Mathematics · Advanced Higher
Advanced Higher Mathematics is a first-year university course: proof, complex numbers, matrices and deeper calculus. Two papers, no coursework, and very little scaffolding.
What it offers you
Mathematics is the entry requirement for a huge range of degrees — engineering, physics, economics, computing and more — and the reasoning it builds is valued in every technical career.
What Advanced Higher actually asks of you
Paper 1 — non-calculator
Proof, algebra and calculus done by hand, often with several steps to justify.
Paper 2 — calculator
Longer questions on further calculus, differential equations, matrices, complex numbers, vectors in three dimensions and sequences and series.
This course is graded entirely on the question papers — there is no assignment or project to submit.
Exact timings and mark allocations are printed on the front cover of each paper below.
Topics that come up
Papers & marking schemes
2026
6 files2025
6 files2024
6 files2023
6 filesSQA publishes the most recent five years of papers. Older papers and specimen papers live on their site — open Mathematics Advanced Higher on sqa.org.uk.