Last updated: February 2026
Beyond past papers and revision notes, having the right tools can make a real difference to how you learn and practise maths. Whether you need to plot a graph, check a probability calculation, or explore geometry interactively, there are excellent free tools available.
Here are four we recommend — including our own suite of statistics calculators built specifically for A Level and GCSE students.
Recommended Tools
Statistics & Probability Calculators
Our own suite of interactive statistics and probability calculators, built to support A Level and GCSE Maths students. The collection covers all the major distributions you'll encounter — Binomial, Poisson, Normal, t-Distribution, Chi-Square, F-Distribution, Geometric, Hypergeometric, Multinomial, and Negative Binomial — each with probability calculations and live-updating charts.
Beyond distributions, the suite includes practical tools: a Bayes' Rule calculator, combinations and permutations, hypothesis testing, sample size estimation, a random number generator, a dice and coin simulator, and a Galton board visualisation. Every calculator shows its working, so you can check your manual calculations or build intuition for how distributions behave.
Best for: A Level statistics students who need to check distribution calculations, visualise probability distributions, or practise hypothesis testing. Also useful for GCSE students covering basic probability and statistics.
Desmos
Desmos is the gold standard for online graphing. Type in any function and it plots instantly — no menus, no fuss. It handles everything from basic straight lines and quadratics through to parametric equations, polar curves, implicit relations, and piecewise functions. Sliders let you explore how changing a parameter affects a graph in real time, which is invaluable for building intuition.
Desmos is now the approved on-screen calculator for several exam boards and is increasingly used in classrooms. It also offers a dedicated scientific calculator and a geometry tool. The interface is exceptionally clean and works equally well on phones, tablets, and desktops.
Best for: Visualising functions and graphs at any level. If you're studying A Level pure maths and want to see what a transformation does, or you're revising GCSE graphs and need to check your sketch, Desmos is the first place to go.
GeoGebra
GeoGebra is a comprehensive maths toolkit that combines graphing, geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, and 3D plotting into a single platform. Where Desmos excels at clean 2D graphing, GeoGebra goes deeper — it's particularly strong for interactive geometry, letting you construct shapes, measure angles, and explore transformations by dragging points around.
The 3D graphing mode is especially useful for A Level Further Maths students working with planes, vectors, and surfaces. GeoGebra also has a huge library of shared resources and interactive applets created by teachers, covering topics from basic angle rules to university-level calculus.
Best for: Interactive geometry exploration and 3D graphing. If you need to visualise vectors in 3D, construct geometric proofs, or explore how shapes transform, GeoGebra covers ground that other tools don't.
NCalcFX
NCalcFX is a free scientific calculator app for smartphones that closely emulates the Casio ClassWiz interface — the same calculator most UK students use in exams. If you're familiar with a physical Casio fx-991EX or similar, NCalcFX will feel immediately natural, with the same button layout, menu structure, and display style.
Having a calculator on your phone means you can practise anytime — on the bus, waiting around, or when your physical calculator isn't to hand. It supports all the standard scientific functions plus statistics mode, equation solving, and table generation.
Best for: Quick calculations on the go when you don't have your physical calculator. Particularly useful for getting comfortable with the Casio interface if you're new to scientific calculators.
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All of these tools are free and complement your past paper practice well. Try our Statistics & Probability Calculators for distribution work, or head back to the Past Papers Navigator to find papers to practise with.
Browse our other guides: Practice Paper Guide, GCSE Maths, A Level Maths, A Level Further Maths, GCSE Further Maths, and IB Maths.