STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper)

STEP Mathematics

Key Dates for STEP 2026 Session

Date	Event
23 March 2026	STEP registration opens
21 April 2026	Last date to request modified question papers
30 April 2026	STEP registration closes
4 May 2026	Last date to request access arrangements
4 June 2026	STEP paper 2 test date*
10 June 2026	STEP paper 3 test date*
13 August 2026	STEP test results released
20 August 2026	Last date for results enquiries

Please note:

1. All times are in local timing

2. The awarding body reserves the right to make changes to these dates.

About STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper)

STEP (Sixth term examination paper) is a well-established mathematics examination designed to test candidates on questions that are similar in style to undergraduate mathematics.

STEP is used by the University of Cambridge, the University of Warwick and Imperial College London. Other universities sometimes ask candidates to take STEP.

Some students take STEP papers just for the challenge.

Please check the details of your course(s) to confirm if you are required to take STEP as part of the application process.

There are two STEP examinations: STEP 2 and STEP 3. Students are usually required to sit either one or both of the examinations, depending on the requirements of the universities they have applied to.

From the June 2021 sitting onwards, STEP Mathematics 1 has not been offered.

Both STEP Mathematics 2 and STEP Mathematics 3 will continue to be offered.

In 2023 two minor clarifications were added to the specification: these appear in Section B of Mathematics 1 on pages 17 and 19; they are underlined. In 2025 a further clarification was added to the notation list: this appears on page 32 as the last four rows of the table, defining the interval notation to be used.

We do not permit the use of bilingual dictionaries in STEP examinations. STEP Mathematics 2 is based on the STEP Mathematics 2 specification set out in this document. Candidates should be aware that the STEP Mathematics 2 specification assumes all the content of Mathematics 1 set out in this document.

STEP Mathematics 3 is based on the STEP Mathematics 3 specification set out in this document. Candidates should be aware that the STEP Mathematics 3 specification assumes all the content of both the Mathematics 1 and the STEP Mathematics 2 specifications set out in this document.

The specifications have been written to follow, in the ways set out below, the content of the Department for Education’s A Level Mathematics1 and the Pure content of AS and A Level Further Mathematics2 specifications. However, some topics have been removed and some additional topics have been included. In the cases of STEP Mathematics 2 and STEP Mathematics 3, additional sections have been included outlining which Probability, Statistics and Mechanics topics might be tested. Whilst most questions will be set on areas mentioned in the specification, questions may also be set on areas that are not explicitly mentioned; when this is the case, appropriate guidance will be given in the question.

Format of the papers

STEP Mathematics 2 and STEP Mathematics 3 will each be a 3-hour paper divided into three sections.

Each paper will comprise 12 questions:

Section A (Pure Mathematics)	Eight questions
Section B (Mechanics)	Eight questions
Section C (Probability/Statistics)	Two questions

Each question will have the same maximum mark of 20. In each paper, candidates will be assessed on the six questions best answered; no restriction will be placed on the number of questions that may be attempted from any section.

In some questions a method will be specified; otherwise, any correct and appropriately justified solution will receive full marks whatever the method used.

Candidates’ solutions must be clear, logical and legible and their working fully set out. Standard notational conventions should be followed, and final answers should be simplified. Marks may be lost if examiners are unable to follow a candidate’s working, even if a correct final answer appears.

For more detailed information about the format of STEP, see the specification. (updated for the June 2026 series).

Formulae Booklets and Calculators

Candidates will not be issued with a formulae book. Formulae that candidates are expected to know are listed in the appendix to this document. Other formulae will be given in individual questions, should they be required.

The required formulae for STEP extend beyond those required for the corresponding A levels.

Calculators are not permitted or required.

Bilingual dictionaries are NOT permitted - this is a change for 2023 onwards

Preparing for STEP

Further details on how to prepare for STEP may be found on the official STEP preparation webpage: Preparing for STEP – OCR.