IGCSE Mathematics formula sheet 2026: What is given and what you must memorise

Every year, students walk into their IGCSE Mathematics exam believing that the formula sheet will save them. Some are right. Many are not. The distinction between those two groups almost always comes down to one thing: Understanding exactly what appears on the official Cambridge formula booklet 0580, and what does not.

This guide breaks down the complete picture for Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) students, from the formulas Cambridge actually prints inside your exam paper to the critical formulas you must commit to memory before sitting Paper 2 or Paper 4. It also covers practical revision strategies that our consultants at Times Edu recommend for both Core and Extended candidates.

Does IGCSE Mathematics provide a formula sheet in the exam?

Yes, Cambridge does provide a formula sheet for IGCSE Mathematics. For the 0580 syllabus, a list of selected formulas is printed on page 2 of Paper 2 (Extended) and Paper 4 (Extended). Core candidates sitting Paper 1 and Paper 3 also receive a formula sheet, though the content is tailored to Core-level topics.

The critical word here is selected. Cambridge does not hand you a complete formula list for IGCSE Mathematics. The sheet covers a narrow set of higher-level mensuration and trigonometry formulas, leaving out a significant number of formulas that appear regularly in exam questions.

One critical detail often overlooked is this: The existence of a formula sheet can create a false sense of security. Students who rely on it too heavily often discover, mid-exam, that the formula they need is not there.

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Formulas that Cambridge provides in the IGCSE Mathematics exam paper

The given formulas in IGCSE for Cambridge (0580) ^[1] fall into three categories. Knowing exactly what is printed saves you revision time and lets you focus memory drills on what actually matters.

The Quadratic Formula

Cambridge prints the quadratic formula directly on the formula sheet:

X = (-b ± √(b² – 4ac)) / 2a

This is provided because the derivation is complex and the formula is long. You do not need to memorise it, but you must know how to apply it correctly under timed conditions.

Trigonometry for any triangle

The following three formulas appear on the Cambridge 0580 formula sheet for Extended candidates:

• Sine Rule: A/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C
• Cosine Rule: A² = b² + c² – 2bc cos A
• Area of a Triangle: (1/2) ab sin C

These are provided because they apply to non-right-angled triangles and are considered advanced content. They appear heavily in Paper 4 questions worth multiple marks.

Mensuration formulas

Cambridge provides the following volume and surface area formulas:

One thing that surprises many students is what Cambridge deliberately leaves out. The area of a trapezium, the volume of a prism, and compound interest are not on the Cambridge formula sheet. Students who expect to find them there will waste precious time searching during the exam.

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Formulas you must memorise for IGCSE Mathematics that are not given

This is where the real exam preparation begins. Drawing on years of experience at Times Edu working with IGCSE Mathematics students, the formulas below are responsible for a disproportionate number of lost marks, precisely because students assume they will be given or simply forget them under pressure.

Number and percentages

These appear in Paper 2 and Paper 4 across multiple question types:

• Compound Interest: A = P(1 + r/100)^n
• Percentage Change: (Change / Original) × 100
• Speed: Speed = Distance / Time
• Density: Density = Mass / Volume

A common mistake we see is students confusing simple interest with compound interest in exam conditions. The compound interest formula is not given, so it must be memorised precisely, including the correct position of r/100 inside the bracket.

Coordinate geometry and graphs

• Gradient: M = (y₂ – Y₁) / (x₂ – X₁)
• Midpoint: ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2)
• Distance between two points: D = √((x₂ – X₁)² + (y₂ – Y₁)²)
• Perpendicular gradients rule: M₁ × m₂ = -1

These algebra and geometry formulas for IGCSE appear in coordinate geometry questions that are among the most predictable in the entire exam. Students who know them fluently pick up marks quickly and efficiently.

Circles and sectors

• Arc Length: (θ/360) × 2π r
• Sector Area: (θ/360) × π r²

Cambridge does not provide these on the formula sheet, despite the fact that sector and arc questions appear almost every examination cycle. Memorising the structure (angle fraction × full circle formula) makes both formulas easier to retain.

Right-angled trigonometry

• Pythagoras’ Theorem: A² + b² = c²
• SOH CAH TOA: Sin θ = O/H, cos θ = A/H, tan θ = O/A

In our experience working with international students, SOH CAH TOA is the single most tested trigonometry formula set at IGCSE level and it is not printed anywhere on the formula sheet. Students who do not have this memorised to the point of instinct will lose time and marks.

Statistics

• Frequency Density (for histograms): Frequency Density = Frequency / Class Width

This statistics formula for IGCSE is frequently forgotten because histograms appear less often than bar charts in early study. When histogram questions appear in Paper 4, they tend to carry several marks, making this formula high priority.

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Topic-by-topic formula checklist for IGCSE Mathematics students

Use the table below as your master reference when building your formula revision IGCSE Maths plan. The “Given?” Column reflects Cambridge 0580 Extended tier provision.

This formula list for IGCSE Mathematics covers the full landscape of what a Cambridge Extended candidate needs to manage across all papers.

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How to create your own IGCSE Mathematics formula revision sheet

A personalised formula sheet is one of the most effective tools a student can build. Rather than printing a generic list from the internet, building your own revision resource forces active engagement with the material from the start.

Step 1: Separate given from not-given

Take a blank sheet of paper and draw a vertical line down the centre. Label the left side “Provided by Cambridge” and the right side “Must memorise.” Populate each side using the checklist above.

Step 2: Write formulas by hand, not by typing

Research consistently shows that handwriting formulas improves retention compared to typing. Write each formula at least three times across different study sessions, not all at once.

Step 3: Add a worked example next to each formula

For every formula on your personal Cambridge formula booklet 0580 supplement, write one short numerical example showing how the formula is used. This connects the abstract notation to a practical application, which is how marks are actually earned in the exam.

Step 4: Organise by topic cluster

Group your formulas by topic: Number, algebra, geometry, trigonometry formulas IGCSE, and statistics formulas IGCSE. This mirrors how Cambridge structures the exam and makes it easier to retrieve the right formula under pressure.

Step 5: Review weekly, not just before the exam

One critical detail that separates high-performing IGCSE Mathematics students from average ones is the timing of their formula revision. Students who revisit their personal formula sheet weekly over a 10-to-12-week period retain formulas far more reliably than those who cram in the final days.

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Active recall techniques for memorising IGCSE Mathematics formulas

Passive reading of a formula list does not produce durable memory. The following active recall strategies are what our consultants at Times Edu integrate into structured study programmes for IGCSE Mathematics students.

The blank page test

Close all notes. Write down every formula from the “must memorise” category from memory. Check your answers. Any formula you cannot recall goes onto a priority list for the following day’s review. This technique is simple, takes fifteen minutes, and is among the most evidence-backed revision methods available.

Formula flashcards with two-way prompting

Create flashcards where the front shows the scenario (“How do you find the area of a sector?”) Rather than the formula name. The back shows the formula. This simulates real exam conditions more accurately than formula-to-name flashcards, because exams present scenarios, not formula names.

Teach-back practice

Explain each formula out loud as if you are teaching it to someone with no mathematics background. This technique exposes gaps in understanding that reading alone cannot reveal. A student who can explain why Density = Mass / Volume in plain language will not forget the formula in the exam.

Timed formula retrieval drills

Set a ten-minute timer and write as many formulas as you can from memory. Record your score each session. Tracking improvement over time adds a motivational element and gives you concrete evidence of progress. This is particularly effective for algebra and geometry formulas IGCSE candidates who find abstract notation harder to retain.

Spaced repetition scheduling

Review new formulas after one day, then three days, then one week, then two weeks. This spacing schedule targets the forgetting curve directly. Apps such as Anki can automate this scheduling, though a handwritten calendar works just as well for students who prefer analogue study methods.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Cambridge provide a formula sheet in the IGCSE Mathematics exam?

Yes. Cambridge 0580 prints a formula sheet on page 2 of Paper 2 and Paper 4 for Extended candidates. Core candidates also receive a formula sheet on their papers. The sheet covers selected mensuration, quadratic, and trigonometry formulas for any triangle, but it does not cover all formulas tested in the exam.

Which formulas are printed on the IGCSE Mathematics exam paper?

Cambridge provides the quadratic formula, the sine rule, the cosine rule, the area of a triangle formula (½ab sin C), and the volume and surface area formulas for spheres, cones, and pyramids. These are the only formulas you can count on seeing inside the paper.

Which formulas must you memorise for IGCSE Mathematics that are not given?

The most important formulas not provided include: Compound interest, percentage change, speed and density relationships, gradient, midpoint and distance between points, Pythagoras’ theorem, SOH CAH TOA, arc length, sector area, area of a trapezium, volume of a prism, and frequency density for histograms.

How many formulas do you need to know for IGCSE Mathematics Extended?

Extended candidates need to memorise approximately 15 to 20 formulas that are not provided on the Cambridge formula sheet, depending on how you count variations. The number is manageable with a structured revision plan spread over several weeks.

What is the best way to memorise formulas for IGCSE Mathematics?

Active recall is the most effective method. This includes the blank page test, flashcard retrieval, teach-back practice, and spaced repetition scheduling. Passive re-reading of a formula list is the least effective strategy, though it is also the most common mistake we see among self-studying students.

Are the formulas given in IGCSE Mathematics the same for Core and Extended?

The formula sheets are broadly similar but are tailored to each tier’s content. Extended candidates receive the full sheet including trigonometry for any triangle and advanced mensuration, while Core candidates receive a simpler version aligned with their syllabus. Extended candidates are not given any additional formulas simply because they are sitting a harder paper.

Where can I find a complete formula list for IGCSE Mathematics 0580?

The official Cambridge 0580 syllabus document, available through the Cambridge Assessment International Education website, contains the authoritative formula sheet. You can also find it reproduced at the front of any official Cambridge past paper. For a complete list of formulas you must memorise in addition to those given, this guide and your school’s revision resources are your best starting points.

Lê Anh Khoa