IAL Pure 2 Differentiation exam questions

Exam-style differentiation questions for Edexcel IAL Pure 2 (WMA12): stationary points, increasing and decreasing functions and optimisation, with full solutions.

This resource covers the whole of Chapter 7 (Differentiation) of the Pearson Edexcel International A Level Pure Mathematics 2 course, extending the Pure 1 techniques into curve analysis and modelling. All questions are original.

What’s covered

Increasing and decreasing functions
Finding stationary points
Determining the nature of a stationary point using the second derivative
Determining nature using the sign of the gradient either side
Sketching gradient functions
Modelling with differentiation, including optimisation problems

How to use it

Works as homework, as practice across a sequence of lessons, or as revision. The optimisation questions are set in context and require forming the expression before differentiating, which is where most of the marks sit on WMA12 and where most students stall.

What’s included

Question paper (PDF, printable)
Full worked solutions (PDF) — complete method, not just final answers
Questions arranged in increasing difficulty

Specification

Written for Edexcel International A Level Mathematics, Pure Mathematics 2 (WMA12), Chapter 7. Also suitable for Edexcel A Level Mathematics 9MA0 and for any A Level course covering stationary points and optimisation.