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How To Get Top Grades In Maths Gcse

Here are a few revision tips I`ve developed over the years pertaining to the difficult Maths GCSE.

Date : 03/02/2023

Author Information

Benji

Uploaded by : Benji
Uploaded on : 03/02/2023
Subject : Maths

Maths GCSE is hard. There`s talk of buying CGP books and surfing the net for goodness knows how many past papers, practise questions and worked solutions. It can all be quite overwhelming, especially if you don`t know where to start. That is why I want to share with you a few general tips I have developed over the years, tips which helped me get a 9 in Maths GCSE and can hopefully help you do the same.

1) Treat the course specification as your bible and consult the board website

Not many people think to do this. All school qualifications adhere to a specification, or spec. These can typically be found by googling the course provider with the name of the course (eg Edexcel iGCSE maths). I would also ask a teacher for the course code so you can be absolutely sure that the spec you have found pertains to the exam you will take.

A spec is essentially a list of bullet points of everything you can possibly be tested on. It is your bible, and you should structure your revision to cover all the points made in it because to achieve top grades, you need to be confident on every single concept mentioned. Of course, textbooks and CGP guides are great resources and should be used too - the spec doesn`t explain the concepts, merely states them - but remember that consulting the online spec is taking advice straight from source.

Course websites often have lots of resources, and sometimes hints and tips, and you should definitely invest some time going through it thoroughly.

2) Past papers, questions and solutions

There are many websites out there offering past papers and mark schemes. Although you can search for past papers separately, I would highly recommend Physics Maths Tutor, which sets out whole papers and topic questions in a logical manner. Initial revision should be spent doing questions on a topic which you are struggling with - it`s a better use of time than doing a whole paper which includes questions you are good at already.

It is the marking of these questions, however, which is the most important part of the process. Examining both correctly and incorrectly answered questions is vital to the learning process. For questions you got wrong, think why you made the mistake, and, if possible, follow these up by doing more, similar questions until you nail them. The textbook should always be there there is no shame in consulting it.

Past papers are good to do in the weeks leading up to the exam as they will provide you with a holistic view of your performance. Again, follow up on the questions you got wrong.

3) Practise, practise, practise

Linking from the above, this is the most important thing you can do when revising for any subject: but with Maths this is important on a whole other level. Because Maths requires a unique way of thinking about things that do not come naturally to many, it can be very much like learning a language or an instrument. The more questions you work on, the more you`ll familiarise yourself with whatever can possibly be asked of you in the exam. You`ll develop confidence. There are only so many things they can ask, and if you practice enough, you will inevitably cover everything. It`s that simple.

If you know everything you might be asked to do, your thought processes become more logical. When it comes to the hard questions at the back of the paper for which you may not immediately know what you need to do to find the solution, you should end up at a point when you find yourself going through all the possible relevant techniques you have learnt in a logical manner to solve it.

4) Use resources that work for you

So far, these tips have been quite general and apply to most students. But everyone learns differently, and it is important you invest the time to find out what you respond best to. Maybe you like to use the fun CGP books and enjoy the accessible way they are set out or perhaps a more traditional textbook approach works for you. Don`t be afraid to watch tutorial videos on YouTube, I find they`re a great way to understand concepts I`m struggling with. Combine these resources with each other, and take the best from all of them (whilst always using the spec of course!)

5) Structure your time and start early

With revision, I find the key is a consistency over quantity. It is not about simply producing a piece of work, rather, about developing the way your brain thinks about things. Studies have found that, say, an hour every day will help you learn much better in the long run than cramming for five hours on a weekend every month (though if you can do five hours every day, that`s great!) Make a timetable and stick to it GCSEs are the first real test of your ability to manage yourself and your time.

You need to start early. I would suggest starting proper, focussed revision no later than the January of your GCSE year but to start earlier, even in just small amounts, is greatly encouraged.

6) Extra reading

This may be less emphasised in GCSE, but reading around the subject has helped me countless times. It is all about really getting a feel for the subject. Such an approach allows you to develop a flexible thought process, which is vital for those top grades. I wouldn`t do this until you are really confident in everything you need to know, however, and I cannot stress this enough: it should not detract from the time you have set aside for your maths revision. It ought to be for your spare time only.

One example: Why not watch/ read A-level explanations of your favourite concepts? Studying A-levels is often described as `taking a step back` although more complex, they often paint a clearer picture of the subject. Think of standing two inches from a TV screen, and then taking a couple of steps backward. You have to take in more information in the second example, but it may be easier to know what`s actually going on.

7) Get the best out of your school

Schools can sometimes be really rubbish at inspiring their pupils, but if you really care about getting top grades, my advice is to take the initiative to make the most of your maths department. Maybe there`s a maths clinic you can go to if there isn`t, why not ask about starting one? If there`s a topic you`re finding really tough, why not ask to spend a little time together at lunch or after school? This may be a longshot, but if you don`t ask, you don`t get.

Speak to people who have recently done the course you are doing - maybe some Year 12s/13s - and ask them for advice. Building a network of people who can help you can be a great way to feel connected in what can feel quite a disconnected year.

In summary, these are some very general tips intended to help you structure your revision. I genuinely believe anyone can do well in Maths they just need a structure and a work ethic. Even bad teachers needn`t be a determining factor: ask as many questions as you can in class, plus know that there are many online resources just waiting for you to take advantage of. Wishing you the very best of luck with your upcoming exams.




This resource was uploaded by: Benji