I think the key thing is the pass rate for GCSE Maths is very slightly down on last year.

https://feweek.co.uk/gcse-resits-2025-english-and-maths-pass-rates-stable-amid-entries-surge/

It does seem to me a much higher proportion of people could pass if the missing basic knowledge was spotted much earlier in secondary school. I find it very concerning that parents are nowadays told too late that their child is struggling. Past papers are not a solution in addressing missing knowledge. Mastering the topics first with loads of practice questions on that topic are the way forward. Only when enough of the syllabus has been understood should a past paper be attempted to help with exam technique.

Fractions and algebra seem to be a huge weakness these days and the latter could be used to make problem solving much easier than learning loads of methods parrot fashion.