The single question that decides how Maths and Science students spend their final fortnight is: which formulae will be printed on the exam paper, and which do I have to memorise? Every series, candidates burn revision time memorising formulae that are given on the formula sheet — and skip formulae that are not given because they assumed they would be. The boards publish the answer; most students do not read it.

This guide is a practical breakdown of what is on the formula sheet and what you have to remember across Cambridge IGCSE, Pearson Edexcel International GCSE, AQA GCSE, Cambridge International A-Level, Edexcel IAL and IB DP — for Maths, Physics and Chemistry. It also points to the official 2026 formula booklets for each board so you can drill from the document the exam will hand you.

Why this matters more than students think

A typical IGCSE Physics paper rewards 5–8 marks for direct formula application; A-Level Maths can reward 15+. If you waste revision hours memorising the rearrangements of v² = u² + 2as while the formula is sitting on the booklet, you have spent your time on the wrong thing. If you do not memorise area of a triangle = ½ × base × height because you assumed it would be given (it usually is not), you forfeit straightforward marks.

The question is not “do I need to know formulae?” — you do. It is which formulae need to be in your head before you walk into the exam, and which can stay on the booklet because the booklet is in front of you.

How exam formula sheets actually work

Each board publishes a formula booklet that is printed at the front (or back) of the relevant Maths and Science papers. Three principles to internalise:

• Booklets are paper-specific. The Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics formula sheet for Paper 2 (non-calculator) is different from Paper 4. The Edexcel IAL Pure Maths booklet differs from the Mechanics booklet. Always check the booklet for the specific paper you are sitting.
• Booklets list the formulae the board wants you to apply, not the formulae they want you to memorise. A formula on the booklet is a reference during the exam; it is not a syllabus statement that this is the only formula you need.
• Re-arrangements are rarely given. A booklet often gives v = u + at but expects you to rearrange to find a, u or t. The rearrangement is not separately printed.

The implication: the booklet sets a floor, not a ceiling. Everything not on the booklet that the syllabus expects you to use is your memorisation list.

A free hub of 2026 formula sheets by board and subject

We maintain a free library of 2026 formula sheets organised by board, qualification and subject. The collection covers:

• Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Coordinated Science.
• Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A & B, Further Pure Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
• AQA GCSE Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Combined Science.
• Cambridge International A-Level Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
• Pearson Edexcel International A-Level (IAL) Mathematics, Pure, Mechanics, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
• IB Diploma Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches (AA), Applications & Interpretation (AI), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics.

Each sheet links to the official board document where applicable, plus a printable Tutopiya version with the syllabus-aligned formulae for 2026 sittings. The hub is free, browser-based, and does not require a signup to view or download.

What’s typically on the IGCSE Mathematics formula sheet — and what isn’t

Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 / 0980 and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A 4MA1 give a similar baseline. The patterns below hold across most IGCSE Maths papers; always confirm against the 2026 booklet for your paper.

Typically given on the formula sheet

• Area of a parallelogram, trapezium, circle.
• Surface area and volume of cylinder, sphere, cone.
• Pythagoras’ theorem (sometimes implicit).
• Sine rule, cosine rule, area of triangle = ½ ab sin C.
• Volume formulae for prism, pyramid.

Typically NOT given — you must memorise

• Area of a triangle (½ × base × height) and rectangle (l × w).
• Circumference of a circle (2πr) and area (πr²).
• Pythagoras’ theorem (sometimes; check your specific paper).
• The quadratic formula (Cambridge Extended often gives it; IGCSE Maths B may not).
• Trigonometric ratios: sin, cos, tan and their inverses.
• All algebra rules (factorising, expanding, indices, surds).
• Probability rules.
• Graph-shape recognition (linear, quadratic, cubic, reciprocal, exponential).
• Standard form, percentage change, ratio and proportion.

The lesson: the booklet covers the geometry-heavy formulae; the algebra and arithmetic foundations are on you. Spend the largest share of your Maths revision on what is not given.

A-Level Mathematics formula booklets (Edexcel IAL, Cambridge International, AQA)

A-Level Maths formula booklets are more extensive than IGCSE — but the principle is the same: foundational results are not given.

Typically given

• Standard differentiation and integration of common functions (xⁿ, sin x, cos x, eˣ, ln x).
• Trigonometric identities (sin² + cos² = 1, double-angle formulae).
• Statistical distribution formulae (binomial, normal, Poisson where on syllabus).
• Mechanics formulae for SUVAT, projectile motion (some boards).
• Series formulae (sum of arithmetic and geometric series).
• Sine and cosine rules.

Typically NOT given — you must memorise

• The chain rule, product rule and quotient rule for differentiation (often given for IB DP Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches; not always for Cambridge or Edexcel).
• The derivative of tan x and several less-common derivatives.
• Trigonometric values for standard angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°).
• Logarithm rules.
• Integration by substitution and integration by parts strategy (the formula for parts is given; choosing u and dv is on you).
• Vector dot product geometry and vector parametric form.
• Boundary conditions and limits for definite integrals — the technique, not the formula.

The exception: IB DP Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation booklets are unusually generous — most identities and key derivatives are given. This still leaves technique selection and algebraic manipulation on you, which is where most marks are won and lost.

IGCSE Physics formula sheet — what’s given and what isn’t

Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1 publish formula booklets, and the philosophy is similar: foundational mechanics and electricity formulae are given; conversions and rearrangements are not.

Typically given

• v = u + at and v² = u² + 2as (SUVAT subset).
• F = ma.
• Density = mass / volume.
• Pressure = force / area.
• Wave equation (v = fλ).
• Power = energy / time and Power = current × voltage.
• Resistance = voltage / current (Ohm’s law).
• Series and parallel resistance combinations.
• Specific heat capacity (Q = mcΔT).

Typically NOT given — you must memorise

• Unit conversions (seconds in a minute, m to km, kPa to Pa, °C to K).
• All rearrangements of given formulae.
• Density values for common substances.
• Speed of sound in different media.
• Standard prefixes (kilo, mega, milli, micro).
• Direction conventions for forces, currents, magnetic fields.
• Graph-reading skills (gradients, areas under curves, intercepts).
• Diagram conventions (circuit symbols, ray diagrams).

A common failure mode: students memorise F = ma but forget that 2 kN is 2000 N. The unit conversion is the marks-loser, not the formula. The unit conversion cheatsheet at Tutopiya is a useful companion to the formula sheet — they cover different gaps.

A-Level Physics formula booklet

Cambridge International A-Level Physics 9702 and Pearson Edexcel IAL Physics WPH publish more extensive booklets than IGCSE. The booklets typically include:

Typically given

• Mechanics: SUVAT, F = ma, momentum, impulse, work, energy, power.
• Circular motion: ω, centripetal acceleration and force.
• Gravitational and electric fields: g = GM/r², E = kQ/r², V = kQ/r.
• Capacitance, RC circuits.
• Wave equations, intensity, refraction.
• Quantum: E = hf, photoelectric equation.
• Nuclear: decay equations, half-life.
• Most calculus-style results in mechanics and waves.

Typically NOT given — you must memorise

• Definitions (e.g. gravitational potential at a point, electric field strength) — these are written-mark questions, not booklet entries.
• The algebra to derive secondary results from given formulae.
• Graph shapes for radioactive decay, capacitor discharge, simple harmonic motion.
• Practical method conventions (use of error bars, systematic vs random error).
• Constants are typically given on the booklet; values for specific materials usually are not.

The point that consistently surfaces in examiner reports: A-Level Physics rewards the algebraic manipulation of given formulae, not the recall of formulae per se. Drill the manipulation.

IGCSE and A-Level Chemistry formulae

Chemistry is the exception across boards: most boards do not publish a separate Chemistry formula sheet. Constants (e.g. molar gas volume, Avogadro’s number, ideal gas constant) are typically given in the question stem when needed. The formulae you need to memorise are concentrated in three areas:

Must memorise (across IGCSE and A-Level)

• Mole calculations: moles = mass / Mr, moles = volume × concentration, moles in gas = volume / 24 (at RTP, IGCSE) or PV = nRT (A-Level).
• Yield and atom economy: percentage yield, percentage atom economy, percentage purity.
• Gas volume and concentration: parts-per-million calculations (some boards), gas equation rearrangements.
• pH and pKa relationships (A-Level).
• Rate equations (A-Level): rate = k[A]ⁿ[B]ᵐ, integrated rate laws, half-life relationships.
• Born–Haber cycle structure (A-Level): the layout and sign convention, even if individual values are given.
• Equilibrium expressions (Kc, Kp, Kw) and the relationships between them.

A-Level Chemistry students consistently lose marks because they treat the lack of a formula sheet as meaning “no formulae” — when in fact the syllabus expects most relationships to be derived and applied from memory. Build your own one-page formula reference and drill it as a flashcard set.

How to use a formula sheet effectively in revision

Three habits separate students who use the formula sheet well from students who do not.

1. Print the official booklet for your specific paper

Not a third-party summary. The official document. Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OCR and IBO all publish the formula booklets on their websites; the Tutopiya formula sheets hub links to the official document for each board where available, plus a printable version aligned to 2026 specifications.

Print one copy. Keep it next to your revision desk. Drill from the document the exam will hand you.

2. Build a “must-memorise” companion list

For every paper you sit, write a one-page list of formulae that are not on the booklet but the syllabus expects you to know. The list is usually shorter than students fear — typically 10–25 formulae per Science subject, 15–30 per Maths paper. Drill that list as flashcards using the Tutopiya flashcard maker with formula prompts.

3. Drill formula application, not formula recall

Once the must-memorise list is locked in, the marks are won on application — choosing the right formula for the question, rearranging it, substituting carefully, presenting working with units. This is past-paper work. The formula sheet is the reference; the past paper is the test. See how to use past papers effectively for IGCSE 2026 for the past-paper revision pattern.

Common formula-sheet mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Memorising what is given. Wasted hours. Use the official booklet to cross off everything that will be in front of you in the exam.
• Not memorising rearrangements. Booklets give v = u + at; the question asks for u. Drill rearrangements explicitly.
• Confusing similar formulae. F = ma and F = mg are different. Drill the conditions under which each applies, not just the algebra.
• Forgetting units. Formula recall without unit recall costs unit marks (typically 1 per calculation question, 5–8 per Physics paper). Pair every formula card with its expected SI unit.
• Skipping the booklet during practice. If you do not use the booklet during past-paper drilling, you will not know which formulae are on it under exam pressure. Use it from the first practice paper.
• Trusting a third-party summary over the official document. Boards update booklets on syllabus revision cycles. The third-party PDF on a forum may be three years out of date.

What to do this week if your Maths or Science exam is imminent

If your paper is in the next two weeks:

1. Open the formula sheets hub and download the official booklet for your specific paper. Print one copy.
2. Build your must-memorise list — anything the syllabus expects that is not on the booklet. Cap at 25 items per subject.
3. Run two retrieval sessions per day on the must-memorise list using the flashcard maker.
4. Practise three past papers using the booklet so the document is familiar in the exam — not unfamiliar.

For the broader last-fortnight pattern, see active recall vs highlighting: why flashcards win the last two weeks and how to revise in the last week before IGCSE exams.

Frequently asked questions

Are formulae given in the IGCSE Maths exam?

Some are, most are not. Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics typically gives geometry and trigonometry formulae (sphere, cone, sine and cosine rules) but does not give area of a triangle, area of a circle, Pythagoras (sometimes implicit), the quadratic formula on every paper, or any algebra rules. Always check the booklet for your specific paper.

Are formulae given in IGCSE Physics?

Yes — Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1 publish formula booklets covering core mechanics, electricity and waves formulae. Unit conversions, rearrangements and definitions are not given.

Are formulae given in IGCSE Chemistry?

Generally no — most boards do not publish a separate Chemistry formula sheet. Constants are given in the question stem when needed. You must memorise mole equations, percentage yield, gas volume relationships, equilibrium and rate equations.

Are formulae given in A-Level Maths?

Yes — Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel IAL, AQA, OCR and IB DP all publish formula booklets for A-Level / IB Maths. The booklets are extensive but do not cover all rules; you must memorise log rules, basic identities, technique-selection rules and integration strategy.

Are formulae given in A-Level Physics?

Yes — Cambridge International A-Level Physics 9702 and Pearson Edexcel IAL Physics publish detailed booklets covering mechanics, fields, waves, quantum and nuclear formulae. Definitions, graph shapes and algebraic manipulations are not given.

Where do I find the official formula sheet for my exam?

Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OCR and IBO all publish formula booklets on their official websites. The Tutopiya formula sheets hub links to the official document for each board and provides a printable Tutopiya version aligned to 2026 specifications.

How should I study from a formula sheet?

Print the official booklet. Build a separate must-memorise list of formulae not on the booklet that the syllabus expects. Drill the must-memorise list as flashcards. Use the booklet during every past-paper attempt so it is familiar under exam conditions.

Is the formula sheet the same for every paper in the same subject?

Not always. Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics has different booklets for Paper 2 (non-calculator) and Paper 4. Edexcel IAL Maths splits booklets across Pure, Mechanics and Statistics. Always check the booklet for the specific paper you are sitting.

Do I need to memorise unit conversions?

Yes — unit conversions are almost never on the formula sheet, and missing them is a leading cause of mark loss in IGCSE and A-Level Sciences. The unit conversion cheatsheet is a useful companion document.

Are constants (like Avogadro’s number) given in Chemistry papers?

Typically yes — Avogadro’s number, molar gas volume at RTP, and the ideal gas constant are usually given in the question stem when needed. You should memorise their values and units anyway as a backup, because mixing up units is a common mistake under pressure.

How is the IB DP formula booklet different from A-Level?

IB DP Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation booklets are unusually generous — most identities and standard derivatives are included. This shifts the marks toward technique selection and algebraic manipulation, which are not on the booklet.

Can I use the Tutopiya formula sheets for free?

Yes — the Tutopiya formula sheets hub is free and browser-based, with printable formula sheets organised by board, qualification and subject for 2026. There is no signup required.

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Last reviewed: 5 May 2026. Always cross-check formula coverage against the official 2026 formula booklet for your specific board, qualification and paper. Boards revise booklets on syllabus cycles.

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