OCR Level 3 FSMQ Additional Mathematics 6993 is a Free Standing Mathematics Qualification designed as a bridge from higher-tier GCSE Mathematics into post-16 Mathematics, including AS and A-Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics.
OCR’s current qualification code is 6993. It is different from AQA’s Level 2 Further Mathematics 8365: OCR 6993 is a Level 3 qualification with a single synoptic paper and its own content/assessment model.
6993 assessment structure
| Component | Format | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 · 6993/01 | Calculator permitted · 2 hours · 100 marks · written synoptic paper | 100% |
Because there is only one examination paper, students cannot compartmentalise the qualification into separate calculator/non-calculator components. The paper can draw from the full specification and requires mathematical reasoning as well as technical execution.
The topic map
- Algebra
- Enumeration
- Coordinate geometry
- Pythagoras and trigonometry
- Calculus
- Numerical methods
- Exponentials and logarithms
Why OCR FSMQ is a useful bridge
The qualification deliberately extends GCSE Mathematics into ideas that appear later at A-Level. Calculus, numerical methods, exponentials/logarithms and stronger algebraic reasoning give capable students a preview of post-16 Mathematics while they are still building confidence with higher-level problem solving.
2027 formula sheet
OCR has confirmed that students taking Level 3 FSMQ Additional Mathematics in June 2027 will receive an extra formula sheet alongside the question paper. Formulae that are normally printed at the front of the paper remain there as well. This is an examination-rule detail and should be checked against the current OCR assessment page for each series.
OCR 6993 versus AQA 8365
| Qualification | Main structural difference |
|---|---|
| AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics 8365 | Level 2; two 1h45 papers; one non-calculator, one calculator. |
| OCR FSMQ Additional Mathematics 6993 | Level 3; one 2-hour synoptic paper; calculator permitted. |
Preparation route
- Make GCSE Higher algebra and trigonometry reliable.
- Build calculus from rates/gradients rather than memorised rules alone.
- Learn numerical methods as approximations whose convergence must be understood.
- Practise exponentials and logarithms as functions, not just equation-solving techniques.
- Use OCR 6993 papers and mark schemes for the final examination layer.
For the next stage, continue to UK A-Level Mathematics and, where appropriate, Further Mathematics.
World Mathematics route: return to the World Mathematics Atlas for the wider UK, international and university Mathematics map.
Official sources checked 28 September 2026: OCR FSMQ Additional Mathematics 6993, the current specification at a glance, and OCR’s 2027 formula-sheet update.