Cambridge IGCSE Maths Syllabus Changes
Exactly what changed between specification versions — and what it means for your revision. Every topic addition, removal, and modification, with specific student action guidance for each change.
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Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) · Comparing for-examination-2020 vs for-examination-2025 versions
Last verified: March 2026 · Source: Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) Syllabus 2025–2027, Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) Syllabus 2023 (for examination from 2020)
Showing 14 of 14 changes
High Impact Changes— directly affects what you learn or what is no longer tested
Topic: Algebra › Linear Programming (Extended only)
Linear programming has been removed entirely from the 2025 Extended specification. This was a topic requiring students to draw constraint inequalities on a coordinate grid, shade the feasible region, and find the maximum or minimum value of an objective function.
Student Action
Good news — if you are preparing for 2025 or later exams, you no longer need to revise linear programming. Do not spend any time on this topic. If your textbook covers it, skip that chapter entirely.
Teacher Note
Remove from Extended scheme of work. Any past paper questions on linear programming (typically one question per Paper 4) should be flagged as pre-2025 content.
2023 ref: Section E2.9, page 23
Topic: Geometry & Trigonometry › Exact Trigonometric Values (Extended only)
Exact trigonometric values are a new requirement in the 2025 Extended specification, directly linked to the introduction of the non-calculator Paper 2. Students must memorise and apply exact values without a calculator.
Student Action
Memorise this table and use it on the non-calculator paper: sin 0°=0, sin 30°=½, sin 45°=√2/2, sin 60°=√3/2, sin 90°=1. cos is sin in reverse. tan 30°=√3/3 (=1/√3), tan 45°=1, tan 60°=√3. A useful memory trick: use the "1–2–3" pattern under the square root for sin (0°→√0/2, 30°→√1/2, 45°→√2/2, 60°→√3/2, 90°→√4/2). These values WILL appear on Paper 2.
Teacher Note
Exact trig values are directly linked to the new non-calculator Paper 2. Teach alongside surds as both involve √2 and √3.
2025 ref: Section E5.7, page 38
Topic: Geometry & Trigonometry › Vectors in Core Tier
Vector addition, subtraction, and scalar multiplication have been removed from the Core tier in the 2025 syllabus. These operations remain in the Extended specification, but Core students no longer need to learn them.
Student Action
If you are taking Core papers, you no longer need to study vector addition or scalar multiplication. Skip these sections in your revision. If you are on the Extended tier, vectors remain — add, subtract, and scalar multiply as before.
Teacher Note
Core scheme of work: remove vector operations. Extended: vectors unchanged.
2023 ref: Section C7.1 (Core), page 43
2025 ref: Removed from Core in 2025 syllabus
Topic: Number › Core Inequalities
Basic inequalities have been added to the Core specification. Previously, inequalities only appeared in the Extended content. Core students must now understand and solve linear inequalities and represent them on number lines.
Student Action
If you are taking the Core papers, inequalities are now part of your syllabus — this was not the case before 2025. Learn to solve inequalities like 2x − 3 > 7 (same as equations but flip the sign when dividing by a negative) and show solutions on a number line. Note: Core students do NOT need to do simultaneous inequalities or graphical methods.
Teacher Note
For Core classes: introduce inequalities topic. Previously only taught in Extended sets.
2023 ref: Not in 2023 Core syllabus
2025 ref: Section C2.7 (Core), page 23
Topic: Number › Surds (Extended only)
Surds are a completely new topic in the 2025 Extended specification. Students must be able to simplify surd expressions, multiply and divide surds, and rationalise denominators. This topic pairs naturally with the new non-calculator Paper 2 — surd answers are exact and require no calculator.
Student Action
This topic is brand new to 0580 Extended — it was not in the 2023 syllabus at all. If you are using a textbook or revision guide from before 2025, it will not cover surds. Add this to your revision list urgently. Learn: simplifying surds (√12 = 2√3), multiplying surds (√2 × √8 = 4), rationalising denominators (1/√3 = √3/3).
Teacher Note
Surds appear on the non-calculator Paper 2. Good opportunity to introduce alongside indices and irrational numbers.
2025 ref: Section E1.7 (Extended), page 19
Topic: Paper Structure › Non-Calculator Paper Introduced
The 2025 syllabus introduces a non-calculator paper at each tier for the first time. Paper 1 (Core) and Paper 2 (Extended) are now non-calculator assessments. Marks and timing have also changed — both papers at each tier now carry equal weight (50% each).
Student Action
This is the biggest change. Papers 1 and 2 no longer allow calculators. You must practise arithmetic, algebraic manipulation, and trigonometric calculations by hand. Buy a new revision guide for 2025 if yours was written for the pre-2025 syllabus — calculator strategies taught in older books may no longer apply to Paper 1 or 2.
Teacher Note
Scheme of work needs to include dedicated non-calculator practice across all topic areas. Students sitting the 2025, 2026 and 2027 exams are on the new structure.
2023 ref: Assessment overview
2025 ref: Assessment overview, page 9
Topic: Statistics & Probability › Box-and-Whisker Plots (Extended only)
Box-and-whisker plots have been removed from the 2025 Extended specification. Students no longer need to draw or interpret box plots. The interquartile range may still be assessed via other methods.
Student Action
Box-and-whisker plots are no longer assessed in 0580 Extended from 2025. Do not revise this topic. Note: you still need to know quartiles and interquartile range — these may appear in questions about frequency tables or cumulative frequency without requiring box plot construction.
Teacher Note
Remove box plots from Extended statistics unit. Cumulative frequency and quartiles remain via other question types.
2023 ref: Section E8.6, page 49
Medium Impact Changes— requirements adjusted, may need to update revision approach
Topic: Algebra › Functions — Domain and Range (Extended only)
Domain and range are explicitly new requirements in the 2025 Extended specification. Understanding of mappings (one-to-one vs many-to-one) is also now stated. These concepts were implied but not directly assessed in the 2023 spec.
Student Action
Domain = the set of allowed inputs for a function. Range = the set of possible outputs. For example, f(x) = √x has domain x ≥ 0 (cannot square root a negative) and range f(x) ≥ 0. Practice identifying domain and range restrictions — especially for square roots, fractions (denominator cannot equal zero), and logarithms. This will appear in non-calculator Paper 2.
Teacher Note
Introduce domain/range alongside inverse functions. Use mapping diagrams to illustrate one-to-one and many-to-one.
2023 ref: Section C2.7 / E2.7, page 22
2025 ref: Section E2.10, page 27
Topic: Algebra › Graphs of y = axⁿ where n = ½ or −½ (Extended only)
The 2025 Extended spec extends the axⁿ graphs requirement to include fractional exponents ½ and −½. Students must now recognise and sketch the shape of y = √x (increasing, starting at origin) and y = 1/√x (decreasing, defined for x > 0 only).
Student Action
Learn two new graph shapes: y = √x (a smooth curve starting at the origin, rising to the right, defined for x ≥ 0) and y = 1/√x (a decreasing curve in the first quadrant only, undefined at x = 0). Practice sketching these and identifying them from a description. They will appear in the Extended paper alongside the existing graphs (quadratic, cubic, reciprocal, exponential).
Teacher Note
Add fractional exponent graphs to the "recognise and sketch" section of the coordinate geometry unit.
2023 ref: Section E2.11, page 24
2025 ref: Section E2.11, page 26
Topic: Geometry & Trigonometry › Congruence Criteria (Extended only)
Formal congruence criteria (SSS, SAS, ASA, RHS) and congruence proofs have been removed from the 2025 Extended specification. Informal understanding of congruence may still feature in context, but the formal proof requirement is gone.
Student Action
Formal congruence proofs (SSS, SAS, ASA, RHS) are no longer assessed in 2025. You do not need to practise writing these proofs. However, similar triangles and proportionality reasoning remain in the syllabus, so keep revising those.
Teacher Note
Remove congruence criteria proofs from Extended scheme of work. Similar triangles remain.
2023 ref: Section E4.3, page 29
Topic: Number › Recall of Squares, Cubes and Roots (Core and Extended)
A new explicit recall requirement has been added to both Core and Extended. Students must now memorise squares up to 15² = 225, cubes up to 10³ = 1000, and their roots. This requirement supports the non-calculator papers.
Student Action
Memorise squares from 1² to 15² (you probably know 1–12 already; add 13²=169, 14²=196, 15²=225). Memorise cubes from 1³ to 10³. These will come up in non-calculator Paper 1 and Paper 2 without any prompting — you are expected to know them.
Teacher Note
Add squares/cubes recall drills to starter activities. Quick-fire tests are effective.
2023 ref: Not explicitly required in 2023
2025 ref: Section C1.6 (Core) / Section E1.6 (Extended), page 18
Topic: Paper Structure › Formula Sheet Introduced
Cambridge has introduced a formula sheet for the 2025 syllabus, provided with every paper. This significantly reduces the need to memorise formulas like the quadratic formula, circumference/area of a circle, and volume formulas. The sheet compensates for the added difficulty of the non-calculator papers.
Student Action
A formula sheet is now given to you in every paper — you no longer need to memorise formulas like the quadratic formula or compound interest formula. However, you still need to know WHEN and HOW to use them. Do not confuse "having the formula" with "knowing how to apply it." Download the official Cambridge formula sheet and practise with it from day one of your revision.
Teacher Note
Share the official formula sheet with students from the start. Adjust teaching to focus on application rather than memorisation.
2023 ref: Not provided in 2023
2025 ref: Provided with all 2025 papers
Topic: Statistics & Probability › Data Collection (Core and Extended)
The data collection learning objective has been removed from both Core and Extended tiers. Questions on sampling methods, types of data, and data collection techniques are no longer directly assessed.
Student Action
Data collection questions (types of sampling, primary vs secondary data) are no longer in the 2025 syllabus. You do not need to revise these for your exam. Focus statistics revision on statistical calculations and graphs instead.
Teacher Note
Data collection section of statistics unit can be removed from scheme of work at both tiers.
2023 ref: Section C8.1 (Core) / Section E8.1 (Extended), page 47
Low Impact Changes— wording clarified or minor restructure, no change to content tested
Topic: Algebra › Proper Subsets (Extended only)
The distinction between subsets (⊆) and proper subsets (⊂) has been removed from the 2025 specification. Students no longer need to know the proper subset notation or its specific meaning.
Student Action
No need to memorise the difference between ⊂ (proper subset) and ⊆ (subset). Set notation is still in the syllabus, but proper subsets specifically are no longer assessed. Keep learning union, intersection, complement, and Venn diagrams.
Teacher Note
Sets unit: remove proper subset notation. Union, intersection, and complement remain.
2023 ref: Section E1.2, page 15
Is your textbook up to date?
If you are using a textbook published before 2025, it will not cover the 2025 syllabus changes. Check the High Impact changes above — particularly surds, exact trig values, domain and range, and the non-calculator paper requirement. If your book does not cover these topics, supplement with free online materials.
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What changed in CIE 0580 for 2025?
The 2025 Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) syllabus introduced several significant changes: (1) Non-calculator papers introduced at both Core and Extended tiers — Papers 1 and 2 no longer allow calculators. (2) New topics added to Extended: surds, exact trigonometric values, domain and range of functions, graphs of y=ax^n for n=1/2 and n=-1/2, and recall of specific squares/cubes. (3) Topics removed: linear programming, box-and-whisker plots, congruence criteria, vector operations from Core, proper subsets, and data collection. (4) A formula sheet is now provided with all papers. Paper marks rebalanced to 50/50 at each tier.
When did the new CIE 0580 syllabus take effect?
The 2025 Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) syllabus applies to candidates sitting examinations from 2025. Students who sat in June 2024 or earlier were on the 2023 specification. If you are sitting in 2025, 2026 or 2027, you are on the new 2025 syllabus.
Does CIE 0580 2025 have a non-calculator paper?
Yes — this is the most significant structural change. For the first time, Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 introduces non-calculator assessments at both tiers. Paper 1 (Core) and Paper 2 (Extended) are now non-calculator papers. Previously, all four papers allowed calculators. This change requires students to practise arithmetic, surds, exact trig values, and algebraic manipulation without calculator assistance.
Is linear programming still in CIE 0580?
No. Linear programming was removed from the CIE 0580 Extended specification in the 2025 syllabus. You do not need to revise this topic for 2025 or later exams.
Are surds new to CIE 0580?
Yes. Surds are a completely new topic added to CIE 0580 Extended in the 2025 syllabus. This topic was not in the 2023 specification. Students must learn to simplify surds (e.g. √12 = 2√3), multiply surds, and rationalise denominators. This is directly linked to the new non-calculator Paper 2.
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