Revision Checklist for IGCSE

Mathematics 0580
Guide for Students
REVISION CHECKLIST for IGCSE Mathematics 0580

A guide for students

How to use this guide

This guide describes what topics and skills you need to know for your IGCSE Mathematics examination. It
will help you plan and monitor your revision programme for the written examinations and it will explain
what the examiners are looking for in the answers that you write. It can also be used to help you monitor
your revision by using a colour code of green, amber and red next to the individual content in Section 3,
‘What you need to know’, to check what you know and which topic areas you have covered and which
areas you need to spend more time on.

The guide contains the following sections:

Section 1: How will you be tested?

This section will give you information about the different types of examination papers that are available.

Section 2: What will be tested?

This section describes the areas of knowledge, understanding and skills that the Examiners will test you
on.

Section 3: What you need to know - revision topic checklist

This shows the syllabus content in a simple way so that you can check:
• what you need to know about each topic.
• how the Extended syllabus (Supplement) differs from the Core syllabus.
• how much of the syllabus you have covered.

Section 4: Examination Information

This section gives you some details about what you need to do in the exam. The examiners tips
document and the model answers will provide much more detailed information.

Not all the information will be relevant to you. You will need to select what you need to know in Sections 1
and 3 by finding out from your teacher which examination papers you are taking.
Section 1 - How will you be tested?

The examination Papers you will take:

You will take two papers,

• either Paper 1 and Paper 3,
• or Paper 2 and Paper 4.

If your teacher thinks that you should enter for the examination based on the Core syllabus, you will take
Paper 1 and Paper 3.

If your teacher thinks that you should enter for the examination based on the Extended syllabus, you will
take Paper 2, and Paper 4.

Whether you follow the Core syllabus, or the Extended syllabus will depend on the progress your teacher
thinks you have made and which Papers best suit your particular strengths. You should discuss this with
your teacher.

About the papers

This table gives you information on the papers. It is important to answer all the questions during the
examination and to show your workings in the space provided.

What % of
Paper Number How long? What’s in the paper? the total
qualification
Short answer questions
Paper 1 (Core) 1 hour 35%
Answers should be written in the spaces provided
Paper 2 Short answer questions
1½ hours 35%
(Extended) Answers should be written in the spaces provided
Structured questions
Paper 3 (Core) 2 hours 65%
Answers should be written in the spaces provided
Structured questions
Paper 4
2½ hours Answers should be written on lined paper and 65%
(Extended)
graph paper where appropriate

Section 2 - What will be tested?

The full syllabus, which your teacher will have, lists the assessment objectives in detail. However, you
should note that you must be able to:

• Use tables, graphs and diagrams

• Perform calculations by suitable methods
• Write answers in symbols, numbers and words
• Use an electronic calculator
• Use compasses, a protractor and a ruler accurately
• Express answers to an appropriate degree of accuracy.
• Recognise and recall spatial relationships in two or three dimensions particularly in problem solving
• Make logical deductions from mathematical data
• Apply combinations of mathematical skills and techniques in solving problems

You should ask your teacher if you need any further information on the assessment objectives
Section 3 - What you need to know

This is a table, which describes the things you may be tested on in the exam. It is arranged in the 37 topic
areas that appear on the syllabus. If you are studying only the Core syllabus (Papers 1 and 3), you will
need only refer to column headed Core material. If you are studying the Extended syllabus (Papers 2 and
4), you will need to refer to both the Core and Extended material columns. If you are unsure about which
material to use, you should ask your teacher for advice.

How to use the table

You can use the table throughout your Maths course to check the topic areas you have covered. You can
also use it as a revision aid.

In the check box you could:

• put a RED dot if you are really unsure and lack confidence with a topic
• put an ORANGE dot if you are reasonably confident of a topic but need some extra practice
• put a GREEN dot if you are very confident of a topic

As your revision progresses then you can concentrate on the ORANGE and RED areas, trying to turn
them GREEN

The column headed comments can be used:

• to add further information about the details for each bullet point
• to note relevant page numbers from your text book or other sources.
• to add learning aids
• to highlight areas of difficulty/things which you need to ask your teacher about
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
1. Number, Identify and Use: Use language, notation and Venn
set notation diagrams to describe sets and represent
and language • natural numbers relationships between sets as follows:

• integers (positive, negative and zero) Definition of sets, e.g.

A = {x:x is a natural number}
• prime numbers
B = {(x,y): y = mx + c}
• square numbers
C = {x:a ≤ x ≤ b}
• common factors and common
multiples D = {a,b,c…}

• rational and irrational numbers Notation

Number of elements in set A n(A)
• real numbers
“…is an element of …” . ∈
Continue a given number sequence
“…is not an element of …” . ∉
Recognise patterns in sequences
and relationships between different Complement of a set A' A'
sequences
The empty set Ø
Generalise to simple algebraic
statements (including expressions Universal set E a bit challegnign to
for the nth term) relating to such
implement and
sequences A is a subset of B A ⊆B
interpret these in
A is a proper subset of B A⊂B venn diagram
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
A is not a subset of B A.B A⊆B
a bit hard to
A is a proper subset of B A⊄B implement/
Union of A and B A∪ B
interpret ( use ) in
ven diagram
Intersection of A and B A∩B
2. Squares, Calculate:
square roots
and cubes • squares of numbers

• square roots of numbers

• cubes of numbers

• cube roots of numbers

3. Directed
numbers Use directed numbers in practical
situations

4. Vulgar and Use the language and notation of

decimal simple vulgar and decimal fractions
fractions and and percentages in appropriate
percentages contexts;

recognise equivalence and convert

between fractions, decimals and
percentages
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
5. Ordering Order quantities by magnitude and
demonstrate familiarity with the
symbols =, ≠ , >, <, ≤ , ≥
6. Standard form n
Use the standard form A × 10 where n is
a positive or negative integer and
1 ≤ A < 10
7. Four rules Use the four rules for calculations with:

• whole numbers

• decimal fractions not familiar with this

specific term but it is
• vulgar and mixed fractions
probably a concept we
• correct ordering of operations and use have done before
of brackets
8. Estimation Make estimates of :
• numbers, quantities and lengths

Give approximations to a specified

number of:
• significant figures and decimal places

Round off answers to reasonable

accuracy in the context of a given
problem
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
9. Limits Give upper and lower bounds for Obtain appropriate upper and lower
of accuracy data given to a specified accuracy bounds to solutions of simple problems given
to a specified accuracy
10. Ratio Understand ratio, direct and inverse Express direct and inverse variation in
proportion proportion and rate algebraic terms and use this to find unknown
rate quantities
Use scales in practical situations
Increase and decrease a quantity by a given
Divide quantities in a given ratio ratio

Calculate average speed

11. Percentages Calculate a % of a quantity Calculate reverse percentages,

e.g. finding the cost price given the selling
Express one quantity as a % of another price and the percentage profit
quantity

Calculate % increase or decrease

12. Use an Use a calculator efficiently

electronic
calculator Check accuracy of calculations
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
13. Measures Use current units of

• mass

• length

• area

• volume and capacity

• Express quantities in terms of

smaller or larger units
14. Time Calculate times in terms of the 24- hour
and 12-hour clock

Read

• clocks

• dials

• timetables

15. Money Calculate using money

Convert form one currency to another

Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
16. Personal and Use given data to solve problems on
household
finance • earnings

• simple interest and compound interest

• discount

• profit and loss

Extract data from tables and charts

17. Practical Work with coordinates in two dimensions Apply the idea of rate of change to:
graphs
Interpret and use graphs in practical • distance-time graphs
situations including
• speed-time graphs
• travel graphs
• acceleration and deceleration
• conversion graphs
Calculate distance travelled as an area
Draw graphs from given data under a linear speed-time graph
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
18. Graphs of Construct tables of values for functions of Construct tables of values and draw graphs
functions the form for functions of the form

• ax + b • ax n where a is a rational constant and n

= -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 and simple sums of not
2
• ± x + ax + b more than three of these

a • a x where a is a positive integer

• (x ≠ 0)
x
where a and b are integer constants Estimate gradients of curves by drawing
tangents
Draw and interpret such graphs
Solve associated equations approximately graphs are a bit
Find the gradient of a straight line by graphical methods
challenging . dy/dx
graph

Solve linear and quadratic equations

approximately by graphical methods

19. Straight line Interpret and obtain the equation of a Calculate the gradient of a straight line from
graphs straight line graph in the form the co-ordinates of two points on it
y = mx + c
Calculate the length and the co-ordinates of
Determine the equation of a straight line the midpoint of a straight line segment from
parallel to a given line the co-ordinates of its end points

Construct and transform more complicated

formulae and equations
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
20. Basic Use letters to express generalised Construct and transform more complicated
Algebra numbers formulae and equations

Express basic arithmetic processes .

algebraically

Substitute numbers in formulae

Transform simple formulae

Construct simple expressions and set up

simple equations
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
21. Algebraic Manipulate directed numbers Expand products of algebraic expressions
manipulation
Use brackets Factorise expressions of the form
• ax + bx + kay + kby
Extract common factors
• a²x² – b²y²,
• a² + 2ab + b²
• ax² + bx + c

Manipulate algebraic fractions e.g.

x x−4
• +
3 2
2 x 3( x − 5)
• −
3 2
3a 5ab
• ×
4 3
3a 9a
• −
4 10
1 2
• −
x−2 x−3
Factorise and simplify algebraic fractions
such as
x 2 − 2x
x 2 − 5x + 6
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
22. Functions Use function notation e.g. f ( x ) = 3 x − 5 , f
: x a 3 x − 5 to describe simple functions
−1
and the notation f ( x) to describe their
inverses

Work out composite functions as defined by

gf(x) = g(f(x))
23. Indices • positive indices Use and interpret fractional indices e.g. solve
32 x = 2
• negative indices

• zero indices

24. Equations & Solve simple linear equations in one Solve quadratic equations by
inequalities unknown • factorisation

Solve simultaneous linear equations in two • quadratic formulae

unknowns
• completing the square

Solve simple linear inequalities

25. Linear Represent inequalities graphically

programming
Solve simple linear programming problems
(the conventions of using broken lines for
strict inequalities and shading unwanted
regions will be expected)
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
26. Geometry Use and interpret the geometrical terms: Use relationships between
point, line, parallel, right angle, bearing,
acute, obtuse and reflex • Areas of similar triangles
• angles perpendicular, similarity,
• congruence • Areas of similar figures

Use and interpret the vocabulary of • Surface area of similar solids

• triangles,
• quadrilaterals • Volumes of similar solids
• circles
• polygons
• simple solid figures including nets
27. Geometrical Measure lines and angles
constructions
Construct a triangle given 3 sides using
ruler and compasses only

Construct other simple geometrical figures

from given data using protractor and set need some practice
square

Construct using straight edge and

compasses only
• angle bisectors
• perpendicular bisectors

Read and make scale drawings

Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
28. Symmetry Recognise and describe Recognise and use symmetry of
• rotational and line symmetry in 2
dimensions • prism, cylinder, cone and pyramid
• symmetry properties of triangles,
quadrilaterals and circles Use the following symmetry properties of
circles

• equal chords are equidistant from the

centre
• perpendicular bisector of a chord passes
through the centre
• tangents from an external point are
equal in length

29. Angle Calculate unknown angles using the Calculate unknown angles using the
properties geometrical properties of angles following geometrical properties:

• at a point • angles properties of irregular polygons

• on a straight line and intersecting • angle at the centre of a circle is twice the
straight lines angle at the circumference

• within parallel lines • angles in the same segment are equal

• in triangles • angles in opposite segments are

• supplementary
• in quadrilaterals
• in cyclic quadrilaterals
• in regular polygons

• in a semi-circle

• between tangent and radius of a circle

Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
30. Locus Use the following loci and the methods of
intersecting loci for sets of points in two
dimensions which are:

• a given distance from a point

• a given distance from a straight line

• equidistant from two points

• equidistant from two intersecting lines

31. Mensuration Carry out calculations involving: Solve problems involving:

• perimeter and area of a triangle
• arc length and sector area of a circle
• perimeter and area of a rectangle
• surface area and volume of a sphere
• circumference and area of a circle
• surface area and volume of a pyramid
• area of parallelogram
• surface area and volume of a cone
• area of a trapezium
Formulae will be given for the sphere,
• volume of a cuboid, prism and cylinder cone and pyramid

• surface area of a cuboid and cylinder

Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
32. Trigonometry Use and interpret three figure bearings Solve problems in 2 dimensions involving
measured clockwise from the north angle of elevation and depression

Find unknown sides and/or angles in right Extend sine and cosine functions to angles
angled triangles by applying between 90º and 180º

• Pythagoras’ theorem Solve problems using sine and cosine rules

for any triangle
• sine, cosine and tangent ratios for
acute angles in right-angled triangles Find the area of any triangle using
½ absinC

Solve simple trig problems in three

dimensions including angle between line and
plane
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
33. Statistics Collect, classify and tabulate data Construct and read from a histogram with
equal and unequal intervals.
Read, interpret and draw simple inferences
from tables and statistical Construct and use a cumulative frequency
diagrams diagrams to estimate and interpret

Construct and use • the median

• bar charts
• percentiles
• pie charts
• quartiles
• pictograms
• inter-quartile range
• frequency distributions

• histograms with equal intervals For grouped and continuous data

• scatter diagrams (with lines of best fit) • calculate an estimate of the mean
and understand what is meant by
positive, negative and zero correlation • identify the modal class

Calculate, for individual and discrete data

• mean
• median
• mode
and distinguish between their use

Calculate the range

Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
34. Probability Calculate the probability of a single event Calculate the probability of combined events
as a fraction or a decimal (not a ratio) using:

Understand and use the probability scale • possibility diagrams

from 0 to 1
• tree diagrams
Understand that: the probability of an
event occurring= 1 - the probability of the
event not occurring

Understand relative frequency

35. Vectors in Describe a translation using a vector ⎛ x⎞

two dimensions ⎛ x⎞ Calculate the magnitude of a vector ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
represented by ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ , AB or a ⎝ ⎠
y
⎝ y⎠ (using Pythagoras’) and understand that
magnitude is denoted by modulus sign
Add and subtract vectors
AB or a its hard to picture
Multiply a vector by a scalar how the vectors
Represent vectors by directed line segments
would form a
Use the sum and difference of two vectors triangle or
Use position vectors
determine
coordinates
Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
36. Matrices Display information in a matrix of any order

Calculate the sum and product (where

possible) of two matrices

Multiply a matrix by a scalar

For 2 x 2 matrices use the :

• zero matrix

• identity matrix

and calculate the

• determinant of a matrix

• inverse of a non-singular matrix

Topic/theme Core materials Check Extended materials Check Comments
You should be able to You should be able to
37. Reflect simple plane figures in horizontal Use the following transformations of the
Transformations or vertical lines plane

Rotate simple plane figures, through • Reflection (M)

multiples of 90°, about
• Rotation (R)
• the origin
• Translation (T)
• their vertices
• Enlargement (E)
• the midpoints of their sides
• Shear (H)
Construct translations of simple plane
figures • Stretch (S)

Construct enlargements of simple plane • combinations of the above

figures transformations where MR(a) means
apply R and then M to a figure
Recognise and describe

• Reflections Describe transformations using

• Rotations • coordinates

• Translations • matrices

• Enlargements

Please note that this does not replace the official syllabus or show any order of study
Section 4 - Examination Information

In the examination

• You should take into the examination a calculator and any mathematical instruments that you need.
• You may use an electronic calculator at all times unless a particular question forbids it.
• Answers should be written in blue or black ink (except for graphs and diagrams, which may be done in
pencil).
• All working (except in Paper 4) should be written in the answer spaces provided.
• It is essential that you show as much working as possible in all questions on all the papers as marks
are awarded for the correct working in many questions even in cases where the answer may be
incorrect or omitted.