GCSE Maths and Science Exams: Students Won't Need to Memorise Formulas from Summer 2026
From summer 2026 onwards, GCSE students in mathematics, physics, and combined science will receive printed formula and equation sheets in exams, removing the need to memorise key formulas and focusing assessment on understanding and application.
Starting in summer 2026, GCSE students taking mathematics, physics, and combined science will no longer be required to memorise formulas and equations. Instead, support materials in the form of printed formula and equation sheets will be provided during the exams themselves.
This change, confirmed by the Department for Education and implemented by Ofqual (the exam regulator), applies to students sitting GCSEs in 2026, 2027, and beyond. The revised assessment format focuses on testing understanding, application, and rearrangement of formulas rather than recall.
How this affects GCSE candidates
- Formula/equation sheets will be provided in GCSE maths (all tiers), GCSE physics, and GCSE combined science exams.
- Support materials will be published by 1 September in the year before the exam (e.g., 1 September 2025 for summer 2026 exams)—giving students and teachers time to familiarise themselves.
- This applies to summer and November exam sittings.
- The goal is to test problem-solving, understanding and manipulation of formulas, not memory of formulae themselves.
- Students are expected to practice using and rearranging the provided sheets during revision and mock exams.
If you have a teenager preparing for summer 2026 GCSEs (currently in Year 10 or 11), the key takeaway is that they should focus on understanding how formulas work and when to apply them, rather than pure memorisation. Teachers will receive the final formula sheets well in advance; ensure your child's school has them integrated into practice papers and revision sessions. Download the 2022–24 sheets (which match 2026 content) early and practise using them regularly.
Sources
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