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GCSE students in England will keep getting a formula or equation sheet in their maths, physics and combined science exams. The exams regulator, Ofqual, confirmed this on 5 May 2026 and set rules for exam boards. The sheets apply to exams taken from 2028 and run for the life of the current qualifications, including resits. As of October 2026, there is no sign they are being withdrawn.

What changed

Students have had formula and equation sheets in these subjects since the 2020s. Ofqual’s GOV.UK decision says the Department for Education told Ofqual on 26 February 2026 that it wanted to change the subject content expectations for the current courses. Ofqual kept the sheets because of that change.

Before deciding, Ofqual consulted from 2 to 23 March 2026 and received 2,182 responses. Of those who answered on the maths sheet, 91.7% supported keeping it. For the physics and combined science equation sheet, 93% supported keeping it.

Which subjects get a sheet

The decision covers three qualifications:

  • GCSE maths
  • GCSE physics
  • GCSE combined science

The sheets do not cover GCSE chemistry or GCSE biology. If you take separate sciences, you will not get an equation sheet for those two subjects.

Who it affects

Students sitting these exams from 2028 are the main group. The government’s support materials page says students taking these subjects in 2025, 2026 and 2027 do not need to memorise the usual formulae. The consultation document says the same decision applies to later exams. A sheet does not replace understanding, though. You still need to know what each formula means and when to use it.

Parents should know that the sheet is a support, not a shortcut. Ofqual’s rules say exam questions cannot be answered just by copying from the sheet.

Teachers need to plan lessons around the sheets. Ofqual expects them to stay largely the same from year to year, with only small presentational changes allowed.

The rules for exam boards

Ofqual’s decision sets three rules for exam boards:

  1. Publish early. Each board must publish its sheets by 1 September the year before the exam series. For example, sheets for 2028 exams must be out by 1 September 2027.
  2. Provide clean copies. The sheets must come with the exam papers, so every candidate has one.
  3. Do not test copying. Boards must not write questions that can be answered just by copying from the sheet. The question still has to test understanding.

How to use the sheet when revising

The sheet is a memory aid. It is not a complete list of every formula you might need, and it will not tell you when to use a formula. A practical way to revise:

  • Get your exam board’s version. Each board publishes its own sheet, and the layout may differ slightly. Practise with the one your board uses.
  • Use it in practice papers. Work through past questions with the sheet in front of you, then check you can find the right formula quickly.
  • Learn what each symbol means. Knowing what a quantity stands for and which unit it needs will help more than memorising where a letter sits on the page.
  • Keep a short list of formulas that are not on the sheet. Ask your teacher which ones your course expects you to know.

Key points

  • Formula and equation sheets stay in GCSE maths, physics and combined science.
  • The rules apply to exams taken from 2028, for the life of the current qualifications.
  • Exam boards must publish sheets by 1 September the year before each series.
  • GCSE chemistry and biology do not have a sheet.
  • A sheet helps with recall. It does not replace understanding.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be a formula sheet in my GCSE maths exam? Yes, if you sit GCSE maths from 2028 onwards. Ofqual has confirmed a formulae sheet will be provided.

Is there an equation sheet for GCSE physics? Yes. Physics and combined science both get an equation sheet, and the decision covers exams from 2028.

Do I still need to learn formulas? Some, yes. The sheet covers many formulas, but you still need to know what they mean and when to use them. Ask your teacher which ones your course expects you to know without the sheet.

Do GCSE chemistry and biology have a formula sheet? No. The decision covers maths, physics and combined science only.

Who decides what goes on the sheet? Each exam board publishes its own sheet. Ofqual’s rules say the sheets should stay consistent over time and across the different courses.

Where can I read the official rules? Ofqual’s decision is on GOV.UK. It sets out the scope, the publication deadline and the rules for exam boards.

Where to go next

If you are a student, check which exam board your school uses and download that board’s formula or equation sheet. Use it for every practice paper from now on.

If you are a parent, ask the maths or science department which sheet your child will get and how they practise with it.

If you teach GCSE physics or combined science, Secondary Science Resources is a free, non-profit catalogue of secondary science teaching materials, organised by key stage and topic. It lists resources rather than hosting the files, so check each file’s source before using it in class.

Information is as of October 2026. Check your exam board’s website for the latest sheets.

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