1. Maths exam – top tips

2. Maths top tips - Algebra
Trial and improvement – Remember the midpoint check.
If you see brackets and don’t know what else to do, EXPAND them and gain a mark.
You can check your answers to equations by substituting your answer back in.
You can check your factorising by expanding, and vice versa.

3. Maths top tips - Number
When doing an “over” calculation, use brackets on the top and brackets on the bottom.
Check the accuracy required for your answer (decimal places/significant figures)
If a question asks you to estimate round each number to 1 significant figure.
When doing currency conversion, ask yourself should the value get bigger or smaller, then check!

4. Maths top tips - Shape Remember units for your answers.
Use the formula page for volumes and areas.
Area of triangles – Remember to do HALF the base times the height
Circles – C = πd and A = πr2
Write down all angle facts you have used when doing a question

5. Maths top tips - Data
Mode – Most, Median – Middle (in order), Mean – Total/how many. Can you do these with tabulated and grouped data?
Correlation – Positive/negative/none, Relationship – As x increases, y increases.
Questionnaires – Look for time frame, gaps in groups, overlapping groups, no upper or zero option.
Just been given a huge amount of information and asked a single question? It could be a two-way table question.

6. Maths top tips – Quality of written communication in your answers
If you are comparing two or more things split your page vertically.
Underline critical steps/values as you work through the question
State any rules you’ve used in brackets
Remember to answer the actual question that’s been asked!

7. Maths top tips - General
Write down all calculations, even if they have been done on a calculator.
Try and get something down for every question (even if it’s just labelling or stating a formula)
If you can’t answer the first part of a question and need it to proceed, make up a value and use that for the rest of the question.
Check every numerical answer given for the following:
Is it sensible?
Does it need units?
Is it at the right level of accuracy?