GCSE Maths: Vectors
Add, subtract and scale column vectors, and use vector paths to describe journeys around a diagram. Practise it with adaptive questions for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas.
What you need to know
The concepts examiners test on vectors, and what each one is really asking.
Where marks get lost
The exam technique that separates a correct method from a correct answer.
- Adding the top of one vector to the bottom of another
- Forgetting that going against the arrow means a negative
- Writing a vector as a coordinate — vectors are stacked or in bold, not comma-separated
- Thinking a longer route gives a different answer; every route from A to B gives the same vector
Vectors questions students ask
Is Vectors on the Foundation paper?
Yes. Vectors appears at both Foundation and Higher tier, though Higher papers take it further.
What should I know before starting Vectors?
It builds on Negative Numbers and Straight-Line Graphs. If those feel shaky, practise them first — Vectors questions assume them.
What is the most common mistake in Vectors?
Adding the top of one vector to the bottom of another.
Which exam boards cover Vectors?
All four we support — AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas. GCSE Maths subject content is set by the DfE, so the topic is common to every board; what changes is the paper structure and the grade boundaries.