starting from scratch on part (iii) instead of using the result from part (ii). The word "hence" always means: use what you just proved. "Hence or otherwise" usually means: the intended method uses your earlier work.
Preparation Strategy
Timeline
- January–March: Ensure complete mastery of all A-Level Pure content. STEP rewards students who can manipulate A-Level techniques fluently under pressure.
- April–May: Begin STEP past papers. Start with 2015–2018 papers (generally more approachable). Aim to complete 2–3 full questions per session, reviewing mark scheme in detail.
- June (until exam): One full timed STEP 2 paper per week. Focus on consistent question selection strategy and clean presentation of solutions.
Resources
- Past papers (2000–2023): freely available via Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing
- Advanced Problems in Mathematics by Stephen Siklos — highly recommended free book specifically for STEP preparation
- Advanced Problems in Core Mathematics by Stephen Siklos — good for earlier preparation
- NRICH and Underground Mathematics — additional problem banks at the right level
STEP Preparation Tutoring
STEP is genuinely hard. Our tutors have achieved Grade S/1 themselves and know the patterns behind question design. We cover question selection strategy, partial credit maximisation, and the key Pure topics.
Book a STEP Session
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