1. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR GRADE AND EXAM TECHNIQUE
GCSE MATHEMATICS
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR GRADE AND EXAM TECHNIQUE

2. EQUIPMENT:
Most students bring all the correct equipment
(Pens, Pencils, Ruler, Protractor, Compasses and Calculator)
However there is a lot of evidence which shows they simply don’t use it!
DIAGRAMS:
Almost all diagrams are NOT drawn to scale.
Many students ignore this fact.
They simply measure angles and lines without calculating them and consequently get no marks.

3. READ THE QUESTION:
It is recommended that you read the question TWICE.
There is plenty of time.
You can underline the important parts of a question if you wish to.
Once you think you have answered a question - read it again and check you have answered the question asked.

4. CALCULATORS
Make sure you can read a display that is in Standard Form.
No credit is given for writing an answer as
Make sure your calculator is set in the DEG mode

5. FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN CALCULATOR
BRING IT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY
DON’T RELY ON THE SCHOOLS CALCULATOR WHICH MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT LOGIC SYSTEM TO YOURS.

6. METHODS:
Working out MUST be shown.
There are a lot of method marks available and it is recommended that all relevant stages of working are shown.
Incorrect answer and no working gains no marks
If correct working is shown and a careless error results in an incorrect answer you could gain 4 out of 5 marks available

7. Exam Tips

8. Know the examination paper: How is it marked?
Crossed out work is marked if:
It can be read
It has not been replaced
Overwriting or crossing through decimal points is penalised; the examiner cannot guess the response
Credit is given for a correct algebra substitution
Go through basic marking slides – self explanatory
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Marking
Crossed out work is marked if
It can be read
It has not been replaced
Overwriting or crossing through decimal points is penalised as examiner cannot guess the response
Algebra substitution, credit is given for a correct substitution

9. Know the examination paper: How is it marked?
Errors are only penalised once so:
If part (a) is incorrect, part (b) should still be attempted
Follow through marks will be awarded whenever possible
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Marking
Errors are only penalised once so
If part (a) is incorrect candidates should still attempt part (b)
Follow through marks will be awarded whenever possible

10. Know the examination paper: Facts to improve performance
Candidates who show working do better than those who don’t
If it says, “You must show your working” then, working must be shown
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
General points
Candidates who show working do better than those who don’t.
In questions which say,
“You must show your working.”
working must be shown

11. Know the examination paper: Facts to improve performance
Nothing is gained from irrelevant comments or drawings
A missed question scores zero
Papers start with easier questions and get harder
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
General points
Candidates who write irrelevant comments or stories or draw pictures e.g. on the cover gain nothing from it.
Candidates who miss out a question you will score zero on that question!
The papers start with the easier questions and gets harder.

12. Know the examination paper: Answers that score zero
“The question cannot be done”
“I cannot do this because I was taught by Mr X and ...”
Graphs that do not use the whole graph paper or are too big for the paper
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Answers that score zero
The question cannot be done
I cannot do this because I was taught by Mr X and ...
Graphs that do not use the whole graph paper or are too big for the paper

13. Know the examination paper: Answers that score zero
Incorrect answers with no working shown
Answers using trial and improvement when it says do not use trial and improvement
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Answers that score zero
Incorrect answer with no working shown
Answers using trial and improvement when the question says do not use trial and improvement

14. Key words, terminology Make sure you know what key terminology means..
Work out ...
Write down ...
Use your graph to ...
Estimate ...
Solve ...
Explain ...
See other document “Terminology”. Give a few simple examples and lead into talking about “Explain” and how to overcome problems with it

15. ‘Explain’ questions Understand what is being asked
If you are unable to explain in words, use other techniques:
Use examples or diagrams
Make the question a standard question
Example question:
Here is a pattern
Explain why all numbers in this pattern are not positive
Answer: , 9, 5, 1,
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Explain questions – understand what is being asked
Candidates who are unable to explain in words should use other techniques
explain using examples or diagrams
make the question a standard question
Here is a pattern
Explain why all numbers in this pattern are not positive
Answer: , 9, 5, 1, -3...

16. Ten practical tips
Know how to use a calculator with fraction and statistical functions
Pick out (underline) key facts in a question
Don’t write answers only
Don’t leave out questions
Always check answers are sensible
Go through the tips explaining why.
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Ten practical tips
Teach students how to use a calculator with fraction and statistical functions
Encourage candidates to pick out (underline) key facts in a question)
Stop candidates from writing answers only
Stop candidates leaving out questions
Make candidates check answers are sensible.

17. Ten practical tips
Don’t leave out questions with the intention of revisiting - people usually forget
Always write down key facts / formulae at the beginning of the examination
Don’t use Tippex or scribble out
Remember we can’t teach the paper – you must be able to think through a problem
Remember to read questions carefully
ORIGINAL SLIDE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS:
Ten practical tips
Discourage candidates from leaving out questions with the intention of revisiting because they usually forget
Encourage candidates to write down key facts / formula at the beginning of the examination
Don’t allow candidates to use tippex or to scribble out
Don’t try to teach to the paper – make students think
Use special events to raise the profile of Mathematics in your centre

18. MATHS SPECIFIC ERRORS

19. PROBABILITY
A very large number of answers are still given as
1 in 2 or 5 out of 10. These are incorrect.
Answers should be decimals, fractions or percentages.
As a general rule if the question uses fractions then give your answer as a fraction.
Reminder:
A probability answer cannot be greater than 1!

20. UNITS
You will have to give your own units for at least one question. Units of length, volume and area are frequently mixed up by students. Learn them.
Learn common Metric to Imperial conversions.
e g 1 kg = 2.2 lbs, 5 miles = 8 Km.
1 Gallon = 4.55 Litres etc.
Reminder:
There are 52 weeks in a year (many students use 50).
60 minutes in an hour etc NB 1.4 hours does NOT mean 1 hour 40 min (it means 1 hour 24 min)

21. UNITS
Even if not asked to, always write down units
at the end of a question
If a question contains different units e.g. mm and cm or minutes and seconds. It is a good idea to convert all to the same before starting the calculations

22. ACCURACY
Do not round answers off until the very last line of working.
Use the calculator memory function and notation such as …..
This is especially important in trigonometry questions.
(There is a significant difference between 23x1.66 and 23x )
If you are asked to measure a line and it measures 9.1cm use 9.1cm.
Do not assume that the line is supposed to be 9cm long.

23. TRIAL AND IMPROVEMENT
Usually there will be a table for you to write your attempts in.
You do not need to fill in all the rows .
You must have at least one trial above and one trial below the correct answer.
Always remember to do the middle value test so you know which value the answer is closest to.

24. ANSWERS
If the question asks you to give the answer to 1dp, 2sf or in Standard form you will lose at least one mark every time you fail to do so.

25. PERCENTAGE CHANGE
When asked for a sale price many students work out the reduction correctly but then fail to take it away from the original price losing at least 1 mark

26. FORMULA SHEETS
Make sure you know what is going to be given you on a formula sheet.
Make sure you can use the formulas and have learnt any formulas not given.

27. Tips to get the grade

28. HOW TO GET GRADE C
You need around 70% in the Foundation GCSE Maths
exam paper to get a Maths GCSE grade C. Don't just concentrate on the C grade questions.
Just as important are the earlier (and easier) questions on the exam paper.
Make sure you have revised thoroughly these
easier graded questions.
These are worth 85% of the Foundation GCSE Maths marks.

29. HOW TO GET GRADE A/A*
Revise the easier questions You need around 65% in the Higher Maths GCSE exam to get a grade A and 85% for an A* Cover thoroughly the easier grade D and C questions, as these cover the first 50% of the Higher Maths GCSE exam. 70% is grade D, C or B

30. The average difference between a grade D and a grade C is ONLY 4%!!
IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT BY FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES STUDENTS CAN IMPROVE THEIR MARKS BY UP TO 10%
The average difference between a grade D and a grade C is ONLY 4%!!