Getting a higher grade in GCSE Maths is a concern for many students. GCSE Maths is, for many students, one of the most difficult exams that they will have to sit in the summer of 2015. Higher Tier papers do contain some complex topics and understanding how the mark scheme works is a crucial way to ensure you maximise your marks.
So, how can students improve their GCSE Maths skills now and by extension maximise their chances of getting a higher grade in GCSE Maths?
So here are six of My Tutor Club’s core strategies which, with practice, can help you get a higher grade in GCSE Maths:-
Do Maths
Revising Maths is not about memorising. To revise effectively in Maths, you need to actually do Maths on a regular basis. Think of it as a riding a bicycle or learning a language; if you practice regularly you will improve; if you do not practice regularly you will become rusty and your progress will be tempered.
Look at past papers
It is one think knowing the mathematical theory, but it is quite another applying your knowledge into practice and adapting what you know to answer the question. The mathematical theory in GCSE is fixed, but there are many way that the content can be examined.
You must know your content well enough in order to adapt it to what the question is asking. The best way to do this is to practice past exam papers. This way you will get used to the language of the exam and will be exposed to the different ways examiners have effectively tested the same material over the years.
Use the mark scheme
When going through past papers, have the mark scheme next to you. Refer to the mark scheme and see how the marks for each question are allocated. This will help you maximise your marks and reduce the chances of losing silly marks by not doing enough workings out.
Show your working
You must show clear and coherent workings throughout; this is particularly true for the larger marked questions as you will need to provide sufficient working which demonstrates to the examiner your logic and how you arrived at your answer.
Even if the answer is correct, if there is no working, depending on the mark scheme, the examiner will have to deduct marks, sometimes as much as 50% of the available marks. Certainly, the examiners are just as interested in the working as in the final answer (if not more so).
Showing your workings out also has the additional benefit of helping you really understand the topic
Explain the maths problem to someone else
A good way of testing yourself to see if you really understand the topic is to explain it to someone else. If you can do this clearly and succinctly then this is a great sign!
Timing
You will be pressed for time in the GCSE Maths exam. Practicing past papers from now until June will not only aid your understanding but will also make you more efficient at solving the questions, thereby leaving you more time at the end of the exam to check your work .
For further details about GCSE preparation, GCSE mock exams, GCSE Revision Booster courses or private tuition bespoke to your requirements, please contact us.