Mathematics A (H240) and Mathematics B, MEI (H640) are two separately-accredited specifications, not two names for one exam — and OCR weights problem-solving differently on each, paper by paper.
Book a Free ConsultationOCR examines A-Level Mathematics through two separately-accredited specifications: Mathematics A (H230 AS, H240 A-level) and Mathematics B, MEI (H630 AS, H640 A-level). Both are at Version 3.1, dated August 2026, and both were first assessed in 2018. Neither appears on OCR's own qualification-withdrawal notice, checked directly on 9 September 2026. The two routes share an identical qualification-level Assessment Objective total but split it differently paper by paper — which is what actually separates them for a student choosing between them.
Already know whether your child sits H240 or H640?
Our expert OCR A-level maths tutors work paper by paper from whichever specification a school has actually entered — H240's three evenly-weighted papers or H640's Mechanics-heavy Paper 1 and Comprehension-based Paper 3.
91% of our students achieve their desired grades, rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot from 58 reviews.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppA-Level Mathematics content is fixed nationally by the Department for Education, and our A-Level Maths guide already sets out the full five-board comparison — every paper's marks, timing and weighting, including both OCR routes named side by side, down to Mathematics B, MEI's Comprehension paper and OCR's own reason for setting it. This page does not repeat that structure. It stays with OCR alone and goes a level deeper, into what neither the parent page nor OCR's own top-ranking search result for this exact term ever states.
Both. OCR's own qualification pages confirm the codes directly: Mathematics A is titled "AS and A Level - Mathematics A - H230, H240", and Mathematics B, MEI is titled "AS and A Level - Mathematics B (MEI) - H630, H640" — developed, as the specification itself states, in collaboration with Mathematics in Education and Industry. Both specifications' own cover pages state the identical current edition: "Version 3.1 (August 2026) ... For first assessment in 2018." Each specification also states its own qualification accreditation number — 603/1038/8 for Mathematics A, 603/1002/9 for Mathematics B, MEI — as "the accreditation number for OCR's A Level in Mathematics A/B (MEI)". Ofqual's own find-a-qualification register did not return a result confirming either number in this research, so both are stated here as the specifications' own figures, not as independently register-verified ones.
Neither specification appears on OCR's qualification-withdrawal notice. That page was fetched directly and string-searched for "H240" and "H640" as part of this page's own research, rather than taken on trust from an earlier check: zero matches for either code, confirming both routes remain live, current qualifications rather than ones scheduled for withdrawal.
Neither OCR's own top-ranking result for "OCR A-Level Maths" nor any of the other organic results checked for this page states a per-paper Assessment Objective weighting for either route. Physics & Maths Tutor, MathsGenie, Mathsaurus and Save My Exams all cover H240 to varying depth and none mention H640 exists at all; even OCR's own qualification page for Mathematics A never names Mathematics B. OCR's own specifications state the AO breakdown in full, and the two routes make genuinely different choices about where to put it.
| Mathematics A (H240) – component | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| H240/01 Pure Mathematics | 47–53 | 25–29 | 18–28 |
| H240/02 Pure Mathematics and Statistics | 47–53 | 23–27 | 20–30 |
| H240/03 Pure Mathematics and Mechanics | 47–53 | 21–25 | 22–32 |
| Total for the A Level | 48–52% | 23–27% | 23–27% |
Source: OCR Mathematics A (H240) specification, Version 3.1, August 2026. Figures are marks per component except the total row.
| Mathematics B, MEI (H640) – component | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| H640/01 Pure Mathematics and Mechanics | 47–53 | 18–24 | 26–32 |
| H640/02 Pure Mathematics and Statistics | 47–53 | 22–28 | 22–28 |
| H640/03 Pure Mathematics and Comprehension | 35–39 | 21–25 | 13–17 |
| Total for the A Level | 48–52% | 23–27% | 23–27% |
Source: OCR Mathematics B, MEI (H640) specification, Version 3.1, August 2026. Figures are marks per component except the total row.
AO1 stays close to 47–53 marks on every paper in both specifications — routine recall and technique barely moves. What moves is the balance of AO2 against AO3, and the two routes move it in opposite directions. On Mathematics B, MEI, the Mechanics paper (H640/01) carries the highest AO3 share of any paper in either specification, 26–32, notably above H240's own highest applied-paper AO3 share of 22–32 on Pure Mathematics and Mechanics. The same H640 specification's Comprehension paper (H640/03) then does the opposite: its AO1 share drops to 35–39, well below the 47–53 every other paper carries in both routes, and its AO3 share falls to 13–17, the lowest of any paper in either specification. A student who struggles with multi-step problem-solving is more exposed on MEI's Mechanics paper than on any paper of Mathematics A; a student who is comfortable with routine technique but weaker on extended reasoning is comparatively sheltered on MEI's Comprehension paper, where recall carries less of the mark scheme than anywhere else on either route.
Both routes' qualification-level totals are identical to each other at 48–52% AO1, 23–27% AO2 and 23–27% AO3, and that total matches what Edexcel states for its own 9MA0 specification, detailed on our Edexcel A-Level Maths page. Three independently specified A-level Maths qualifications sharing one qualification-level AO total while distributing it differently paper by paper is about as clear a demonstration as exists of what Ofqual fixes nationally and what each board is left to decide for itself.
Not sure which paper is putting the most problem-solving pressure on your child?
Our expert OCR A-level maths tutors target the AO3 questions each route concentrates hardest — H640's Mechanics paper or H240's applied papers — alongside routine technique practice built around a student's own school and target grade.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppOCR does not leave a reader to infer why the two routes feel different to sit — both specifications state the comparison directly, in an identical box inside their opening "what are the key features of this specification" section. For Mathematics A: "Applied content (statistics and mechanics) assessed on separate papers so that the content domains assessed on any given paper don't cover both at once ... Components 02 and 03 are in two sections: section A on the Pure Mathematics content; section B on either Statistics or Mechanics." For Mathematics B, MEI, in the same box: "Components 01 and 02 are in two sections: section A consists of shorter questions with minimal reading and interpretation; section B includes longer questions and problem solving."
That is a difference in question style, not only in topic. Mathematics A's Section A/Section B split is about content domain — which applied strand a given question draws on. Mathematics B, MEI's Section A/Section B split is about question shape — how much reading and multi-step reasoning a question demands, independent of which topic it covers. MEI's own specification adds its stated reason for building comprehension into the assessment at all: it "includes mathematical comprehension in the assessment to help to prepare learners to use mathematics in a variety of contexts in higher education and future employment." A student revising "Section B" on MEI needs to practise reading and interpreting unfamiliar mathematical text, not simply more mechanics or statistics questions.
Mathematics A's own specification makes the split between what the Department for Education fixes and what OCR itself decides checkable, not just assertable. Its detailed-content tables carry a "DfE Ref." column against every numbered content point, plus a "Stage 1 / Stage 2" split: "When this course is being co-taught with AS Level Mathematics A (H230) the 'Stage 1' column indicates the common content between the two specifications and the 'Stage 2' column indicates content which is particular to this specification." A school or tutor can trace any topic back to the exact DfE reference it derives from, and see at a glance whether it is shared with the co-taught AS or added at A-level.
Mathematics B, MEI's own detailed-content tables use a differently structured "Specification Ref." column instead, carrying MEI's own internal codes such as Mp1 and Ma1. A directly equivalent "DfE Ref." column was not found in this research's reading of the MEI document. Complex multi-column PDF tables do not always extract reliably, so that absence is recorded here as something not found in this research, not as a confirmed gap on OCR's part.
Not sure which content is fixed by the DfE and which is OCR's own choice?
Our expert OCR A-level maths tutors trace a student's weak topics back to the DfE-Ref crosswalk on H240 or the equivalent content tables on H640, then build a revision plan around what each board's own paper structure actually tests.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppBoth specifications state their geographic availability in identical wording: "This qualification is available in England. For Wales and Northern Ireland please check the Qualifications in Wales Portal (QIW) or the Northern Ireland Department of Education Performance Measures / Northern Ireland Entitlement Framework Qualifications Accreditation Number (NIEFQAN) list to see current availability." Both also state their language of assessment identically: "This qualification is available in English only. All assessment materials are available in English only and all candidate work must be in English."
OCR's own version history for both specifications, read end to end from first assessment in 2018 to the present, shows no change to either route's paper structure, marks or content. Mathematics A's changelog runs from Version 1.1 to the current Version 3.1; its entries cover a disclaimer addition, a back-cover link change, digital-accessibility formatting, a Total Qualification Time note added for Wales compliance, Teach Cambridge guidance, and the rebrand below — none of them structural. Mathematics B, MEI's changelog is materially the same in kind, with one further entry: a May 2021 correction to a mathematical formula printed on page 31 of that edition.
Both specifications' most recent change is dated August 2026 and concerns the Large Data Set: Mathematics A's changelog records a "deletion of wording about the Large Data Set", while Mathematics B, MEI's records both a "deletion of references to the Large Data Set" and "clarification on new arrangements for the use of the Large Data Set". As of September 2025, OCR's own name is Cambridge OCR: "Students who sat an exam in summer 2025 will receive a Cambridge OCR branded exam certificate ... You'll continue to see the OCR or Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations name while we work to update our material to our new name." Both specifications also set an identical Total Qualification Time of 360 hours, whichever route a school enters.
A-Level Mathematics was reformed in the September 2017 wave, not the sciences' September 2015 wave — worth stating plainly, because the two dates are easy to conflate. The Department for Education's own reform documentation lists mathematics among the subjects first taught from September 2017, with a subject-specific footnote: "Mathematics A level can be first awarded in 2018 after 1 year of study." That matches exactly what both OCR specification covers state independently: "For first assessment in 2018."
Both specifications share an identical command-words section: "The meanings of some instructions and words used in this specification are detailed below. Other command words, for example 'explain' or 'calculate', will have their ordinary English meaning." Several of the defined words change what a mark scheme actually expects.
"Exact" means an answer given in unrounded form. OCR's own worked example: "Find the exact solution of ln x = 2. The correct answer is e2 and not 7.389 056." "Find", "Solve" and "Calculate" are grouped together and require no justification: "these command words indicate that, while working may be necessary to answer the question, no justification is required. A solution could be obtained from the efficient use of a calculator, either graphically or using a numerical method." "Determine" is the stricter cousin of that group: "this command word indicates that justification should be given for any results found, including working where appropriate." A student who reaches the correct number by calculator alone has fully answered a "Find" or "Calculate" question and only partially answered a "Determine" one.
OCR separately defines three further command words in the same shared section — "Prove", "Show that" and "Verify" — each with its own worked example, confirmed present in both specifications' documents. A student preparing an answer to any of the six should check the specification's own definition and worked example rather than assume the word means what it would in ordinary conversation: "Determine" alone shows how much a single command word can change what a mark scheme expects.
My son was low in confidence after COVID and the gaps in learning were building up. Using this service helped plug those gaps, rebuild confidence, and improve his ability to learn properly again.
We arranged maths and English tuition ahead of GCSEs and both tutors were brilliant. My daughter's grades improved, and by results day she achieved two grades higher than in her mock exams.
I attended an English bootcamp with Leading Tuition and the experience was excellent. The teacher gave focused attention to the small group while keeping the lessons interactive and engaging.
Want a command-word and revision check against OCR's own rules?
Our expert OCR A-level maths tutors work from OCR's own H240 or H640 specification — not a generic scheme of work — and check a student actually meets what "Determine" or "Exact" requires before results day.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppEverything above is drawn directly from OCR's own Mathematics A and Mathematics B, MEI specification PDFs, not from a summary of either. That is worth being deliberate about on this board specifically: an invented OCR qualification URL, built on the identical path shape as the two real specification landing pages used as sources for this page, returned a normal-looking HTTP 200 response of 48,185 bytes, titled simply "Qualification details", with zero occurrences of either invented code anywhere in the page. OCR's real H240 and H640 landing pages, fetched in the same session for direct comparison, returned 61,694 and 61,697 bytes respectively, each naming its own code five times in the body. A link resolving is not evidence it says anything: before trusting an OCR link that claims to name a qualification, check that the qualification's own code actually appears in the page behind it.
Specifications are revised without a new code appearing on the cover, so every figure on this page is sourced to each specification's own current document — Version 3.1, dated August 2026 — read directly rather than taken from a summary, and both were cross-checked against OCR's own qualification-withdrawal notice on 9 September 2026 to confirm neither route has been scheduled for withdrawal: OCR Mathematics A (H240) specification, OCR Mathematics B, MEI (H640) specification and OCR's qualification-withdrawal notice. Our A-Level Maths guide sets out the full five-board paper-structure comparison, and our Year 13 OCR A-Level Maths page covers past-paper access, the Large Data Set policy change and exam-series timing for a student already committed to one of these two routes. Check the edition against your school's own paperwork before planning a year of revision around it.
Ready to start with the specification your child is actually sitting?
Our expert OCR A-level maths tutors confirm whether a student is on H240 or H640 first, then build a programme around that route's own paper structure, AO weighting and command-word expectations.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppOCR examines A-Level Maths through two separately-accredited specifications. Mathematics A carries the codes H230 at AS and H240 at A-level. Mathematics B, MEI — developed in collaboration with Mathematics in Education and Industry — carries H630 at AS and H640 at A-level. Both specifications are currently at Version 3.1, dated August 2026, and both were first assessed in 2018. Their qualification accreditation numbers, stated on each specification's own cover, are 603/1038/8 for Mathematics A and 603/1002/9 for Mathematics B, MEI; Ofqual's own online register did not return a result confirming either in this research, so both are given as the specifications' own stated numbers.
Yes, at qualification level. Both specifications set the same total: 48-52% AO1, 23-27% AO2 and 23-27% AO3, identical to the total Edexcel states for its own 9MA0 specification. What differs is how each route distributes that total across its three papers. Mathematics B, MEI puts a notably higher AO3 share, 26-32%, into its Mechanics paper (H640/01) than Mathematics A puts into either of its applied papers, while H640's Comprehension paper (H640/03) carries a markedly lower AO1 share of 35-39%, against 47-53% on every other paper in both specifications.
OCR's own specifications, in an identical passage in both documents, set out the difference in the two routes' own words. Mathematics A splits Components 02 and 03 into a Pure-content Section A and an applied Section B, so statistics and mechanics are never assessed on the same paper. Mathematics B, MEI instead splits Components 01 and 02 into 'shorter questions with minimal reading and interpretation' in Section A and 'longer questions and problem solving' in Section B — a difference in question style, not just topic, that OCR states directly rather than leaving a reader to infer.
OCR's own specifications state, in identical wording for both routes: 'This qualification is available in England. For Wales and Northern Ireland please check the Qualifications in Wales Portal (QIW) or the Northern Ireland Department of Education Performance Measures / Northern Ireland Entitlement Framework Qualifications Accreditation Number (NIEFQAN) list to see current availability.' Neither specification asserts availability in Wales or Northern Ireland on its own authority — a family outside England needs to check the relevant national list before assuming either route is offered at a given school.
Both routes are assessed in English only. OCR's specifications state: 'This qualification is available in English only. All assessment materials are available in English only and all candidate work must be in English.' Both also carry an identical Total Qualification Time of 360 hours, despite Mathematics B, MEI's different paper structure and marks split from Mathematics A. A qualification's TQT does not change according to which of its two routes a school enters.
Yes. Both specifications' most recent update, dated August 2026 and taking each document to Version 3.1, concerns the Large Data Set: Mathematics A's changelog records a 'deletion of wording about the Large Data Set', and Mathematics B, MEI's records a 'deletion of references to the Large Data Set' alongside 'clarification on new arrangements for the use of the Large Data Set'. Read end to end, neither specification's changelog back to first assessment in 2018 shows a change to a paper's structure, marks or content — every entry is a wording, formatting or administrative correction.
No. OCR's own withdrawal-notice page, fetched directly and checked on 9 September 2026, contains zero occurrences of either 'H240' or 'H640' anywhere in its text. Both specifications remain live, current qualifications rather than ones OCR has scheduled for withdrawal. This was re-verified independently for this page rather than assumed from an earlier check, because a specification's withdrawal status is exactly the sort of fact that can change between one research session and the next.
OCR defines its command words explicitly, with worked examples, in a section shared by both specifications. 'Exact' means an answer given in unrounded form: OCR's own example asks for the exact solution of ln x = 2, where the correct answer is e^2, not 7.389 056. 'Find', 'Solve' and 'Calculate' require no justification and permit an efficient calculator method. 'Determine' is stricter: OCR states that 'justification should be given for any results found, including working where appropriate' — a student who reaches the right number without showing that working has not fully answered a 'Determine' question.
Checked September 2026: specification edition, Assessment Objective weightings, design-philosophy comparison and command-word definitions were read directly from OCR's Mathematics A (H240) and Mathematics B, MEI (H640) specifications, Version 3.1 (August 2026), and cross-checked against OCR's own qualification-withdrawal notice on 9 September 2026.
Our expert OCR A-level maths tutors work from OCR's own H240 and H640 specifications and their per-paper AO weightings, not a generic scheme of work — see also our A-Level Maths guide and Year 13 OCR A-Level Maths page.
Book a Free Consultation