About STEP

About the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP)

STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper) Mathematics is a well-established mathematics examination designed to test candidates on questions that are similar in style to undergraduate mathematics.

STEP is used by the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick. Other universities sometimes ask candidates to take STEP as part of their offer – in such cases, the university can advise on which papers to take.

There are also a number of candidates who sit STEP papers as a challenge.

STEP 2018 answer booklet information

See a sample of the first three pages of the answer booklet.

STEP test format

The test consists of up to three 3-hour paper-based examinations: STEP 1, STEP 2 and STEP 3. Candidates are usually required to sit either one or two of the examinations, depending on the requirements of the universities they have applied to.

A lined answer booklet and a formula booklet are provided for each paper. Graph paper is not provided, as the test requires only sketches, not detailed graphs.

STEP Specification

STEP papers

You are advised to choose no more than six questions to answer, but there’s no restriction on which questions you choose. All questions carry equal marks and your final mark will be based on the six questions for which you gain the highest marks.

Changes to STEP from 2019

The following changes will be implemented for the 2019 examinations:

• the specifications will be updated to reflect the reforms in A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics;
• the number of questions in each paper will decrease.

Provisionally, in summary: 

STEP I is based on A Level Mathematics. The paper has 11 questions across two sections: the first contains 8 pure questions, and the second contains 2 mechanics questions and 1 probability question.

STEP II is based on A Level Mathematics and AS Level Further Mathematics. The paper has 12 questions across three sections: the first contains 8 pure questions, the second contains 2 mechanics questions, and the third contains 2 probability/statistics questions.

STEP III is based on A Level Mathematics and A Level Further Mathematics. The paper has 12 questions across three sections: the first contains 8 pure questions, the second contains 2 mechanics questions, and the third contains 2 probability/statistics questions. 

The style of the questions will remain unaltered, and most of the STEP questions from previous papers can be used for preparation. 

As before, each question will have the maximum mark of 20. In each paper, candidates will be assessed on the six questions best answered; no restriction will be placed on the number of questions that may be attempted from any section and all questions attempted will be marked. 

The marking scheme for each question will be designed to reward candidates who make good progress towards a complete solution. Correct answers always receive full marks, whatever the method used. 

Questions may test a candidate’s ability to apply mathematical knowledge in novel and unfamiliar ways and will often require knowledge of several different specification topics. Solutions will frequently require insight, ingenuity, persistence and the ability to work through substantial sequences of algebraic manipulation. 

A detailed specification for 2019 will be available on this website in the summer of 2018.