The Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) May/June 2026 papers and mark schemes are out, and they’re free. All four papers, 0580/12, /22, /32 and /42, can be downloaded and printed on the Tutopiya Learning Portal. Below is a breakdown of what each paper tested and how the mark scheme gave method and accuracy marks, taken from the papers themselves.

Key points from the 2026 0580 papers

• Lots of short questions. Paper 1 had 29 questions, Paper 2 had 25 and even the calculator Paper 4 had 22. Few questions were worth more than 7 marks, so you have to switch topics quickly.
• Transformations were worth 7 marks on both non-calculator papers. Paper 1 Question 29 and Paper 2 Question 5 each asked you to draw images and describe a transformation fully.
• Graph drawing was worth big marks. Paper 3 Question 18 (a quadratic, 10 marks) and Paper 4 Question 8 (a cubic, 11 marks) both asked for a table, a smooth curve and solutions read from the graph.
• Compound percentages and growth were tested twice on Paper 4: compound interest (Question 7) and a mass falling by 5% a day (Question 12).
• Accuracy rules cost marks. The calculator papers say to give non-exact answers to 3 significant figures, or 1 decimal place for angles. Several questions also set their own accuracy, such as 1 decimal place or 3 decimal places.

All May/June 2026 0580 papers

Paper	Code	Duration	Marks	Who sits it
Paper 1 Non-calculator (Core)	0580/12	1 hour 30 minutes	80	Core
Paper 2 Non-calculator (Extended)	0580/22	2 hours	100	Extended
Paper 3 Calculator (Core)	0580/32	1 hour 30 minutes	80	Core
Paper 4 Calculator (Extended)	0580/42	2 hours	100	Extended

Timings and marks are taken from the front cover of each 2026 paper. Each paper comes with its official Cambridge mark scheme. For the full list of syllabus content, see the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 syllabus.

Which variant is this? Cambridge sets different versions of each paper (variants) for different time zones. The papers here are variant 2: 0580/12, /22, /32 and /42. All variants cover the same syllabus at the same difficulty, so variant 2 is just as good for practice as the one your school sat.

Download the 0580 May/June 2026 papers →

What came up in 0580 Paper 4 (Calculator, Extended), May/June 2026?

Paper 4 had 22 questions worth 100 marks. The last third of the paper carried the heaviest questions, on 3D trigonometry, bearings and quadratics.

Question	Topic	Marks
1	Angles in an isosceles triangle	2
2	Frequency table of books borrowed: mode, median, mean	5
3	Constructing a triangle with ruler and compasses	2
4	Percentage deposit and monthly payments	3
5	Using a column vector to find a point	2
6	Perimeter of a semicircle	3
7	Compound interest: final value, then finding the rate	5
8	Table and graph of a cubic, then solving an equation by drawing a straight line	11
9	Solving an equation with fractions	3
10	Percentages of coins: reverse percentage problem	4
11	Right-angled triangle trigonometry	2
12	Exponential decay at 5% a day: finding the date mass drops below 96 g	3
13	Inverse proportion	3
14	Reflex angle from a cosine value	2
15	Adding algebraic fractions	3
16	Square-based pyramid: planes of symmetry, volume, slant edge, angle with the base	9
17	Functions: evaluating, inverse, composite, solving with an inverse	7
18	Area of a triangle with sin 30°, forming and solving a quadratic	8
19	Grouped data: estimated mean, completing a histogram	7
20	Field ABCD: bearing, cosine rule, sine rule, shortest distance to a line	10
21	Upper and lower bounds of density	3
22	Simplifying an algebraic fraction by factorising	3

What made it hard: Question 20(c) was worth 6 marks on its own. You had to find an angle with the sine rule, then see that the shortest distance from B to AC is perpendicular to AC. The mark scheme gives one method mark just for recognising that.

What came up in 0580 Paper 2 (Non-calculator, Extended)?

Paper 2 had 25 questions worth 100 marks, with no calculator allowed.

Area	Questions	Marks
Number: reciprocals, fraction division, prime factors, LCM and HCF, a recurring decimal as a fraction, surds (expanding and rationalising)	3, 4, 9, 10, 17	18
Algebra and graphs: substitution and rearranging, factorising, four lines and a region of inequalities, sequences, expanding three brackets, completing the square, gradient of a curve and a perpendicular line, indices equation, line and curve intersection	6, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25	39
Geometry and mensuration: net of an open box, translation, reflection in y = x and rotation, exact trig values, polygon angles, arc length in terms of π, circle theorems with reasons, sphere estimate using π ≈ 3, similar bottles, vectors and collinearity	2, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 20, 22	33
Statistics and probability: scatter diagram and line of best fit, probability with and without replacement	1, 18	10

Watch for: Question 23 used differentiation to find the gradient of a tangent, then the equation of the perpendicular line (7 marks). Question 25 asked for two points where a line meets a curve, worth 5 marks.

What came up in 0580 Paper 3 (Calculator, Core)?

Paper 3 had 26 questions worth 80 marks.

Area	Questions	Marks
Number: place value, factors and multiples, money, calculator work, a fraction of paint, currency, simple interest, rounding to 1 decimal place, time and speed, LCM, bounds, irrational numbers	1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23, 25	25
Algebra and graphs: factorising, indices, forming and solving an equation about counters, sequences, a quadratic table and graph	12, 13, 14, 15, 18	23
Geometry and mensuration: a bearing and scale drawing, a compound shape (perimeter, Pythagoras, equal-area square), percentage of metal left after cutting circles, surface area of a sphere, trigonometry in a split right-angled triangle	8, 17, 20, 24, 26	20
Statistics and probability: range and median, expected wins and a probability table, a pie chart	5, 16, 19	12

Watch for: Question 18 alone was worth 10 marks: complete a table, draw the curve, give the highest point and solve an equation from the graph.

What came up in 0580 Paper 1 (Non-calculator, Core)?

Paper 1 had 29 questions worth 80 marks, most worth 1 to 3 marks.

Area	Questions	Marks
Number: square root, percentages, rounding, brackets in a calculation, fractions of a rectangle, unit conversions, ratio, reciprocals, standard form, mixed numbers	1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 16, 26, 27	23
Algebra: forming and solving an equation, simplifying and expanding, a straight line, an inequality on a number line, a square-number pattern sequence, changing the subject	10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28	22
Geometry and mensuration: area by counting squares, triangle area, a net, similar trapezium and equal-area rectangle, parallelogram properties, angles and polygons, circumference, reflection, rotation and translation	4, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23, 29	22
Statistics, probability and sets: stem-and-leaf, tree diagram, mean, Venn diagram	9, 22, 24, 25	13

Watch for: Question 29 (7 marks) asked you to describe a reflection and a rotation fully. Writing “rotation” alone scores 1 of the 3 marks; you also need the angle and direction, and the centre.

How the 0580 May/June 2026 mark scheme gives marks

Every 0580 mark scheme uses the same mark types and abbreviations. Knowing them tells you exactly where your marks come from.

1. M, A and B marks. M marks are for a valid method. A marks are for an accurate answer, and you only get them if the linked M mark is earned or implied. B marks stand alone. In Paper 4 Question 7(a), the compound interest answer gets 2 marks: M1 for the correct compound interest method, then the mark for the value. The scheme says the method is spoiled if you only give the interest instead of the total.

2. Working rescues marks. In Paper 1 Question 24 (the fifth child’s age, 3 marks), you get M1 for finding the total age of the first four children, even if the answer is wrong. In Paper 2 Question 23(b) (4 marks), you can pick up B1 for the y-value at x = 2, M1 for the perpendicular gradient and M1 for substituting the point, before the final answer mark. A bare wrong answer scores nothing.

3. Follow through (FT) protects you from one slip. Paper 3 Question 14(b)(ii) gives method marks “FT” from your own expression in part (b)(i). Paper 2 Question 21(b) gives the turning point mark FT from your completed square in part (a). One early error doesn’t sink the whole question, as long as you carry on correctly.

4. Accuracy: 3 significant figures, 1 decimal place for angles. The calculator papers set this rule on the cover. Paper 3 Question 20 (percentage of metal left) accepts 37.2, and accepts 40, 37 or 37.1 only if 37.2 or more figures is seen in your working. Paper 4 Question 14 (reflex angle) gives B1 for 65.8° seen on the way to 294.2°. Write your unrounded value first, then round.

5. “cao” means no follow through. cao is “correct answer only”. Paper 3 Question 11 asked for a volume to 1 decimal place: 183.8 cao. An answer of 184 or 183.82 drops to 1 mark. Paper 1 Question 5(b) (0.04857 to 3 decimal places) is cao and accepts no trailing zeros, so 0.0490 would not score.

6. oe, isw and nfww. “oe” (or equivalent) means any equal form is fine, such as a fraction instead of a decimal. “isw” (ignore subsequent working) means a correct answer isn’t lost if you then convert it wrongly; for example Paper 2 Question 8 ignores a correct surd later turned into a decimal. “nfww” (not from wrong working) means a right answer must come from correct work: Paper 4 Question 12’s answer, 19 January, is nfww.

7. Words count in geometry. Paper 2 Question 15 (5 marks) needs both the angle and the reasons. The scheme credits “opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180” and “alternate segment theorem”, but rejects “alternate segment” on its own or “AST”. In transformation questions on Papers 1 and 2, giving more than one transformation scores 0.

8. Units and drawing rules. Paper 3 Question 24 gave a separate mark for the units of surface area (cm²). On Paper 2 Question 12, drawing any of the four lines dashed loses 1 mark the first time it happens. Graphs on Papers 3 and 4 must be smooth curves, not ruled lines, and plots are checked to within half a small square.

Which papers should you sit?

• Extended candidates: Paper 2 (non-calculator) and Paper 4 (calculator).
• Core candidates: Paper 1 (non-calculator) and Paper 3 (calculator).

The 2026 papers show a clear split: the non-calculator papers lean on fractions, surds and exact values, while the calculator papers lean on trigonometry, growth and graph drawing. Practise both types, not just the one you find easier.

How to use the 2026 papers as a mock

1. Keep them for last. Use older 0580 papers for topic practice and save May/June 2026 for a full mock two to four weeks before your exam.
2. Sit both papers in one day, timed. Do the non-calculator paper first, then the calculator paper after a break.
3. Mark with the M, A and B marks. Give yourself method marks for correct working, even when the final answer is wrong. This shows you how many marks your working is saving you.
4. Check every rounding. Circle each answer that isn’t exact and check it is to 3 significant figures, 1 decimal place for angles, or the accuracy the question asked for.
5. Log every lost mark. Note whether it was a missing method, an arithmetic slip, a rounding error or a missing reason or unit, and fix them in that order.

More IGCSE Maths resources

• IGCSE Maths past papers (Cambridge 0580 and Edexcel 4MA1, all years)
• How to use IGCSE Maths past papers and mark schemes
• IGCSE past papers 2026: all subjects

🔍 Looking for a specific past paper? Use our free Past Paper Finder to search by subject, year and exam board.

Need help with a 0580 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an IGCSE Mathematics tutor →

Frequently asked questions

Are the 0580 May/June 2026 past papers free? +

Yes. All four question papers (0580/12, 0580/22, 0580/32 and 0580/42) and their official mark schemes are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

What topics came up in 0580 Paper 4 May/June 2026? +

Paper 4 (0580/42) had 22 questions. The biggest were bearings with the sine and cosine rules (10 marks), drawing a cubic graph and solving an equation with a straight line (11 marks), a square-based pyramid (9 marks), a triangle-area quadratic (8 marks) and grouped data with a histogram (7 marks).

What came up in 0580 Paper 2 May/June 2026? +

Paper 2 (0580/22) was non-calculator and had 25 questions. It included regions defined by inequalities, circle theorems with reasons, surds, vectors and collinearity, differentiation to find a tangent and a normal, indices, and solving a line and a curve simultaneously.

How is 0580 marked? +

Every 0580 paper is marked with method (M), accuracy (A) and independent (B) marks. Method marks reward a correct approach even if the final answer is wrong, accuracy marks need the method mark first, and non-exact answers on the calculator papers must be given to 3 significant figures (or 1 decimal place for angles) unless the question says otherwise.

Why can't I find 0580/41 or 0580/43 for 2026? +

Only variant 2 of the May/June 2026 papers is on the portal at the moment. Cambridge sets different variants for different time zones; variants 1 and 3 test the same syllabus in the same format, so variant 2 prepares you just as well.

When will the October/November 2026 0580 papers be available? +

Cambridge usually releases the October/November papers in the new year. We add them to the Learning Portal once they are published.

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