GCSE Maths Hacks

  Here are the exam dates for GCSE Maths Exams 2023: They are all morning exams, but they are spread out which might be useful! What do you prefer morning or afternoon exams? (I definitely used to prefer the afternoon exams!) Have them close together and get them over with, or spread out so you have more time to revise? Let me know in the comments below.

 The last few questions in the exam are HARD...if you haven't done your prep. The level 9 questions are definitely doable and in this article I will share some tips with you on how to approach them and maybe even enjoy the challenge of solving them.  The reason that the level 8 and level 9 questions are different and appear more difficult is they involve a slightly different way of thinking and an in depth knowledge of the maths topics involved. If your revision has been inconsistent or only focused on a few topics, you will struggle with the last quarter of the exam. If you have not practised enough problem solving questions, you will also find the level 8 and level 9 questions harder than they are. Here is the last question on the June 2019, non calculator paper: Angle x is acute Cos x = sin 60 x tan 30 Calculate the size of angle x. You must show your working. Before I tell you how to do this question, I'm going to share a few hints and tips about approaching this: Whenever...

Are you struggling to reach your maths students or can't understand why your child is avoiding it? Here's the process I use for disengaged students, which you can steal and adapt to your situation:  1  Be human first, teacher second Start by giving them a bit of space and removing the pressure of having to be good at maths. Remind them that they are so much more than their exam grade and that maths isn't the only thing they need in life. Try and build a connection with them and understand their emotions and stress.  2  Have a laugh - even if its a terrible dad joke Learning, teaching and parenting don't need to be boring and stressful. Remember to relax and have a laugh as often as possible.  3  Find out what’s stopping them engaging When your child or student feels ready, they will want to open up and talk to you. Ask them gently, in a no pressure way, what it is about maths that's stopping them engaging. A lot of the time it will be something like fear of...

  There is so much to learn and so much to commit to memory at GCSE. If you are feeling overwhelmed and wondering how you are going to remember everything, its completely understandable. Pure memorisation is really repeatedly reading something until it just sticks in your head. Here's the process I used to remember everything - including my entire German Oral test which got me an A grade. As you are studying or revising, keep a piece of paper nearby, the larger the better, ideally A4 or A3 size. As you come across a formula that you need to remember, write it down on this piece of paper. You can write it large, use colour if you want to and add diagrams and examples. Do whatever you like and add anything that will help you to memorise it and remind you how to use the formula too. Now think of an activity that you do regularly throughout the day. E.g. eating, using the bathroom, reading, praying etc. Every time you do that activity you have to read through your sheet 10 times. So, l...

 The non-calculator paper can be tricky. But, because its a non calculator paper the kind of questions they ask you have to have simple maths involved. What I mean by simple maths is that the numbers they choose usually divide easily or convert easily. I've put together a list of maths facts, which, if you memorise, you will find the paper much easier and also be a lot faster at working things out. 1. The first 6 multiples of 15: 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 Multiples of 15 and division by 15 is commonly used. Memorise the multiples and factors of each number that I've listed above. E.g 90/15 is 6 and so on. 2. The first 10 square numbers (more if possible): 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100 3. The first 10 cube numbers (more if possible): 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512, 729, 1000 4. Common fractions/decimals/percentages: 5. The times tables from 1 to 12. 6. Common Trig Values:  I'll keep this updated if I think of any more - feel free to make suggestions!

Let's be honest. Revision can be dull. Who wants to stare at their textbook for hours when you could be doing anything else. When it comes to revision, even mundane tasks like cleaning, tidying, washing up and flicking through Netflix, all become super interesting activities. We are very good at avoiding the things we should be doing! So how do you stop procrastinating and get your work done? Let's start with why you are most likely avoiding your work. It's most likely because there is so much to do. Having a large task or lots of little ones that we know will take a long time, is often what puts us off. No one likes the idea of being stuck on one thing for ages. Completing our work, tasks, revision, jobs and so on are all easier when we bring back some choice and make the task look smaller. For example: It's a bit like this article, I've broken down the sentences, so they are short. I've also spaced out the lines, so that each paragraph is easier to read. It...

 GCSEs are tough. Not just the work itself, but also the: Massive amounts of stress Crazy all nighters  Lack of sleep  and the huge amount of pressure. If you're feeling rundown or you're watching your children go through this, I completely understand your rollercoaster of emotions. Remember to take time out and although it seems like the world revolves around GCSEs, it doesn't mean its going to end if things don't quite go to plan. Here are 5 of the strategies that I give to my students. They worked amazingly for me and I hope that by sharing them, you will find this part of your life easier and more manageable: 1 - Revision should be an ongoing process. Its very stressful to suddenly find out you have an end of unit test or surprise practice test next week and then dropping your plans to revise and cram as best you can. Revision should be something you continuously do. Spending 10 - 15 minutes a day on a few topics that you've learnt earlier that day or week will ...

 If you are doing AQA maths GCSE and want to improve your grade massively you need 2 things:  - Excellent subject knowledge  - Brilliant exam technique Here I'm going to cover exam technique. I'm going to start with the Higher Non-Calculator paper, find it here. You'll find that these exams usually follow the same format: Questions 1 to 4: Multiple choice, easy, but also easy to slip up if you're rushing or stressed. Questions 5 to 14: Fairly simple, big chunky marks, easy if you've put the work in. Questions 15 to 20: Generally involve a bit more problem solving, tests deeper knowledge of maths. Questions 21 to the end: Level 8/9 questions, I will show you how to master these in due course. --> Exam TIP: Before you start your exam, have a quick read through every page. Put a small dot in pencil next to any question that you feel you might struggle with. Smile when you see one you think will be manageable. This will help you relax and help you manage your time mo...

How many past papers have you looked at or worked through? 1? 3? Maybe 5?? None??? Most students I know barely look at past papers. That's like trying to pass a driving test without actually having driven before. Past papers (and this is for any subject) is one of your best tools to understand how to do exams and skyrocket your grade.  Here's what you can learn from past papers:  - What to expect in the exam: most exams - especially maths -  follow a simple structure and the same one year after year.  - What kind of questions come up: There are only so many ways you can ask a question on the quadratic formula, or circle theorems, or any topic really. The more exam papers you look at the more likely you will find a familiar question in your real exam. - How to do the exam: You don't have to go in order and you don't have to spend ages on the first few questions. There is a much better way to do a GCSE maths exam, which I will share with you.  - Build familiarity:...

  Do you struggle with maths? Like a lot of people, you probably do and you've landed here looking for help and some answers. If you've been doing maths since childhood and still find it confusing, scary and/or downright painful, I completely understand. You are not alone. I have met fully grown adults who still struggle with the tens, hundred and thousands columns and cannot comprehend numbers bigger than 1000. Shocking isn't it? But then, when you consider the schooling system, the large class sizes and the pressure to perform in exams, it isn't really surprising.  Our education system is failing most of us - but I will save that rant for another post. You're here because multiplying decimals makes you want to cry and fractions just don't make sense (no matter which way round you write them!) So how can you get better at Maths or at least make it less painful? Is it possible that it will start to make sense and you will at least pass your GCSE and maybe even g...