What is STEP?
STEP is an additional mathematics examination, taken at the end of Year 13, which forms part of conditional offers to applicants for mathematics and some related degrees at Cambridge and some other universities.
STEP is designed to test candidates on questions that are similar in style to undergraduate mathematics. Although demanding, preparing for STEP gives you a chance to engage with interesting, challenging mathematics, to stretch yourself and to develop the mathematical reasoning, independence and confidence needed in an undergraduate mathematics degree.
STEP Support Programme - free online resources
The STEP Support programme is designed to help university applicants develop their advanced problem-solving skills and prepare for sitting STEP Mathematics examinations. The programme is developed by the Faculty of Mathematics. It consists of online modules for individual additional study, along with hints and full solutions.
The resources are free and open to everyone.
If you have any questions about the assignments, or STEP in general, or feedback about our resources you can email us at step@maths.cam.ac.uk.
Please see here for more detailed advice on how to use the STEP Support Programme.
Foundation modules
The foundation modules provide a structured introduction to solving STEP problems. They are designed to be studied weekly over about 6 months. If you are planning to take STEP 2 and 3 at the end of Year 13, we recommend you start studying the Foundation modules in Year 12. They are also useful for students who want to study Mathematics at university but who are not planning to sit STEP papers.
STEP 2 modules
The STEP 2 modules assume that you have already worked through the foundation modules. We recommend that you start these in September of Year 13. Each module has several STEP questions (usually 4) based loosely on a particular section of the STEP specification. The modules also have a hints documents, full solutions and "Topic Notes" containing relevant formulae and results.
STEP 3 modules
The STEP 3 modules assume that you have worked through the foundation modules and STEP 2 modules. We recommend that you start these in January of Year 13. Each module has several STEP questions (usually 4) based loosely on a particular section of the STEP specification. The modules also have a hints documents, full solutions and "Topic Notes" containing relevant formulae and results.
Worked solutions to recent STEP papers
We have written fully worked solutions to STEP 2 and STEP 3 papers from 2019 onwards to help you assess your progress when completing timed papers, which we recommend that you do after completing the STEP 3 modules. These worked solutions are more detailed than the exam board mark schemes, and also provide some insights into how you might tackle similar questions.
Additional supporting material
These resources complement the STEP Support Programme and are designed to help you develop your advanced problem solving skills and mathematical thinking.
- STEP questions with solutions at Underground Mathematics
The Underground Mathematics website offers free resources to support the teaching of A level mathematics. The website includes selected past STEP questions with fully worked solutions and explanations.
- Advanced Problems in Mathematics book
A book by Dr Stephen Siklos, analysing selected STEP questions. Each question is followed by comments and a full solution directing the reader’s attention to key points and the methodology required to address advanced mathematical problems critically and independently. The book can be downloaded as a free pdf; it can also be viewed online or bought as a paperback at cost price (no profits, no royalties).
- STEP Question Database
All of the STEP questions from the specimen papers from 1986 to 2018 in a searchable database.
The STEP Support Programme is developed by the University of Cambridge's Millennium Mathematics Project - maths.org, on behalf of the Faculty of Mathematics. (c) University of Cambridge. Email us: step@maths.cam.ac.uk.
