IGCSE Maths Paper 4 Section B: How to Maximise Your Marks
Paper 4 Extended is 2 hours 30 minutes and carries 130 marks. Section B contains long structured questions worth 10–14 marks each. Many students lose 20+ marks here not because of topic gaps, but because of poor multi-part question management.
Understanding Section B Structure
Section B questions are multi-part: (a), (b), (c) often build on each other. Part (a) is usually accessible, part (c) is usually challenging. A student who cannot answer (c) can still earn 8–10 marks on (a) and (b) — never skip the earlier parts of a question just because (c) looks hard.
Tips
- Read the whole question before starting to understand where it's heading
- The answer from part (a) often feeds into part (b) — plan accordingly
- If (c) refers to 'your answer to (b)', note it down even if you're unsure about (b)
Time Allocation for Paper 4
130 marks in 150 minutes = approximately 1 minute 10 seconds per mark. A 10-mark question should take about 12 minutes maximum. Students who spend 25 minutes on one question and skip two others consistently underperform their knowledge level.
Tips
- Write your target time for each question at the top of it before starting
- Use the number of marks as a guide: 3 marks = ~3.5 minutes
- Set a 'last resort' time at 2 hours 20 minutes — use the final 10 minutes for attempted answers on skipped parts
Partial Credit Recovery
When stuck on a multi-part question, write what you know. Set up the method even if you can't complete it. Many M marks are available for correct setup — writing nothing earns nothing.
Tips
- For geometry questions, draw and label the diagram even if you can't solve it
- For algebra, write the equation that would solve the problem even if you can't rearrange it
- For trigonometry, identify which rule applies and write it down — the method mark may follow
Common High-Mark Question Topics in Section B
Cambridge consistently uses certain topics for the high-mark Section B questions: trigonometry with bearings or 3D geometry, algebraic manipulation and functions, transformation geometry with coordinates, and probability with combined events. Prioritise these five topics in revision.
Tips
- Practise at least 3 complete instances of each high-mark topic type
- Bearings + trigonometry together is a recurring 10–12 mark question
- Functions questions often progress from evaluation → inverse → composite in three parts
Key Takeaways
- Never skip part (a) of a question — early parts are accessible even on hard questions
- Budget ~1 minute 10 seconds per mark and monitor time strictly
- Write partial working for every question — M marks are available without a correct final answer
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Book a Free TrialFrequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in Paper 4 Section B?
Paper 4 typically has 9–11 questions across Sections A and B combined, with Section B containing 4–5 longer structured questions. The total is 130 marks over 2 hours 30 minutes.
Should my child attempt Paper 4 questions in order?
Yes, generally. Section A builds confidence and earns early marks. In Section B, if one question is particularly hard, move on and return to it — but complete all earlier parts of every question before skipping.
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