How is "mastered" calculated for a flashcard?

Each card uses an SM-2 style spaced-repetition algorithm. A card is "mastered" after at least 3 successful reviews and a review interval of 21 days or more. Rate cards Hard / Okay / Easy after flipping; the algorithm schedules the next review.

Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) Flashcards

466 free flashcards covering every syllabus topic of Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) — 164 key definitions, and 102 core concepts across 48 topics. Each card uses a built-in spaced-repetition algorithm to schedule your reviews automatically.

Syllabus-aligned Free, no signup Spaced repetition built-in

Why flashcards work for IGCSE Mathematics

Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 is less about pure memorisation and more about method-recognition: knowing which formula or technique to apply when you see a particular question type.

Flashcards work well in 0580 for formula recall (quadratic formula, sphere volume, cosine rule), for recognising the trigger words ("rate of change" → differentiation; "area under curve" → integration), and for the most-tested geometric properties (alternate segment theorem, angle in a semicircle).

Top mark-loser this 0580 deck targets: using the wrong trig rule — sine rule for SAS triangles, cosine rule for ASA — a misapplication that wipes out the whole question.

How spaced repetition keeps this deck out of your blind spots

Every card uses an SM-2 spaced-repetition schedule (the same algorithm Anki uses). After flipping a card you rate your recall — and the algorithm reschedules each card individually, so your study time concentrates on what you actually struggle with rather than what you already know. After about three successful Easy reviews and a 21-day-or-longer interval, a card is tagged mastered. Progress lives in your browser only — no account, no signup, no data sent anywhere.

Hard · resets the streak, returns tomorrow

Okay · returns in 1-3 days

Easy · pushed to next interval

164

Definitions

102

Key Concepts

Topics

Unit 1: Number

Integers, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion, indices, standard form, surds, and upper / lower bounds. Bounds questions are notoriously tricky — examiners want both lower and upper bound calculations, often with subtraction (lower-minus-upper or upper-minus-lower depending on whether maximising or minimising). Working in surd form (leaving √3 unevaluated) is a frequent Extended-tier requirement; calculator decimals lose the exact-answer mark.

1.1 10 cards

Surds

Unit 2: Algebra and graphs

Algebraic manipulation, factorising (single and double bracket), equations (linear, simultaneous, quadratic), inequalities, sequences (nth term), function notation, and graph sketching. The quadratic formula is on the formula sheet but examiners check substitution accuracy — discriminant arithmetic costs marks frequently. Composite-function f(g(x)) questions on Extended are heavily marked, and the order of operations matters.

2.1 9 cards

Algebraic notation and manipulation

2.2 9 cards

Equations

2.3 9 cards

Inequalities

2.4 18 cards

Sequences

2.5 9 cards

Quadratics

2.6 9 cards

Graphs of functions

2.7 9 cards

Straight line graphs

2.8 9 cards

Functions

2.9 9 cards

Differentiation

Unit 3: Coordinate geometry

Equations of straight lines (y = mx + c), gradient between two points, length of a segment using Pythagoras, midpoint, and parallel / perpendicular line conditions (m₁ × m₂ = −1). Finding the equation of a perpendicular line through a given point is a textbook 4-mark Extended question. Mark schemes accept any correctly-rearranged form (y = mx + c or ax + by + c = 0).

3.1 9 cards

Coordinates

3.2 9 cards

Gradient and length

3.3 10 cards

Equations of lines

Unit 4: Geometry

Angle facts (parallel lines, polygons, triangles), congruence and similarity criteria, and circle theorems (alternate segment, angle at centre = 2× angle at circumference, cyclic quadrilateral, etc.) on the Extended tier. Geometric-reasoning questions need justification of every step with the named angle fact — "angles in a triangle = 180°", "opposite angles in cyclic quadrilateral = 180°". Missing reasons lose marks even when the final answer is right.

4.1 10 cards

Angles

4.2 9 cards

Angles in polygons

4.3 10 cards

Parallel lines

4.4 10 cards

Triangles

4.5 9 cards

Quadrilaterals

4.6 9 cards

Circles

4.7 9 cards

Circle theorems

4.8 9 cards

Similarity and congruence

4.9 9 cards

Constructions and loci

4.10 9 cards

Pythagoras theorem

Unit 5: Mensuration

Perimeter, area, surface area, and volume of cuboids, cylinders, spheres, cones, pyramids, and compound shapes. Frustum questions (cones with the top cut off) are an Extended favourite — examiners want subtraction of two cone volumes shown clearly. Surface area = 4πr² and volume = ⁴⁄₃πr³ are on the formula sheet, but unit errors (cm³ vs cm²) are heavily marked.

5.1 10 cards

Perimeter and area

5.2 9 cards

Circles - circumference and area

5.3 10 cards

Surface area

5.4 9 cards

Volume

Unit 6: Trigonometry

Right-angled triangles (SOH CAH TOA), sine and cosine rules, area of a triangle = ½ab sin C, and 3D trigonometry on Extended. Bearings questions need both a directed angle measured clockwise from north AND three-digit format (045°, not 45°). On Extended, problems combining the sine rule with the cosine rule across a quadrilateral are a typical 6-mark structured question.

6.1 9 cards

Trigonometric ratios

6.2 9 cards

Sine and cosine rules

6.3 10 cards

3D trigonometry

6.4 9 cards

Trigonometric graphs

Unit 7: Transformations and vectors

Reflection (with line of symmetry), rotation (centre and angle), enlargement (with negative scale factor on Extended), translation (with column vector), and 2D vector geometry. Describing a transformation fully needs every parameter named — partial descriptions lose marks (e.g. naming the centre but forgetting the angle of rotation). Vector questions on Extended require column-vector arithmetic and expressing a target vector as a combination of two base vectors.

7.1 9 cards

Transformations

7.2 10 cards

Vectors

Unit 8: Probability

Single-event probability, independent and dependent events, conditional probability (Extended only), tree diagrams, and Venn diagrams with set notation (A ∩ B, A ∪ B, A′). "Without replacement" probability changes the second-branch denominators — a frequent 2-mark loser when candidates forget. Conditional probability P(A|B) is reserved for Extended and requires understanding "given that B has happened".

8.1 9 cards

Basic probability

8.2 10 cards

Combined events

8.3 10 cards

Venn diagrams

Unit 9: Statistics

Data collection, averages (mean, median, mode), range, cumulative frequency curves, box plots, and histograms with unequal class widths (Extended only). Histogram questions hinge on frequency density (frequency ÷ class width), not raw frequency on the y-axis. Reading the median, lower quartile, and upper quartile off a cumulative-frequency curve is a textbook Paper 4 question.

9.1 10 cards

Data collection and display

9.2 10 cards

Averages and measures of spread

9.3 10 cards

Cumulative frequency and box plots

9.4 9 cards

Correlation and scatter diagrams

9.5 9 cards

Histograms

Pair flashcards with notes and papers

Flashcards are a recall tool, not a complete study system. Use them alongside these free resources for IGCSE 0580.

Past papers

Question papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports for 0580 sessions.

Browse papers

Revision notes

Topic-by-topic explanations mapped to the 0580 syllabus — read after flashcard recall fails.

Read notes

Practice quizzes

MCQ practice from past papers, organised by topic. Test recall in exam format.

Take a quiz

IGCSE Mathematics flashcards — FAQ

How many IGCSE Mathematics flashcards are on LumiExams?

466 flashcards in total, organised across 48 syllabus topics for Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580). The breakdown: 164 key definitions, and 102 core concepts.

In what order should I study these 0580 flashcards?

If you are starting from scratch, study in syllabus order — Unit 1 first, then Unit 2, and so on. The topics on this page are grouped by unit for that purpose. If you are revising for a specific paper close to the exam, jump to the units that contribute most marks on that paper and use the per-topic decks instead. For deeper context on any topic, the revision notes hub for 0580 is linked above.

What does it mean when a card is "mastered"?

A card moves through four states: New → Learning → Review → Mastered. It reaches Mastered after at least 3 successful Easy reviews and when the next-review interval reaches 21 days or more. A Hard rating resets a card's repetitions to zero — so consistency matters. Progress is stored locally in your browser; clearing browser data resets it.

Are flashcards enough on their own to pass IGCSE Mathematics?

No — flashcards are a recall tool, not a complete study system. They reinforce definitions and high-yield facts, but they cannot teach you to apply concepts to long-form exam questions or to handle the data-response and 6-mark "explain" questions. Pair them with the free 0580 revision notes on this site, past papers under timed conditions, and the official Cambridge syllabus PDF.

How are these different from Quizlet or Anki Mathematics decks?

These flashcards are built specifically against the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics 0580 syllabus topic codes, with content reviewed against the official mark scheme wording. Generic Quizlet decks vary wildly in quality and rarely tag content to a specific exam board's syllabus. LumiExams cards are also free with no signup, store progress locally on your device only, and use a real SM-2 spaced-repetition algorithm rather than the random-shuffle most Quizlet decks default to.

How long should I spend per flashcard?

About 10-15 seconds for definitions and 20-30 seconds for concepts is typical. If you find yourself thinking longer than 30 seconds, rate the card Hard so it returns tomorrow — don't try to reason your way through every recall. The point of spaced repetition is to surface gaps quickly and repeat them, not to grind on a single card.